It’s tough enough driving in snowy weather without being drunk.
It’s a true miracle that the victim in this crash was able to survive with a broken arm, and not end up dead in a wreckage of twisted metal and glass. It was a cold, blustery, wintery night and a bad storm was dumping snow faster than snowplows could keep up with it.
The highway was touch and go, with limited visibility, swirling snow, drifting snow and icy patches. Those traveling on the road were moving slower than the posted speed limit, because it was the smart thing to do. And then, out of seemingly nowhere, emerging from a wall of blinding, driven snow, a 64-year-old man, driving the wrong way on the road, slammed head-on into another car.
The police asked him what he thought he was doing, to which he replied he had no idea how he even got on the highway in the first place, never mind driving the wrong way as well. The man was taken into custody and charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence, driving on the wrong way on the highway and recklessly endangering the safety of others. This collection of charges could net the drunk driver up to ten years in prison.
In this day and age, it is stunning to see people that ought to know better still drinking and driving. But to drink and then attempt to drive home in a blinding snow storm is the height of stupidity. If nothing else, this case is an object lesson for others who would think they could attempt the same thing. If you drink and drive in poor weather conditions, you end up paying the price.
The driver with the broken arm may well want to sue the drunk for compensation for his medical bills, time off work and other expenses related to the accident. While it is very fortunate he is alive, he will still face a setback in terms of being mobile for a period of time. Additionally, if there are any complications with the arm, he may face surgery and potentially rehabilitation. E.R. services for a broken arm run around $30,000 and no one has that kind of money on hand to pay bills.
To get the justice you deserve if you have been in an accident such as this one, contact a competent and skilled Austin injury lawyer. Don’t wait and think the insurance company will look after you. The only thing an insurance company looks after is themselves and trying to reduce your claim. An Austin injury lawyer knows how to deal with insurance companies looking to take advantage of accident victims.
Bobby Lee is an Austin personal injury lawyer for Lee, Gober and Reyna. If you need an Austin personal injury lawyer, contact an Austin personal injury attorney from Lee, Gober and Reyna. Visit RWLeelaw.com.
