Were you injured by an impaired driver in Dallas, TX?
At Kelso Law, we represent injured clients across Dallas on a contingency basis, with no fee unless we recover for you.
If an intoxicated driver, whether they were using drugs, alcohol, or both, caused your crash, you are likely facing serious injuries and need experienced legal advocacy to help you secure a fair outcome. Our Dallas, TX impaired driving accident lawyer pursues the full value of your losses and holds every party whose conduct contributed to the harm accountable.
Kelso Law has represented injured Texans since 2012, and we prepare each case with an eye toward trial. Reach out for a free consultation to talk through your legal options.
Impaired Driving Accident Lawyer Dallas, TX
An impaired driving accident claim is a civil case against a driver whose ability to drive safely was diminished by alcohol, drugs, or medication. It is separate from any criminal case the state may bring. The civil claim exists to compensate you for your injuries, while the criminal case addresses punishment, and the two move through different courts. .
That separation works in your favor. You do not have to wait for a conviction, and you can recover even when the criminal case resolves differently than expected. An impaired driving accident attorney builds the civil claim on its own evidence, from the crash investigation and chemical testing to the medical record, and pursues the compensation the law allows.
Types of Impaired Driving Accident Cases We Handle in Dallas
Impairment comes from more than alcohol, and it causes more than one kind of crash. We handle these cases whatever the substance and whoever was hurt, from single-vehicle wrecks to multi-car collisions. The proof shifts from one situation to the next, and we adjust the investigation accordingly.
- Drunk driving crashes. Alcohol dulls judgment, reaction time, and coordination. We use the crash investigation, chemical testing, and officer observations to establish impairment, and signs like erratic speed and delayed braking often point to alcohol before any test is run.
- Drug-impaired driving. Illegal drugs distort perception and control behind the wheel. We work with the toxicology and the investigation to connect the impairment to the collision, and marijuana, opioids, and stimulants each affect driving in their own way.
- Prescription and medication impairment. Some lawful medications make driving unsafe. We examine what the driver took and how it affected the driving.
- Head-on collisions. Impaired and wrong-way drivers cause some of the most violent crashes on the road, including wrong-way entries onto highways and ramps. We document the mechanics and the injuries in full.
- T-bone accidents. An impaired driver may roll through a light or stop sign into cross traffic. We reconstruct the intersection and establish who was at fault.
- Rear-end accidents. Slowed reactions leave impaired drivers unable to stop in time. We tie the delay to the driver’s condition.
- Pedestrian accidents. Impaired drivers pose a grave danger to people on foot, especially after dark, when they are least able to react. We show how the driver failed to see and yield.
- Motorcycle accidents. Riders face devastating harm when an impaired driver misjudges speed or distance. We pursue the rider’s right to full recovery.
Why Choose Kelso Law for Your Impaired Driving Accident Claim in Dallas?
The Civil Claim Stands Apart From the Criminal Case
Your right to compensation does not depend on the outcome of the driver’s criminal case. Rhiannon Kelso has tried more than 25 cases to jury verdict, including a verdict above $8 million in Dallas County, and she builds every civil claim on its own record. A car accident lawyer Dallas, TX brings that same preparation to impaired-driving matters, gathering the toxicology, the crash investigation, and the medical proof that supports a full recovery. Because a conviction is not required for you to recover, we move forward without waiting on the prosecutor’s timeline.
Results and a Fee Structure That Fits
Our firm has recovered more than $20 million for injured clients over 13 years. We take these cases on contingency, and we are glad to explain how contingency fees work before you commit, so you owe no attorney fees unless we recover for you. She earned her law degree at the Pittsburgh School of Law and belongs to the Dallas Bar Association and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.
What Is Important to Understand About an Impaired Driving Accident Case?
Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Impaired Driving Accident Cases
When an impaired driver injures you, Texas law lets you recover for the losses that follow. Impairment is strong evidence of negligence. Liability can also reach beyond the driver, depending on the circumstances; we may pursue a Dram Shop case along with the claim against the driver. Because these crashes frequently cause severe injuries, the compensation at stake can be significant. Common categories include:
- Emergency treatment and ongoing medical care.
- Long-term or lifelong care for serious injuries.
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity.
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish.
- Damage to your vehicle and other property.
Texas follows proportionate responsibility, which bars recovery by anyone more than 50% at fault and reduces recovery by the injured person’s share. Because driving while impaired is a clear breach of the duty every driver owes, liability is often easier to establish than in other types of auto accident cases.
Some losses carry clear figures, while others, such as pain and mental anguish, take careful evidence to value. When more than one party bears responsibility, we pursue each so the full value of the claim is accounted for. Injury suits must generally be filed within two years of the crash, and understanding the rules before you speak with an insurer is part of what victims should know early.
What Are Important Aspects of an Impaired Driving Accident Case?
These are not ordinary two-car claims, and recognizing a few features early protects your recovery.
- The criminal case can produce useful evidence, but your civil claim proceeds on its own timeline.
- Chemical tests, field observations, and the crash report help establish impairment.
- Responsibility may extend to more than the driver, depending on how the impairment came about.
- Serious injuries often call for detailed medical evidence to value the claim correctly.
- Acting quickly preserves chemical-test results, video, and witness memories before they fade.
What Is the Impaired Driving Accident Case Timeline?
The path is familiar, though criminal proceedings and the severity of the injuries can affect the pace.
- Medical and documenting your injuries.
- Crash investigation including any chemical testing and the police report.
- Notice to the insurers and identification of every responsible party.
- A demand and negotiation, which may lead to an out-of-court settlement.
- Litigation and trial when a fair resolution is not reached.
We keep you informed at each stage, so a decision to settle or proceed to trial rests on current information.
What Should You Bring to Your Impaired Driving Accident Consultation?
Bring what you have, and we can request the rest.
- The crash report and any citation information.
- Photos from the scene and of your injuries.
- Medical records and bills to date.
- Names and contact details for any witnesses.
We use the meeting to explain how impairment is proven, who may be responsible, and how your damages are valued. There is no cost to attend.
What Are Important Texas Legal Resources for Impaired Driving Accident Cases?
Several government resources can help you understand impaired driving and locate the records your claim relies on. Each comes from a state or federal agency.
- The TxDOT impaired driving campaign describes the human cost of driving under the influence in Texas.
- NHTSA drunk driving presents national data and safety information on alcohol-impaired driving.
- NHTSA drug-impaired driving addresses the risks of driving after using drugs or medication.
- TxDOT crash records show how to request the report from your crash.
- The Texas statutes site lets you read the civil deadlines and fault rules that apply.
Reach Out to Kelso Law to Schedule a Consultation
If an impaired driver caused your injuries, our Dallas impaired driving accident lawyer can pursue every source of compensation and hold each responsible party accountable. At Kelso Law, we handle these cases on contingency, so you pay no attorney fees unless we recover for you. Contact us to schedule a free, confidential case review, and we will explain how your claim would move forward.