Dallas Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
Dallas Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Some drivers know when they should not be on the road but they get behind the wheel anyway. When someone chooses to drive drunk, the people they hurt are often the ones who were just trying to get home safely. Your Dallas drunk driving accident lawyer with Goff Law, PLLC can help you understand how these cases work and what signs to look for after a crash. Even if the other driver was arrested, your Dallas car accident attorney will explain what that means for your claim and how insurance companies usually respond. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, when you need us most. If you have questions or need help figuring out what comes next, you can always reach out and talk to someone with our firm who knows how these cases work.
How Drunk Driving Crashes Unfold in Texas
We see drunk driving accidents throughout Dallas, including on major highways, busy intersections, and quiet neighborhood streets. These crashes are often fast, violent, and completely avoidable. The drivers who cause them rarely brake in time, which makes the damage much worse.
What Leads to These Accidents
Most of these crashes happen when a driver decides to get behind the wheel after drinking too much. They may think they feel fine, but alcohol affects decision-making, reaction time, and the ability to stay in the lane. Some are speeding, ignoring lights, or trying to get home before they get caught. Under Texas Penal Code § 49.04, it is a crime to operate a vehicle while intoxicated. That legal violation can also affect how a civil claim is handled. Your drunk driving accident attorney in Dallas from Goff Law, PLLC can explain how the criminal case may influence your ability to recover damages.
Drunk Driving Patterns We See in Dallas
These crashes tend to spike on weekends and holidays, especially near entertainment districts or along routes that connect bars and restaurants to neighborhoods. We have seen many cases near Lower Greenville, Deep Ellum, and areas just off US-75 or I-35. Some drivers are on their way home from a night out, while others are still drinking behind the wheel. A drunk driving accident lawyer in Dallas can help identify common red flags, like open containers, bar receipts, or signs of impairment at the scene. These details matter when building a strong claim. Even if the driver was not charged, the evidence may still point to reckless decisions that caused the crash.

What the Law Says About Drunk Driving in Texas
Most people have heard of DWI charges, but they may not know how those charges affect the injury claim that follows. Under Texas’s driving while intoxicated law, it is a crime to operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and that same violation can influence how the civil side of the case is handled. Knowing how the criminal process connects to the injury claim can help you understand what to expect. Here are a few key points to know:
- The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit in Texas is 0.08% for drivers age 21 and older
- Drivers under 21 are not allowed to have any detectable alcohol in their system
- First-time DWI charges can lead to fines, temporary license suspension, and a possible jail sentence
- Penalties increase when someone has past convictions or causes serious harm
- Bars and restaurants may be liable under dram shop laws if they serve a person who is visibly intoxicated and that person causes a crash
- Refusing a breath or blood test may result in license suspension under Texas’s implied consent laws
- Criminal charges and civil claims move separately through the system
- Some injury cases involve both the drunk driver and the business that overserved them
When alcohol is involved, injury claims often follow a different path. You may need to collect more records, request footage, or look into who served the driver beforehand. These cases tend to involve more moving parts and may include additional insurance policies or parties.

Who Could Be Liable in a Drunk Driving Crash
When someone causes a crash after drinking, they are not always the only one legally responsible. Bars, employers, and even other drivers may also be involved, depending on what led up to the accident. Understanding who may be held accountable can help you prepare for what comes next.
What Jurors Need to Know About How Alcohol Impacts Driving Ability
Alcohol affects the body in ways that make driving more dangerous, even at low speeds. It affects judgment, makes it harder to accurately predict distance, and affects how quickly a driver can respond to unexpected changes on the road. These effects are well-documented and often show up in the moments just before a crash. In many cases, intoxicated drivers run red lights, drift out of their lane, or misjudge how much space they need to stop. These mistakes often come down to slowed reflexes, poor coordination, and changes in vision. Jurors may also hear testimony about how alcohol affects decision-making and how those effects increase the risk of serious injury. When alcohol is involved, the available evidence often includes BAC levels, field sobriety results, or testimony from arresting officers.