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At approximately 5:15 a.m., an alleged drunk driver ran a red light causing a major accident that claimed the life of a Lewisville, TX man. The crash happened on October 3, 2022 when a black Volkswagen Taos driven by Summer Dodge (23), ran a red light at the intersection of SH 289 and SH 121 in Plano. When traveling southbound on SH 289, Ms. Dodge failed to stop for a red light and crashed into a pickup truck driven by Steven Green (52), traveling eastbound on SH 121. The impact from the collision caused the vehicle to become engulfed in flames. Mr. Green succumbed to his injuries. Per the report, Ms. Dodge had a blood alcohol content of .188 which is more than twice the legal limit at the time of the crash. This crash and surrounding facts remains under investigation.
Commentary
If the facts contained in the crash report are accurate, this is a senseless loss of another life at the hands of a drunk driver. As of January 9, 2023, the driver still has not been charged with an intoxication related offense in Collin County. Something must be done to keep drunk drivers off the road, especially the ones who claim another person’s life. Unfortunately, for the victim’s family, criminal charges won’t bring back their loved one or help them deal with the financial aftermath. A civil lawsuit can help a family who loses a family member collect loss of income and for other claims such as pain, suffering, companionship, and mental anguish. In such a catastrophic loss, it is difficult to navigate the process while grieving. In fact, it becomes more complicated if litigation is required. In this case, apparently the driver had become very intoxicated before getting behind the wheel, so it is important to know if a bar, restaurant or other alcohol provider was involved. Texas enacted the Dram Shop Act that allows victims of drunk driving to sue an establishment that sells alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person. That means that if a person leaves an establishment intoxicated and goes on to injure or kill another person, the establishment, in addition to the driver, may be liable. Determining if an alcohol provider is at fault is usually time consuming and difficult to prove without the assistance of an attorney experienced in handling Dram Shop cases. They can help the victim to preserve evidence such as receipts, video evidence, and other evidence but this often requires litigation. In automobile accidents, a victim needs to move quickly to make sure they protect their rights and preserve this evidence before it disappears.
