Dallas Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer for Texas Crash Victims
With more than 45 years of legal experience, over 12,000 cases handled, and more than $200 million recovered, John Lozano is a drunk driving accident lawyer who helps people hurt by impaired drivers across Texas hold them accountable. His board-certified personal injury trial experience means every claim is built to pursue the drunk driver, any bar that overserved them, and the full compensation Texas law allows.
Accountability When a Drunk Driver Changes Everything
A drunk driving crash is not an accident in the usual sense. Someone chose to drive impaired, and you are left with hospital bills, missed paychecks, and injuries that may affect you for years. In 2024, more than 1,000 people died in DUI-alcohol crashes in Texas, about three every day, making up roughly a quarter of all traffic deaths in the state. The criminal case may punish the driver, but it will not pay your bills. A personal injury claim can.
A drunk driving accident lawyer from Lozano & Khan can obtain the crash report, blood or breath test results, and body camera footage, then track the driver’s criminal case for evidence that supports your claim. The firm identifies every liable party and insurance policy, including your own uninsured motorist coverage, and handles all communication with adjusters so you can focus on healing.
Who Can Be Held Liable and What You Can Recover
The drunk driver is not always the only one responsible. An experienced Texas drunk driving crash lawyer looks at every party whose choices contributed to the collision, because the driver's policy alone is often too small to cover serious injuries.
Who May Be Responsible for a Drunk Driving Crash
- The impaired driver and their auto insurance company
- Bars, restaurants, or stores that served an obviously intoxicated person
- Adults who gave alcohol to a minor, plus employers or vehicle owners in some cases
Losses a Drunk Driving Claim May Cover
- Medical bills, future care, lost wages, and lost earning capacity
- Pain, mental anguish, physical impairment, and disfigurement
- Punitive damages, which may be uncapped in serious injury and fatal crashes
Protecting Your Claim While the Criminal Case Moves Forward
Texas generally allows two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, and two years from the date of death for a wrongful death claim. Claims involving a government vehicle or entity can require formal notice much sooner. Waiting for the DWI case to finish before acting can cost you valuable evidence and time.
A civil claim only has to be proven more likely than not, so you may still recover compensation even if the driver’s criminal charges are dropped or end in acquittal. A Dallas drunk driver accident lawyer can move quickly to preserve bar receipts, surveillance video, and witness accounts before they disappear. The firm also decides when to file, since a driver facing criminal charges may refuse to testify in the civil case until the criminal matter is resolved.
Why Choose Lozano & Khan for a Drunk Driving Accident Case?
Drunk driving cases demand fast investigation and real trial readiness, especially when dram shop claims and punitive damages are involved. When people look for a top rated drunk driving accident attorney, board certification is one of the clearest signs of trial skill. John Lozano is board-certified in personal injury trial law, a distinction held by only 4% of attorneys, and every case is prepared as if it will go to trial.
- Board-certified personal injury trial experience
- More than 45 years of legal experience
- Over 12,000 cases handled and $200 million recovered
- Free case review with no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered
If you have been searching for a drunk driver lawyer, Lozano & Khan represents the people who were hurt. As a drunk driving law firm in Dallas serving clients throughout Texas, the firm offers the attention of a local drunk driving accident attorney with the resources to take on insurers and bars.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Drunk Driving Accident Claims
Yes, in many cases. Under Texas dram shop law, a bar, restaurant, or store can be liable if it served alcohol to someone who was obviously intoxicated to the point of being a clear danger to themselves and others. A drunk driving accident attorney should act quickly, because receipts, surveillance video, and staff accounts can disappear within days.
Often, yes. Punitive damages punish the driver for gross negligence and require clear and convincing evidence and a unanimous jury. Texas normally caps them, but the cap does not apply when the driver's conduct amounts to intoxication assault or intoxication manslaughter, which covers many serious injury and fatal crashes.
You can still pursue compensation. A criminal case requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, but a civil injury claim only requires showing that the driver was more likely than not at fault. A DUI accident lawyer can use police reports, test results, and witness statements to prove impairment even without a conviction.
No. Your injury claim can move forward while the criminal case is pending. Many people search for a Dallas DWI accident lawyer expecting the criminal case to handle their compensation, but prosecutors represent the state, not you. A conviction can strengthen your claim, but you don't need to wait for one to start protecting your rights.
In most cases, you have two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, and two years from the date of death for a wrongful death lawsuit. Claims involving a government entity may require written notice much sooner. Speaking with a lawyer early helps preserve evidence and avoid missing a deadline.
You may still have options. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection (PIP) may pay for your losses. A drunk driving injury lawyer can also look for other sources of recovery, such as a bar that overserved the driver, the driver's employer, or the vehicle's owner.Clear fault does not guarantee fair payment. Insurers may dispute treatment, causation, or damages even when liability appears straightforward. A car accident attorney can organize the evidence, calculate losses, and handle settlement negotiations.
Lozano & Khan handles drunk driving injury cases on a contingency fee basis. Your case review is free, and you pay no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered. This lets you get experienced legal help without paying anything upfront.Yes. A Dallas company car accident lawyer can investigate whether the driver was working when the crash occurred and whether an employer or another business may share responsibility. Commercial policies and company records may affect the available coverage.
Yes. In Texas, the surviving spouse, children, and parents may file a wrongful death claim for lost financial support, companionship, and mental anguish. The estate may also bring a survival claim for the deceased's medical expenses and pain before death. Punitive damages are often uncapped when a drunk driver causes a death.
You may still recover compensation. Texas uses a modified comparative fault rule, so your award is reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible. Insurers often try to shift blame onto victims, which is why a careful investigation matters.
Yes. An arrest starts the criminal case, but it does not pay your medical bills or lost wages. The driver's insurer will still try to limit what it pays you. A lawyer handles the civil claim, uses evidence from the criminal case to your advantage, and pursues every available source of compensation.