A San Antonio driver allegedly caused a two-car wreck with a San Antonio Police officer shortly after midnight on December 10. It was reported that the driver apparently drove in front of the officer causing the patrol car to crash into the truck. The driver was also charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), which can also be called driving under the influence (DUI).
The driver and the officer were transported to Northeast Methodist Hospital for treatment of personal injuries after the wreck was investigated. The auto accident occurred at the intersection of Thousand Oaks Dr. and Nacodoches Rd.
When a collision is caused by any driver, an investigation into the factors and negligent acts of the vehicle operator must be undertaken. However, when a person is alleged to have been intoxicated, further investigation is warranted. An analysis of the intoxication level is only the beginning: a thorough evaluation of whether the driver was intoxicated at the time of the wreck should be followed by an investigation of when and where the driver consumed the alcohol. If a person is consuming alcohol at a restaurant or bar, and is already showing signs of intoxication while still being served, the bar or restaurant may be liable for injuries to the victim in the car wreck. By determining the alcohol level recorded by the police, using scientific principles, an analysis can be made to determine what the alcohol level and intoxication level were earlier in time. If it can be shown that the person was clearly intoxicated at a time that bar tenders or servers were providing alcohol to the person, Texas law provides for what is commonly referred to as Dram Shop liability.
Only experienced lawyers and law firms with knowledge in the area of DWI/DUI and the science of blood-alcohol concentrations can effectively evaluate these potential cases.
