Houston DUI Attorney

The risk of being arrested for driving drunk will increase throughout Texas in coming weeks as law enforcement officials ramp up their efforts through the Labor Day holiday to crack down on impaired driving.
In addition to criminal charges, drivers should also realize the serious civil consequences they face if they get behind the wheel while impaired by alcohol or drugs, Houston personal injury attorney Brad T. Wyly says.
“If you drive drunk or under the influence of an impairing substance, then you can also be sued for any property damage or personal injury you cause as the result of your reckless conduct,” says Wyly, the founder of the Wyly Law Firm, P.C., which represents drunk-driving accident victims in Houston and its surrounding communities.
“Victims of drunk drivers may be entitled to damages for past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, lost wages, lost earning capacity and disfigurement,” Wyly says. “For everyone involved, the consequences of drunk driving can be tragic. It simply makes sense to drive safe and sober.”
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the state’s police departments and sheriff’s offices will participate in a two-week drunk-driving crackdown from August 20 to September 6.
During last year’s two-week crackdown surrounding the Labor Day holiday, law enforcement statewide worked nearly 18,000 combined overtime hours while focusing on finding and arresting impaired drivers, according to TxDOT.
In Texas, the legal limit for intoxication is 0.08 BAC (blood alcohol concentration), and it is illegal for a minor to have any detectable trace of alcohol in their system. If convicted of drunk driving, a first-time offender faces up to 180 days in jail, a $2,000 fine and loss of their driver’s license for up to one year. The driver’s insurance premiums typically increase as well.
The consequences of drunk driving can be much greater than jail time or fines, Wyly says, pointing to statistics provided by TxDOT. In 2009, there were 27,108 alcohol-related crashes in Texas, causing 955 deaths and 17,542 injuries.
“Drunk driving can destroy the lives of accident victims, drivers and their families,” Wyly says.
Wyly suggests drivers call a taxi, designate a sober driver, use public transportation or call a friend or relative for a ride home as alternatives to getting behind the wheel while impaired.
“Anything is better than driving home when you are intoxicated,” Wyly says. “When you do that, you are a danger to yourself and to everyone else on the road.”
About Wyly Law Firm, P.C.
The Wyly Law Firm, P.C., handles cases in Houston and the surrounding communities, including Baytown, Harris County, Pasadena, Galveston and Beaumont. The firm also handles business law issues and disputes. Attorney Brad T. Wyly, the firm’s founder, is a skilled negotiator and lawyer. Wyly has extensive experience in personal injury cases, including claims involving complex accidents, catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. He was named a Rising Star in Law & Politics magazine in 2005 and 2006. To contact Wyly Law Firm, P.C., call (713) 574-7034 or use the firm’s online form.
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