WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
In Texas, as in most states, there is a distinct difference between a criminal case and a civil suit. A civil suit for drunk driving is different from any criminal actions a drunk driver may face. A criminal proceeding against a drunk driver is designed to protect the community from future injury by acting as a deterrent to drunk driving and discipline the drunk driver for acting in a careless manner. A drunk driver can face a criminal trial even if there is no accident or injury involved. A police officer needs probable cause to pull over the drunk driver. The criminal side is handled by the district attorney’s office and may depend on the amount of collected evidence and if there was any violation of Fourth Amendment reasonable search and seizure laws. Any violations of the Fourth Amendment by the government entity could mean a “not guilty” verdict for the drunk driver. The case may be thrown out if the officer is found to have done something wrong. A civil case based on drunk driving comes in the form of an injury lawsuit filed by the victim of a drunk driver to recover damages for injuries, lost wages, future lost earning potential, and so on. If you are injured by a drunk driver, a civil suit may be your only remedy to potentially recover everything you need to cover the cost of economic damages. Civil suits also may offer the opportunity to When a Drunk Driver Causes Your Injuries
recover non-economic damages, such as money for pain and suffering. While drunk drivers can face serious criminal charges, they can
also face civil liability if sued by their victims, with penalties including restitution and jail time. If you or a loved one is injured or killed by a drunk driver, a civil suit may be your best
path. When we handle a case, we may try to resolve the case before filing a lawsuit in order to save the client time and money. However, sometimes a lawsuit is necessary to recover from the at-fault party. When a drunk driver causes an accident, the collision is inherently more valuable from a personal injury standpoint. The claim is more valuable to jurors because factors such as drunk drivers will often infuriate the members of the jury. The insurance companies know this and are more willing to correctly compensate the victims, our clients.
Austrian Potato Salad
Whether or not your friends are vegan, we’re willing to bet they’ll enjoy this mayo-free version of potato salad much more than the standard variety.
INGREDIENTS
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2 lbs. small potatoes 1 medium white onion 1/2 cup pickled gherkins
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3 tsp whole grain mustard 3 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Bring a medium stockpot of salted water to a boil. 2. Boil potatoes until fork tender, about 20–30 minutes. 3. In the meantime, finely chop onion and gherkins.
4. When potatoes are done cooking, strain and place in large salad bowl with onion and gherkins. 5. For dressing, whisk together mustard, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. It’s best to add oil gradually at the end. Dress salad and let sit for 15 minutes to absorb flavor before serving.
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