Holding Drunk Drivers Accountable for the Harm They Cause in Galveston County
When a drunk driver injures you in Galveston County, you can pursue compensation from that driver through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit, and in many cases you can also seek exemplary damages meant to punish the conduct. Alcohol-related crashes hurt or kill someone in Texas roughly every 20 minutes. Attorney Bill T. Wells treats these cases for what they are: not unavoidable accidents, but the result of a driver’s criminal choice. As your Galveston County DWI accident attorney, Bill investigates the crash, identifies every responsible party, and fights for the full recovery you and your family deserve. With more than 30 years of trial experience, he knows how to hold impaired drivers and their insurers accountable.
Why Choose Bill T. Wells
When a drunk driver upends your life, you need someone who knows the Galveston County courts and will not let an insurance company decide what your claim is worth. Bill T. Wells brings that experience to every case:
- Over 30 years of experience handling serious injury and wrongful death claims across Galveston County
- Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1990
- More than 500 appearances in Galveston County courts
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell for the highest level of legal ability and ethics
- Free consultations available 24 hours a day, with service in both English and Spanish
Bill works directly with every client from the League City office, so you are never handed off or left guessing about your case. That same direct access begins with your first free consultation and stays with you through every stage, so you always know where your case stands and what comes next.
Who Can Be Held Liable After a DWI Accident in Texas?
The drunk driver is the most obvious party responsible for a DWI crash, but liability often reaches further. Depending on the facts, you may have a claim against the driver, the owner of the vehicle, an employer, or the business that served the alcohol.
When a drunk driver was operating someone else’s vehicle, the owner may be liable for negligent entrustment if they knew or should have known the driver was reckless, had a history of drunk driving, or lacked a valid license, and handed over the keys anyway. If the driver was on the job or in a company vehicle, an employer may share responsibility.
Texas also allows claims against the business that served the alcohol. Under the Texas Dram Shop Act, a bar, restaurant, or other licensed seller can be held liable when it served someone who was already obviously intoxicated to the point of being a clear danger, and that intoxication was a proximate cause of the crash. Identifying every responsible party often makes the difference in whether there is enough insurance coverage to fully pay your damages.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Texas Drunk Driving Case?
Texas law allows DWI accident victims to recover compensation for both economic and non-economic losses caused by the crash. These damages are meant to make you whole again after someone else’s choice to drive impaired.
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of and diminished quality of life
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Physical impairment and disfigurement
Drunk driving cases also open the door to exemplary damages, sometimes called punitive damages. Texas allows these only when the victim proves by clear and convincing evidence that the harm resulted from fraud, malice, or gross negligence, meaning conduct involving an extreme degree of risk that the driver was aware of yet consciously disregarded. A jury that finds a driver acted that way can award exemplary damages on top of your other compensation.
Does the Cap on Exemplary Damages Apply to Drunk Driving Cases?
Not always. Texas generally caps exemplary damages at the greater of $200,000, or two times your economic damages plus up to $750,000 in non-economic damages. That cap is a real limit in most cases.
There is an important exception for drunk driving. When the conduct that injured you amounts to intoxication assault or intoxication manslaughter under the Texas Penal Code, the statutory cap on exemplary damages does not apply. In the most serious DWI crashes, that distinction can dramatically change what a jury is allowed to award, which is one more reason these cases call for an attorney who understands how the exemplary damages rules work.
How Long Do You Have to File a DWI Accident Claim in Texas?
In most Texas personal injury cases, including drunk driving crashes, you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. If a loved one was killed, the two-year deadline generally runs from the date of death. Miss the deadline, and the court will likely refuse to hear your case, no matter how strong it is.
Two years can disappear quickly while you focus on recovery. Evidence also fades fast, vehicles get repaired or scrapped, surveillance video is overwritten, and witnesses move on. Contacting an attorney early gives Bill time to preserve the proof your claim depends on.
Can Being Partly at Fault Affect Your Recovery?
Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule. You can still recover damages as long as you were not more than 50 percent responsible for the crash, but your compensation is reduced by your share of the fault. If you are found 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing.
Insurance companies know this rule and often try to shift blame onto victims to cut what they pay. After a DWI crash, the impaired driver’s insurer may argue you were speeding or distracted to push your fault percentage higher. Bill investigates the crash thoroughly so the fault is placed where it belongs.
What to Expect When You Work With Bill T. Wells
From the first call, Bill’s office begins investigating your case, visiting the scene, inspecting vehicles, gathering witness statements, and securing evidence before it disappears. Because the at-fault driver’s insurer is already working to limit your claim, acting quickly matters.
Bill keeps you informed at every stage, explains your options in plain language, and handles the negotiations and litigation so you can focus on healing. Many drunk driving cases result in a lawsuit, which lets Bill take depositions, obtain documents, and uncover what really happened the night you were hurt.
Talk to a Galveston County DWI Accident Lawyer Today
If a drunk driver hurt you or took someone you love, you do not have to face the insurance companies alone. Contact Bill T. Wells for a free consultation, available 24 hours a day. Bill will evaluate your case, protect your deadlines, and fight to hold the impaired driver accountable for the full extent of the harm caused.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue a drunk driver who was also charged with a crime?
Yes. A criminal DWI case and a civil injury claim are separate. The State of Texas prosecutes the criminal charges, while your personal injury claim seeks compensation for your losses. You can pursue a civil claim regardless of whether the driver is convicted, and a criminal case does not pay your medical bills or lost wages.
What if the drunk driver did not have enough insurance?
You may still have options. If the at-fault driver lacked adequate coverage, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may apply, and there may be additional responsible parties, such as a vehicle owner, employer, or alcohol provider. Bill investigates every possible source of compensation to maximize your recovery.
How much does it cost to hire Bill T. Wells for a DWI accident case?
Consultations are free, and Bill handles motor vehicle accident cases on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing up front. In all motor vehicle accident claims, his attorney fee is a percent of the total recovery, whether the case settles before suit, during a lawsuit, or at trial.