Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Denton
Individualized Representation for Impaired-Driving Injury Claims
Claims arising from drunk driving accidents require careful investigation of the collision, the resulting losses, and every potentially responsible party. At Goline & Roland Law Firm, PLLC, we handle these injury claims through individualized strategies built around each client’s circumstances and goals.
Founding attorneys Theresa Blake Goline and Gregory C. Goline lead our team, bringing more than three decades of combined legal experience. We listen to those affected, investigate the facts, and evaluate the civil claims that may follow an impaired-driving crash.
To discuss a drunk driving accident in Denton with our attorneys, call (940) 400-0475 for a free consultation.
How We Build a Drunk Driving Accident Claim
Our work begins by gathering and preserving available evidence. Acting early can support a more complete evaluation of who caused the crash and what damages resulted.
Evidence in an impaired-driving injury claim may include:
- Crash reports and photographs from the collision scene
- Witness accounts concerning the driver’s actions or apparent condition
- Documentation of vehicle damage and other physical evidence
- Medical records, income records, and evidence of other crash-related losses
We investigate the collision and assess the damages once we become involved. Because every case presents different facts, the investigation may determine which civil claims are available and which parties should receive notice.
Insurance Claims & Demand Letters
Once we have assessed the relevant facts and losses, we may send a demand letter to the at-fault party’s insurer. The letter explains the basis for liability and the compensation sought through the insurance claim.
After the insurer responds, we may negotiate on our client’s behalf. If filing a lawsuit is appropriate, we can move the case into litigation. The path forward depends on the evidence, available coverage, and the insurer’s response.
Denton Experience in Civil Claims Connected to DWI Cases
A drunk-driving collision can lead to both a criminal DWI case and a civil injury claim. Criminal prosecution addresses the driver’s alleged offense, while the civil case seeks compensation for the injured person’s losses. The civil claim proceeds separately and doesn’t depend entirely on the course of the criminal prosecution.
Gregory C. Goline has represented individuals and families in Denton and the surrounding North Texas region since 2008. He has litigated more than 50 jury trials. Our familiarity with Denton courts, judges, local rules, and community dynamics informs how we prepare cases that enter litigation.
Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident
A civil injury claim may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other documented losses. The available categories and amounts depend on the injuries, financial records, insurance coverage, and evidence connecting each loss to the crash.
Texas Proportionate Responsibility Rules
Texas uses proportionate responsibility, sometimes called comparative fault, to assign each party a percentage of responsibility for an injury. A person who’s no more than 50% responsible can recover damages, but the compensation is reduced by that person’s assigned percentage of fault.
A person found 51% or more responsible can’t recover compensation under these rules. We investigate the collision and supporting evidence to evaluate allegations of shared responsibility rather than treating intoxication as the only relevant liability issue.
Deadline for Filing an Injury Claim
Texas generally allows two years from the accident date to file a personal injury claim after a car accident. The deadline for a particular case can depend on its circumstances, and insurance discussions don’t necessarily pause or extend the filing period. Prompt evaluation also gives us an opportunity to identify and preserve evidence while it remains available.
Alcohol Provider Liability Under the Texas Dram Shop Act
A claim may involve more than the impaired driver. Under the Texas Dram Shop Act, an alcohol provider may face civil liability if it was apparent when alcohol was provided that a person was obviously intoxicated to the point of presenting a clear danger to themselves and others, and that intoxication proximately caused the damages. Proximate cause is a legally sufficient connection between the intoxication and the resulting harm.
The statute creates a potential cause of action in addition to claims against the intoxicated person who caused the injury. Establishing alcohol provider liability requires evidence of the provider’s conduct and each part of the statutory standard. We evaluate that evidence in the context of the specific transaction and collision.
A dram shop claim doesn’t require a criminal DWI conviction. Civil liability is evaluated under its own legal standards, even when a criminal proceeding involving the driver is pending, dismissed, or resolved separately.
Discuss Your Denton Drunk Driving Accident Claim
We offer free consultations and night or weekend appointments, giving individuals and families flexibility to discuss the collision and their potential next steps.
Our contact us page includes a form for requesting an evaluation. We’ll listen to your concerns and consider a strategy tailored to your circumstances and goals.
Call (940) 400-0475 to schedule your free consultation with our Denton drunk driving accident lawyers.
