Published by J.A. Davis & Associates – San Antonio Personal Injury Lawyers – Car Accident Injury Representation

Drunk Driving Statistics: Over 1,000 DUI Wrecks in Bexar Last Year

San Antonio car crash lawyers at J.A. Davis & Associates know the toll that impaired drivers take on this community. According to TxDOT CRIS 2024 data, Bexar County recorded over 1,000 alcohol-related crashes in a single year. That figure is not an abstraction — each collision behind that number represents a real person struck by a driver who chose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. If you or someone you love was injured in a San Antonio DWI accident, understanding the legal landscape is the first step toward recovery.

Texas leads the nation in total traffic fatalities, and drunk driving is a persistent factor. NHTSA reports that impaired driving accounts for roughly one-third of all traffic deaths across the United States. In Bexar County specifically, the 1,000-plus Bexar County drunk driving crashes documented by TxDOT CRIS reflect collisions where alcohol was a contributing factor — wrecks that injure families, destroy vehicles, and leave victims facing medical bills they never anticipated. The law provides clear avenues for those victims to pursue the compensation they are owed.

The sheer volume of Bexar County drunk driving collisions means that injuries from these wrecks are common across San Antonio neighborhoods, Bexar County roadways, and surrounding areas. Victims often do not realize how many legal tools are available to them — or how quickly evidence can disappear. Acting quickly after a DWI crash is not just advisable; it can be the difference between a strong case and one that is difficult to prove.

Texas DWI Law: What the State Requires

Texas sets the legal blood alcohol concentration limit at 0.08% for non-commercial adult drivers. A person who operates a vehicle above that threshold — or while impaired by alcohol or any other substance regardless of BAC — commits Driving While Intoxicated under Texas Penal Code Chapter 49. It is critical to understand that Texas law uses the term DWI; “DUI” in Texas technically refers to a separate offense for minors under 21 who have any detectable alcohol in their system. When the media and search engines use DUI interchangeably with DWI, they are referring to the same dangerous behavior: driving while chemically impaired.

Criminal charges against a drunk driver can result in fines, license suspension, and imprisonment. However, a criminal case does not compensate you for your injuries, your lost wages, or the pain you have endured. Civil law does — and it runs on a separate track from whatever the prosecutor does with the driver’s criminal case.

Civil Liability: Recovering Damages After a DWI Crash

A driver who causes a collision while intoxicated is almost certainly negligent under Texas law. To prevail in a civil claim, an injured victim must show that the driver had a duty to operate safely, breached that duty by driving drunk, and caused the victim’s injuries and resulting losses. In a DWI case, the criminal record, the police report, breath or blood test results, and eyewitness accounts can all anchor that proof.

Damages recoverable in a Texas impaired-driving case typically fall into two categories:

• Compensatory damages — medical expenses (past and future), lost income, reduced earning capacity, vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and mental anguish.
• Exemplary (punitive) damages — Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 41.003 allows exemplary damages when a defendant’s conduct involves fraud, malice, or gross negligence. Courts have found that knowingly driving while heavily intoxicated can rise to the level of gross negligence, opening the door to punitive awards that go beyond merely compensating the victim.

Exemplary damages are not guaranteed, but they are a real possibility in San Antonio DWI accident cases — especially when the at-fault driver had a prior DWI history or an extraordinarily high BAC at the time of the wreck.

Texas Dram Shop Act: Holding Bars and Establishments Accountable

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code Chapter 2 — known as the Dram Shop Act — extends potential liability beyond the intoxicated driver. A bar, restaurant, liquor store, or social host can be held responsible if they provided alcohol to a person who was “obviously intoxicated to the extent that he presented a clear danger to himself and others,” and that intoxication caused the plaintiff’s injuries.

This matters enormously in Bexar County drunk driving cases because it creates an additional defendant — one that often carries commercial liability insurance well above the individual driver’s policy limits. Identifying whether alcohol was served negligently requires prompt investigation: surveillance footage is often overwritten within days, and bartender recollections fade quickly. A skilled attorney moves fast to preserve that evidence.

What to Do After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver

The steps you take in the hours and days after a DWI collision directly shape the strength of your civil case.

• Call 911 immediately. A police report documents the scene, triggers a sobriety investigation, and captures the at-fault driver’s BAC while evidence is still fresh.
• Seek medical care right away. Even injuries that seem minor can mask serious trauma. A prompt medical evaluation ties your injuries to the crash in the medical record.
• Photograph everything. Vehicle damage, road conditions, skid marks, traffic controls, and your visible injuries all matter. Take photos before vehicles are moved if it is safe to do so.
• Get witness contact information. Independent witnesses who saw the driver’s behavior, erratic driving, or the crash itself can be decisive.
• Do not speak with the at-fault driver’s insurer. Insurance adjusters represent the carrier’s interests, not yours. A recorded statement made without legal counsel can undermine your claim.
• Contact a San Antonio DWI accident attorney as soon as possible. Evidence preservation, dram shop investigation, and identifying all liable parties require early action.

Evidence That Builds a DWI Injury Case

Strong civil cases against drunk drivers rest on layered evidence. The police report and any resulting criminal charge provide a foundation. Blood or breath test results showing a BAC at or above 0.08% — or any level combined with visible impairment — help establish intoxication. Dashcam footage, traffic camera video, and cell phone records can all fill gaps. Medical records connect the collision to the injury. Expert witnesses, whether accident reconstructionists or medical professionals, translate technical facts into terms a jury understands.

At J.A. Davis & Associates, the firm has handled personal injury cases in San Antonio since 1999. That experience means a systematic approach to gathering and preserving the evidence that impaired driving cases demand.

Talk to a San Antonio DWI Accident Attorney Today

Over 1,000 alcohol-related crashes in Bexar County in a single year means that too many families are dealing right now with the aftermath of someone else’s reckless decision. Texas law gives injured victims meaningful tools — civil liability, dram shop claims, and the possibility of exemplary damages — but those tools require a prompt, thorough legal effort to use effectively.

If you were hurt in a San Antonio DWI accident, the attorneys at J.A. Davis & Associates are ready to evaluate your case at no charge. The firm has served injury victims across San Antonio and Bexar County since 1999. Call (210) 732-1062 for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless they recover for you.