Alcohol-related crashes cost American society an estimated $110 billion annually, and the heartbreaking loss of thousands of lives. Texas juries have shown little tolerance for establishments and servers who have irresponsibly provided alcohol to those who are intoxicated – and who then cause fatal or injurious crashes.
Jurors often don’t hesitate to award very significant sums for actual damages in these cases, in part to act as a powerful deterrent to the sellers and servers, but also to give the victims of this violent crime recourse against the alcohol permit holder who profits from alcohol sales.
When a drunk driver causes an accident, he or she is often not the only person responsible. Under Texas’s dram shop laws, bars, liquor stores or other establishments that serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated customers can also be held liable for injuries and other damages their customers cause because of driving drunk. In fact, that establishment may be responsible for compensating you for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and other harms.
Anyone filing a claim against a drunk driver, or against a bar or liquor establishment, needs an accomplished Austin attorney with extensive trial experience, a caring demeanor, and the kind of determination that gets results. During his more than 20 years of legal experience, board-certified personal injury trial lawyer Mark Hefter has pursued personal injury claims for many clients injured by drunk drivers, or bar and liquor establishments that have acted negligently.
Mr. Hefter holds bars and liquor stores responsible for serving alcohol to those who present a danger to themselves and others, as well as those responsible for driving drunk and causing accidents. He also brings solid experience to each and every claim, with a successful record of trying bar and liquor store liability cases to completion.
We met Mark shortly after a drunk driver killed our 22-year-old son. Mark compassionately, wisely and carefully walked us through the extremely hard process of working our case. We watched Mark and his colleague work diligently for 1.5 years to assure that they presented a thorough case. We were thankful that Mark had the background, expertise, tenacity and sensitivity to represent us with clarity and honesty.
– D.C., Austin
Hit by a drunk driver and want to sue drunk driver for personal injury or wrongful death? Call Austin attorney Mark Hefter at 512-478-0606 to discuss your rights.