A Harris County Sheriff’s Assistant was injured after a major wrong-way DUI collision in northern Harris on Thursday night, August 12.
The major collision transpired in the 500 block of Aldine Mail Route Road at approximately 11:45 p.m. A Toyota sedan was heading west on the eastbound lanes and collided head-on with the deputy’s vehicle. It’s unclear why the Toyota driver was driving in the wrong lanes at the time of the accident.
The Sherrif’s deputy sustained minor injuries in the mishap. Both the deputy and the Toyota driver were taken to an area hospital to be examined. The deputy’s vehicle was reportedly crushed due to the severity of the impact. It also exploded after the collision.
No alcohol bottles were found in the vehicle. However, authorities believe that intoxication may have played a role in the crash. A toxicology test will be performed on the wrong-way driver to check whether he was under the influence at the time of the accident.
Information about the crash is limited at the moment. The identities of the involved parties have not been disclosed. Local authorities are further investigating the cause of the collision.
Wrong-Way DUI Crash Statistics
Driving while under the influence is one of the most reckless and irresponsible things any driver can do. Unfortunately, drunk driving is one of the leading causes of car accidents and fatalities in the U.S. In 2018 alone, there were 10,511 deaths attributed to drunk driving accidents.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention information, around 18% of all fatal motor accidents involve drugs and alcohol. In this case, a wrong-way collision occurred as a result of intoxicated driving. Every year in the United States, approximately 355 people are killed as a result of wrong-way drivers. With an average number of wrong-way collision deaths of 265, it is calculated that there are 1.34 fatalities per wrong-way collision death.
Texas had the highest number of wrong-way driving fatalities in the country, with fatalities rising 29 percent during the time period studied by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Between 2015 and 2018, 2,008 people died in wrong-way driving collisions on divided highways, an increase of 34% over the annual number of deaths from 2010 to 2014. According to the research, Texas has the highest number of total wrong-way crash fatalities of any state, with 309 from 2015 to 2018.
Personal Injury Attorney for Victims of Wrong-Way DUI Collisions in Harris County
Drunk driving is a punishable offense. Unfortunately, many irresponsible drivers continue to disregard the law, resulting in serious accidents. If a drunk driver has injured you, you have the legal right to pursue legal action against them. To receive compensation for their injuries, drunk driving victims must usually file a civil claim against the drunk driver, starting with your injury lawyer filing a claim with the drunk driver’s insurance company.
Your lawyer will negotiate the claim’s value, and if the insurance company makes a reasonable settlement offer, the case will be resolved quickly. If the drunk driver’s insurance company refuses to make a reasonable settlement offer, your attorney may be forced to file a lawsuit against them.
Our Texas drunk driving attorneys can assist you with your claim, no matter how minor or major your injuries are. We can serve as a reliable legal guide for the victims as they recover from their injuries. Call (888) 398-4017 or complete our online intake form to schedule your free consultation.