Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Laredo, Texas

If you or someone you love was injured by a drunk driver in Laredo, the case should be treated differently from an ordinary car accident claim. Drunk driving crashes often involve preventable danger, reckless choices, serious injuries, and evidence that needs to be preserved quickly.

At Tellez Law, we help injured people and families in Laredo, Webb County, and South Texas after serious drunk driving accidents. Our team investigates the crash, reviews possible dram shop liability, protects important evidence, and works to identify the responsible parties and pursue the compensation available under Texas law.

Call (956) 717-8200 for a free consultation with a Laredo personal injury lawyer.

Drunk Driving Accidents Are Different From Regular Car Accident Claims

A drunk driving crash is not just a mistake on the road. It is often the result of a dangerous decision that puts innocent people at risk. When an intoxicated driver causes a collision, the injured person may have a civil personal injury claim separate from any criminal DWI case filed by the State of Texas.

A criminal case may punish the drunk driver, but it does not automatically pay your medical bills, lost income, vehicle damage, or pain and suffering. A civil injury claim is how you seek compensation for what the crash has done to your health, your family, your work, and your daily life.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Drunk Driving Accident?

Every case is different, but a drunk driving accident claim may include compensation for:

• Emergency room treatment
• Ambulance bills
• Hospital care
• Surgery
• Chiropractic care
• Physical therapy
• Pain management
• Injections or other medical procedures
• Future medical care
• Lost wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Vehicle damage
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Physical impairment
• Loss of normal life
• Punitive damages in appropriate cases

The value of the case depends on the facts. Serious injuries, emergency treatment, objective medical findings, missed work, long recovery time, permanent limitations, and evidence of intoxication can all affect the claim.

Can You Recover Punitive Damages After a Drunk Driving Crash?

In some drunk driving accident cases, the injured person may be able to pursue punitive damages. These damages are different from medical bills or lost wages. They are meant to punish especially dangerous conduct and discourage similar behavior in the future.

Drunk driving can support a claim for punitive damages when the facts show more than ordinary negligence. That is why it is important to investigate the driver's conduct, level of intoxication, driving behavior, criminal charges, prior history when available, and the full circumstances leading up to the crash.

Texas Dram Shop Law: Can a Bar or Restaurant Be Responsible?

In some Texas drunk driving cases, the intoxicated driver is not the only party who may be legally responsible. A bar, restaurant, nightclub, liquor store, or other alcohol provider may also be responsible if it served alcohol when it was apparent that the person was obviously intoxicated to the extent that they presented a clear danger to themselves and others, and that intoxication caused the crash.

This is commonly called a dram shop claim. These cases require quick investigation because important evidence can disappear. Surveillance video may be overwritten. Receipts may be lost. Witnesses may become harder to locate. Employees may leave the business. The sooner the investigation begins, the better chance there is to preserve the evidence needed to prove overservice.

Evidence That Can Matter in a Drunk Driving Accident Case

Strong drunk driving accident cases are built with evidence. Tellez Law looks for facts that show how the crash happened, how intoxication contributed to the collision, and whether any business or third party may have played a role.

Important evidence may include:

• Police crash reports
• DWI arrest records
• Blood alcohol or breath test results
• Body camera footage
• Dash camera footage
• 911 calls
• Crash scene photographs
• Witness statements
• Bar or restaurant surveillance footage
• Receipts, tabs, and credit card records
• Social media posts showing alcohol consumption
• Statements from bartenders, servers, or other patrons
• Prior alcohol service violations when relevant

Preserving this evidence early can make a major difference in the strength of the claim.

Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Drunk Driving Crash?

Depending on the facts, more than one party may be responsible for a drunk driving accident. Potentially responsible parties may include:

• The drunk driver
• The owner of the vehicle in certain situations
• A bar, restaurant, nightclub, liquor store, or alcohol provider
• An adult who unlawfully provided alcohol to a minor
• An employer if the drunk driver was working at the time of the crash
• Other negligent drivers who contributed to the collision

Identifying all responsible parties matters because serious drunk driving crashes can cause injuries that exceed basic insurance coverage. A full investigation can help determine whether additional claims or insurance coverage may be available.

Common Injuries Caused by Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving crashes often happen at dangerous speeds, involve delayed braking, or occur when the intoxicated driver fails to stay in their lane, runs a red light, rear-ends another vehicle, or causes a head-on collision. These crashes can cause serious injuries, including:

• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Disc herniations
• Bulging discs
• Radiculopathy and nerve symptoms
• Broken bones
• Head injuries
• Concussions
• Shoulder and knee injuries
• Internal injuries
• Scarring
• Permanent impairment
• Fatal injuries

Even when symptoms seem manageable at first, pain can worsen over time. Neck pain, back pain, numbness, tingling, headaches, dizziness, sleep problems, anxiety while driving, and difficulty working should be taken seriously and documented.

Wrongful Death Caused by a Drunk Driver

When a drunk driving crash takes a life, the family is left with grief, unanswered questions, and sudden financial pressure. A wrongful death claim may help surviving family members pursue compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, loss of financial support, mental anguish, and other damages allowed under Texas law.

These cases should be investigated quickly. Evidence about the driver's intoxication, where the driver was drinking, how the alcohol was provided, and whether anyone ignored clear warning signs can be important to the family's claim.

What To Do After a Drunk Driving Accident in Laredo

After a drunk driving crash, what you do next can affect your health and your injury claim. If you are able, take these steps:

1. Call 911 and report the crash.
2. Get medical care as soon as possible.
3. Take photos of the vehicles, scene, road, injuries, and damage.
4. Get names and phone numbers for witnesses.
5. Tell the officer if you saw signs of intoxication.
6. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company.
7. Do not post about the crash on social media.
8. Contact Tellez Law before evidence disappears.

If the drunk driver came from a bar, restaurant, club, party, or store, tell your lawyer right away. That information may help determine whether a dram shop investigation is needed.

Why Choose Tellez Law for a Drunk Driving Injury Case?

Drunk driving accident cases require more than submitting medical bills to an insurance company. These cases often require early investigation, evidence preservation, insurance coverage review, and pressure on the responsible parties before the evidence goes cold.

People in Laredo and South Texas choose Tellez Law because:

• We handle serious personal injury claims in Laredo and Webb County.
• We investigate whether a bar, restaurant, or alcohol provider may share responsibility.
• We know how to preserve evidence before it disappears.
• We build claims around medical proof, functional impact, and long-term consequences.
• Clients work directly with Attorney Joey Tellez and our legal team.
• We prepare cases with the seriousness needed for negotiation or litigation.

Drunk Driving Accident Claims in Laredo, Webb County, and South Texas

Tellez Law represents people injured in drunk driving crashes throughout Laredo, Webb County, Rio Bravo, El Cenizo, Zapata, Hebbronville, Cotulla, and communities across South Texas.

Whether the crash happened on I-35, Loop 20, McPherson Road, Saunders Street, Mines Road, Highway 359, Highway 83, or another local roadway, our team can review the facts and help you understand your options.

Speak With a Laredo Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today

If you were injured by a drunk driver, do not wait for the insurance company to control the case. Important evidence may need to be preserved quickly, especially if the driver was coming from a bar, restaurant, nightclub, or store that served alcohol.

Every case is different. The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not guarantee any result. Speaking with Tellez Law does not create an attorney-client relationship unless and until an agreement is signed.

Call (956) 717-8200 or request a free personal injury consultation online.

Your Laredo Lawyer. Standing with injured families after preventable drunk driving crashes.

Tellez Law • Serving Laredo, Webb County, Rio Bravo, El Cenizo, Zapata, Hebbronville, Cotulla & South Texas