Bryan-College Station Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Holding Intoxicated Drivers Accountable

TL;DR (In short): Harper Law Firm aggressively represents victims of drunk driving accidents in Bryan-College Station, pursuing maximum compensation including punitive damages against intoxicated drivers. With the Northgate entertainment district and active bar scene serving Texas A&M students, drunk driving remains a serious problem in Brazos County. We also pursue claims against bars and restaurants that illegally over-serve patrons under Texas dram shop laws.

The Drunk Driving Problem in Bryan-College Station

Bryan-College Station faces significant drunk driving challenges due to its large student population and active entertainment scene. The Northgate District adjacent to Texas A&M University is home to numerous bars and restaurants serving the student population, and police regularly make multiple DWI arrests on weekend nights involving drivers who have been drinking in the area.

Local law enforcement has documented numerous incidents of drivers arrested for DWI after crashes in Bryan and College Station. Officers have noted that police in Bryan-College Station take a particularly aggressive approach to charging college students with alcohol-related offenses, reflecting the serious nature of the problem in this community.

Northgate District Drunk Driving Risks

The Northgate entertainment district sees particularly high drunk driving activity. Police reports document numerous DWI arrests involving drivers who admit to drinking at Northgate bars before getting behind the wheel. Crashes have occurred at University Drive and Spring Loop, on Harvey Mitchell Parkway, and throughout the area surrounding the entertainment district.

In one tragic case, a Bryan man was charged with intoxication manslaughter after killing a motorist on Harvey Mitchell Parkway. The driver told officers he had been drinking in the Northgate District before the fatal crash. Cases like this demonstrate the devastating consequences of drunk driving in our community.

Weekend and Holiday Drunk Driving Patterns

Bryan-College Station sees concentrated drunk driving activity during specific periods including Thursday through Saturday nights when students frequent Northgate bars, Texas A&M football game weekends when visitors join local drinking, holiday periods including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break, and special events and celebrations throughout the academic year.

Police have documented multiple DWI arrests occurring within hours of each other on busy weekend nights, illustrating the scope of the drunk driving problem in this college community.

Student and Underage Drunk Driving

Texas has a zero-tolerance law for drivers under 21, meaning any detectable amount of alcohol in a minor driver’s system can result in criminal charges. Police in Bryan-College Station aggressively enforce this law against Texas A&M and Blinn College students. If you have been injured by an underage drunk driver, you may have claims against additional parties including those who provided alcohol to the minor.

Texas Dram Shop Laws and Bar Liability

Texas dram shop laws allow victims of drunk driving accidents to pursue claims against bars, restaurants, and other establishments that illegally serve alcohol to intoxicated persons who then cause accidents.

When Bars Can Be Held Liable

Under Texas law, an establishment may be held liable for damages caused by an intoxicated patron if they served alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person to the extent that they presented a clear danger to themselves and others, or if they served alcohol to a minor. This creates potential claims against Northgate bars and other establishments that over-serve patrons who subsequently cause accidents.

Evidence supporting dram shop claims may include:

• Witness testimony regarding the patron’s visible intoxication
• Bar receipts showing the quantity of alcohol served
• Surveillance video from the establishment
• Testimony from bartenders and servers
• Expert testimony on alcohol impairment

Social Host Liability

Texas law also addresses social host liability in certain circumstances. Adults who provide alcohol to minors at private parties may be held liable for damages caused by intoxicated underage guests. Given the prevalence of house parties among college students in Bryan-College Station, this creates potential claims in accidents involving underage drunk drivers.

Punitive Damages in Texas Drunk Driving Cases

Texas law allows victims of drunk driving accidents to pursue punitive damages designed to punish the drunk driver and deter similar behavior. Unlike compensatory damages that reimburse victims for their losses, punitive damages serve as a form of punishment for egregious conduct.

When Punitive Damages May Be Available

Punitive damages may be available when the drunk driver’s conduct demonstrates gross negligence or reckless disregard for the safety of others. Evidence supporting punitive damages may include extremely high blood alcohol levels significantly exceeding the legal limit, prior DWI convictions demonstrating a pattern of dangerous behavior, aggravating circumstances such as excessive speed or fleeing the scene, and evidence the driver knew they were too impaired to drive safely.

Calculating Punitive Damages

Texas law caps punitive damages at the greater of $200,000 or twice the amount of economic damages plus an amount equal to non-economic damages up to $750,000. However, these caps do not apply in certain circumstances, including when the defendant’s conduct constitutes a felony offense. Many drunk driving accidents involve felony-level conduct, potentially allowing for uncapped punitive damages.

Types of Drunk Driving Accidents We Handle

Harper Law Firm represents victims of all types of drunk driving accidents in Bryan-College Station including head-on collisions caused by impaired drivers crossing center lines, rear-end crashes where drunk drivers fail to stop in time, intersection accidents where intoxicated drivers run red lights or stop signs, pedestrian accidents where drunk drivers strike people walking or crossing streets, single-vehicle crashes where passengers are injured by impaired drivers, and fatal drunk driving accidents requiring wrongful death claims.

Injuries Common in Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving accidents often result in severe injuries due to the high speeds and reckless behavior typically involved. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries from violent impacts, spinal cord injuries potentially causing paralysis, multiple fractures requiring surgery and extended recovery, internal organ damage from blunt force trauma, severe lacerations and scarring, and psychological trauma including PTSD and anxiety disorders.

The severity of these injuries often requires extensive medical treatment, lengthy rehabilitation, and may result in permanent disabilities affecting the victim’s quality of life and ability to work.

Compensation for Drunk Driving Accident Victims

Victims of drunk driving accidents may recover compensation for medical expenses including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing care. Lost wages for time missed from work due to injuries may be recovered. Reduced earning capacity for permanent disabilities may be compensated. Pain and suffering compensation addresses physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life. Punitive damages may punish the drunk driver’s reckless conduct. Wrongful death damages may be available if a loved one was killed by a drunk driver.

Criminal vs. Civil Cases in Drunk Driving Accidents

It is important to understand the difference between criminal charges against a drunk driver and civil claims for compensation. Criminal charges are brought by the state to punish the drunk driver for breaking the law. Civil claims are brought by victims to recover compensation for their injuries and losses.

The outcome of criminal proceedings does not determine the outcome of civil claims. Even if criminal charges are reduced or dismissed, you may still pursue civil compensation. Similarly, a criminal conviction does not guarantee civil recovery, though it may serve as evidence of negligence.

Acting Quickly After a Drunk Driving Accident

Time is critical in drunk driving accident cases. Evidence of intoxication, including blood alcohol test results, must be preserved quickly. Witness memories fade, and surveillance footage may be erased. Bar receipts and records that could support dram shop claims may be discarded.

Contact Harper Law Firm immediately after a drunk driving accident so we can begin investigating while evidence is fresh. We will work to obtain police reports, blood test results, bar records, and other evidence essential to building your case.

Contact Bryan-College Station Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Today

If you have been injured by a drunk driver in Bryan, College Station, or anywhere in Brazos County, Harper Law Firm will fight aggressively to hold the intoxicated driver accountable and pursue maximum compensation including punitive damages. We will also investigate whether bars or other establishments may share liability under Texas dram shop laws.

Our attorneys understand the devastation drunk driving accidents cause to victims and families. We are committed to pursuing justice and ensuring drunk drivers face the full consequences of their reckless choices.

Contact Harper Law Firm today – Bryan-College Station drunk driving accident lawyers holding intoxicated drivers accountable.