A woman was critically injured in San Antonio after an alleged drunk driver crashed a pickup truck into her home on Sunday. According to reports, the driver swerved through the neighborhood, hitting multiple structures before plowing into the back of the home, leaving the truck and its trailer completely inside the residence. Emergency responders rescued the woman from underneath the vehicle, while another occupant of the home also sustained injuries.
Whenever I hear about a crash involving an allegedly intoxicated driver, I wonder where that person had been drinking before the crash. Under Texas dram shop law, bars and restaurants can be held liable for overserving alcohol to someone who is obviously intoxicated if that person later causes harm.
Could a Bar or Restaurant Be Held Accountable?
One of the most important questions in this case is whether the driver had been drinking at a licensed establishment before the crash. Texas law prohibits businesses from serving alcohol to patrons who are obviously intoxicated, yet we regularly see cases where bartenders and servers ignore clear signs of impairment. If an establishment continued serving alcohol to the driver despite warning signs, they may share responsibility for the injuries he caused.
What Types of Evidence Should Be Reviewed?
To determine whether a bar or restaurant played a role in this crash, investigators should collect receipts, surveillance footage, and witness statements from any locations the driver may have visited before getting behind the wheel. Reviewing credit card transactions, social media posts, and cell phone location data can also help determine where he had been drinking. If an establishment knowingly overserved an impaired patron, they could be held liable under Texas dram shop law.
Why It’s Important to Ask Questions in This Crash
For the victims of this crash, understanding how and why this happened is crucial. Investigating whether a business contributed to the driver’s impairment could provide another avenue for accountability beyond the criminal charges he faces. In my experience, these investigations often uncover crucial details that weren’t immediately apparent, but they can be essential for helping victims and their families move forward.