The dangers of drinking and driving are well documented. And yet, some people still choose to drive drunk in Texas and cause accidents. We hope this alarming report serves as a reminder to drive responsibly.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) February 25, 2014
Houston ranks second among the nation’s 25 largest cities for the percentage of people killed in car accidents in which drunk drivers caused the accident, news that comes as no surprise to Houston TX personal injury lawyer Albert M. Hassler III, a founding partner of Smith & Hassler law firm.
Hassler based his comments on an article published in The Dallas Morning News about an analysis of various cities’ drunk driving fatality rates. (The Dallas Morning News, “Dallas’ rate of fatal car crashes involving intoxication in top 5 of most populous cities,” Jan. 7, 2013).
“We are not that surprised to read that Houston roads are dangerous,” Hassler said. “Our law office regularly works with families dealing with the aftermath of drunk driving accidents in Texas. The dangers of drinking and driving are well documented. And yet, some people still choose to drive drunk in Texas and cause accidents. We hope this alarming report serves as a reminder to drive responsibly.”
The Dallas Morning News article cited drunk driving accident data gathered by UX Blog about the 25 largest cities in the United States. The study compared drunk driving accident statistics in these cities between 2001 and 2010. Based on Houston’s population, fatal car accidents and fatal car accidents involving alcohol, Houston finished second nationwide for the highest rate of fatal accidents involving drunk drivers. A total of 46.8 percent of fatal accidents between 2001 and 2010 in Houston involved intoxicated drivers, according to The Dallas Morning News.
The only city that finished higher in the study was Denver, where 54.2 percent of fatal auto accidents during that time period involved drunk drivers, The Dallas Morning News reported. Third on the list was Chicago, followed by Phoenix and Dallas. As for other Texas cities, Austin was seventh, Fort Worth was 12th, El Paso was 16th and San Antonio was 19th, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Drunk driving in Texas has long been a serious problem, Hassler said. In 2012, a total of 1,296 people died in drunk driving accidents in Texas, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Hassler said Texans can do their part to reduce the number of DWI accidents by using a designated driver or calling a cab or friend if they have had too much to drink.
“If you have been injured by a drunk driver or you lost a loved one in an accident, you should seek the advice of legal counsel,” Hassler said. “An attorney can help you pursue compensation and hold the negligent individual accountable.”
About Smith & Hassler, Attorneys at Law
Smith & Hassler is a Houston-based personal injury law firm that handles a variety of cases involving negligence, including car accidents, truck accidents, property accidents, workplace accidents and more. Founded in 1989 by copartners Michael Smith and Albert M. Hassler III, Smith & Hassler is committed to helping injury victims obtain the compensation they need to make a meaningful difference in the quality of their lives. Smith & Hassler work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing if you don’t win.
For more information about what to do if you or a loved one are a victim of a drunk driving accident in Texas and the legal options available to injury victims, call (877) 777-1529 or complete the online contact form.
Smith & Hassler
1445 North Loop West, Suite 700
Houston, Texas 77008
http://www.smithandhassler.com/