Here’s a chilling statistic from the Texas Department of Transportation: about every 20 minutes in Texas, someone is hurt or killed in a car crash involving alcohol. The numbers are staggering, but they paint a shocking portrait of just how serious such a careless act can be. In 2014, an Alamo woman was killed after a collision with a drunk driver, and recently, the incident has made news again regarding a shocking turn of events.
Fryer and Hansen has experience in dealing with drunk driving cases. Contact us so we can help you and your loved ones.
The Incident
In August of 2014, a 62-year old woman was driving just before midnight when a 19-year old struck her vehicle, killing her instantly. The arriving officer assessed the situation and quickly noticed the young driver had alcohol on his breath. The 19-year old later admitted to consuming two 24-ounce beers before getting behind the wheel. Instead of going to trial, the young man pleaded guilty in September of 2015 and received a 10-year prison sentence.
A Turn of Events
In early July of 2016, a judge awarded the defendant “shock probation”, resulting in his serving 15 months of a 10-year sentence. This also meant the defendant would have to follow certain guidelines in order to stay out of jail:
- GPS tracking
- A curfew between 9:00 PM and 6:00 AM
- Alcoholics Anonymous classes
- No driving for two years
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2012, there were over 25,000 alcohol-related crashes in the State of Texas. Over 1,100 people were killed in 2012 due to drunk drivers and 9,400 were seriously injured.
The Consequences
Despite the sheer volume of people killed or seriously hurt in drunk driving accidents, people continue to take careless risks and drive. In Texas, a first offense for driving while intoxicated, or DWI, can result in:
- A fine of up to $2,000
- Three to 180 days in jail
- Loss of driver’s license for up to one year
- Annual fee of $1,000 – $2,000 for three years to retain one’s driver’s license
What We Have to Say
Attorney Brian Hansen recently talked about the many problems with drunk drivers:
“We hate to see cases where a life is taken by a careless mistake like drinking and driving. When a case like this one comes across our desks, we do everything in our power to see that you get justice for your loss by filing a personal injury claim. Plus, if money is an issue, our law office can work on a contingency basis, meaning if you don’t have any money to put up in your case, we have the ability to still help you no matter what the income level is of the household.”
Contact Us Today
Losing a loved one can be devastating. The financial toll it can take on a household can put a family in a major bind. Don’t wait any longer. Contact the law office of Fryer and Hansen in McAllen today to get the legal help you need.