As World Cup matches in Arlington and July Fourth celebrations bring crowds to North Texas bars, drunk driving accidents in Texas are expected to spike. Historically, holiday weekends and major sporting events bring an increase in drunk driving and the consequences can be life-changing.
Most people know that a drunk driver can be sued after causing a crash. What far fewer people realize is that the sports bar, restaurant, or nightclub that kept filling that driver’s glass may also share legal responsibility. That could mean significantly more compensation to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
If you’ve been injured by an impaired driver anywhere in Carrollton, Dallas, or the surrounding North Texas area, here’s what you need to know.
The Numbers Behind the Problem
Drunk driving is not a rare, random event. It is a predictable, preventable pattern of harm — and the numbers tell the story. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 32 people die every day in drunk-driving crashes in the United States — that’s one person every 44 minutes. In 2024 alone, 11,904 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes.
Texas bears more than its share of that burden. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 1,254 people died on Texas roads in 2024 due to impaired driving — more than three lives lost every single day.
Those numbers represent families, not statistics. And when a crash happens, one question too many victims never think to ask is: who else might be responsible?
Texas Has a Law for This: The Dram Shop Act
Texas law — specifically the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code §2.02 — holds alcohol-serving establishments legally accountable under what’s known as the Texas Dram Shop Act. The law allows victims to hold alcohol providers accountable when they serve a visibly intoxicated person who poses a clear danger to themselves or others, or when they sell alcohol to a person under 21 who then causes an accident. It applies to bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and others licensed to sell alcohol.
In other words, imagine a fan is watching a World Cup match at a packed Arlington sports bar, and the bartender keeps serving him round after round even as he’s slurring his words and struggling to stand. He leaves, gets behind the wheel, and hits your car on I-30. Under Texas law, you may have a claim not just against that driver — but against the bar that kept filling his glass.
What You Have to Prove
A dram shop claim isn’t automatic. To succeed, you generally need to establish three things: first, that the establishment provided or sold alcohol to the driver; second, that the driver was visibly intoxicated at the time of service, meaning their level of drunkenness would have been obvious to a reasonable person (or that the driver was a person under 21); and third, that this service directly contributed to the accident that injured you.
Evidence that can support your claim includes surveillance footage from the bar, witness statements, receipts showing the number of drinks purchased by the liable party, and the driver’s blood alcohol content at the time of the crash. A dedicated Carrollton lawyer for drunk driving victims can immediately step in to secure this evidence before the establishment deletes it.
Why This Matters: The Insurance Gap
Here’s the practical reality: drunk drivers are often underinsured. Their policy limits may not come close to covering your medical bills, lost wages, future healthcare needs plus pain and suffering, especially in serious crashes. Because Texas dram shop liability offers another path for victims of drunk driving accidents to seek justice, it can be especially critical when the drunk driver doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the full extent of the damages.
Suing the bar that overserved the driver doesn’t just benefit you; it creates accountability that can prevent the next crash.
Don’t Wait on Your Case: There Is a Time Limit
Texas dram shop claims have a two-year statute of limitations from the date of the accident. That clock starts ticking immediately, and evidence fades fast. Video surveillance footage, in particular, is often overwritten within days or weeks. If you think you have a case against a business due to an drunk driver hitting you, partnering with a drunk driving injury attorney in Carrollton or Dallas ensures your case is handled properly from day one. Don’t let a negligent establishment hide the truth — reach out today.
Hold Every Responsible Party Accountable: Contact a North Texas Drunk Driving Injury Lawyer Today
You shouldn’t have to pay the price for a bar’s negligence and a driver’s reckless choice. At O’Hare and Koch Law Firm, we have over 30 years of experience stepping into the gap for shattered families across Carrollton, Dallas, and all over North Texas. We know how to investigate complex dram shop cases, identify all liable parties, and pursue the full compensation our clients deserve.
If you or a loved one was hurt by a drunk driver, we want to hear from you. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. There’s no fee unless we win your case.
O’Hare and Koch Law Firm serves clients in Carrollton, Dallas, and throughout North Texas, including Denton County, Collin County, and the greater DFW Metroplex.
