A local mother lost her daughter to a drunk driver two years ago – and another youth was also killed. This woman has chosen to bring the cause of ‘drunk driving’ to the public’s attention by creating a Facebook page on which she regularly posts photos and other relative information that highlights people who have been arrested for ‘drunk driving’ within her county along. Strangers to the site will probably be shocked to find that there are approximately 600 people on the page – including a police officer, attorney and other average citizens.

The site is meant to be a tribute to her daughter as well as a blatant reminder that drunk driving is a huge problem in her county. It is mind boggling to imagine the number of arrests multiplied by all of the counties within the state of Texas alone – and then across the country. There are literally thousands of people stopped an detained each day for suspected DUIs – representing a huge potential for catastrophic injuries and deaths that may have been averted in each instance.

If you believe that someone is drinking and driving – contact your local law enforcement – and allow them to take it from there. Don’t be a statistic and do not ride drunk.

Finally, this story is a wonderful example of the positive role social media can play in people’s lives and how a tragedy can turn out to help prevent future loss of life.

Greg Baumgartner is a Houston personal injury lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek civil justice. If you would like to speak with a Houston injury lawyer call the Baumgartner firm.

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It was not many years ago that many prominent political leaders fought hard to keep open containers legal on Texas highways. We have come a long way since the days when drunken driving accidents were not subject to the same penalties as they are today. Not only are DWI accidents resulting in stiff fines and jail time, but also civil cases have been generous in awarding the innocent victim substantial damages from a drunk driving accident.

To the credit of Texas, we have come a long way in the fight to raise awareness of the dangers of drunken driving. We have much work to do and such efforts such as “don’t write drunk” that have been adopted in our neighboring states should be adopted here as well.

Local municipalities such as Houston have adopted “no refusal weekends” where a suspected drunk driver can and will be tested at the scene for alcohol. With New Year’s coming up, the Baumgartner law firm would encourage everyone to drive responsibly and designate a driver if you are apt to celebrate the new year with alcoholic beverages.

Greg Baumgartner is a Houston DWI accident injury lawyer and also the founder of the Baumgartner law firm. If you are loved one have been involved in an accident with a drunk driver and would like to speak with a Houston DUI accident injury attorney please call the Baumgartner law firm for a no obligation consultation.

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Over ten thousand teens and parents were included in the study that spanned nearly a decade. The findings were unsettling for those who like to believe their limited drinking has little effect on their children. Unfortunately, according to the published report, children whose parents drink in moderation in the home are still more likely to drink and drive than children who do not witness their parents drinking alcohol at all. According to the statistics – nearly 6 percent of teens whose parents drank only occasionally while they were growing up were inclined to drink and drive at the age of 21 while 2 percent would do so if their parents had never drank in front of their children.

It is probably no surprise that the influence of peer behavior was determined to be even more profound. Teens with friends that drink alcohol, the researchers revealed, are more likely to drive under the influence — even when their parents do not drink at home. According to the results of the study “teens with friends that drink alcohol are more likely to drive under the influence — even when their parents do not drink at home and when both their parents and their friends drink alcohol, teens seem to be at particularly high risk”. In that case, nearly “11 percent of these teens were later found to drive under the influence during their 20s”.

Your behavior as a parent has an impact on your child’s future.

Greg Baumgartner is a Texas personal injury lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek civil justice. If you would like to speak with a Texas accident lawyer call the Baumgartner firm toll free at 1-866-758-4529.

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There are millions of over-the-counter and prescription medications taken each year by Americans young and old. Some of these are bound to affect a person’s ability to drive. Physicians regularly warn their patients about the adverse effects of the prescribed drugs on a person’s daily routine and drug makers include strict warnings on their products as well. In addition, it’s good common sense to expect that drugs will affect you in some way.

Persons who are ticketed for driving under the influence of legal substances are generally treated with greater lenience. Of course, the courts don’t like it – but to some extent it is understandable if your driving was impaired by prescription medication. However, in the case of illegal substances – which include everything from pot to pills and crack to cocaine – there is ‘zero tolerance’. This type of ‘drugged’ driving leads to greater fines and lengthier jail terms if there is a conviction. Too, prosecutors may place addition charges on the suspect including ‘possession of an illegal substance’. This complicates legal matters for the suspected drugged driver.

If you are under a doctor’s care and medicine is prescribed – be sure to review any precautions and restrictions with him or her. As for the recreational drug user – don’t drive drugged.

Greg Baumgartner is a Houston drunk driver accident lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping injury victims seek civil justice. For a free no obligation consultation with a Houston DWI wreck lawyer call the Baumgartner firm.

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Unfortunately, all the DUI laws in the world do not seem to be having a significant impact on this problem.

With every individual that is arrested, charged and convicted of intoxicated driving – two more seem to ‘pop up’.  Lawmakers have increased fines, jail terms and other punishments – all to no avail. People who choose to drink and drive are persistent and stubborn.

For instance, one woman was arrested for suspected drunk driving. When she was bailed out by a family friend she went back for her car and drove drunk a second time! She caused an accident and grave injury to another individual as a result.

One glimmer of hope in the ‘war’ on drunk driving is the installation of ignition systems that detect alcohol and prevent a driver from starting up the car. Anti-drunk driving organizations are lobbying Congress to require these systems be built into all new vehicles.

I second that effort. Don’t drink and drive.

Greg Baumgartner is a Houston dwi accident victims lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping injury victims seek civil justice. For a free no obligation consultation about an insurance claim in Houston call the Baumgartner firm.

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It was a major impact and the female officer was rushed to the hospital for treatment. At this time, the extent of her injuries is unknown. According to reports officers had to force the door open to get the injured officer out of her vehicle.

Police officers are at high risk for injury particularly after they have pulled off the side of the road in another traffic stop. Houston has been plagued with drunk driving accidents and Houston police officers do not seem immune to drunk drivers- even when they have flashing red lights on.

One of the best organizations for supporting police officers in our area is what is called the Houston 100 club. The 100 club provides benefits to families of officers who have been killed in the line of duty. I am a lifetime member of the Houston 100 club and urge everyone in the Houston area to support this worthy cause.

Let us hope and pray that this officer who has been injured recovers quickly and fully. Many times we just do not take the time to thank the officers who protect us each and every day.

Greg Baumgartner is a Houston auto accident lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm a Texas personal injury law firm, which is dedicated to helping injury victims seek civil justice. For a free no obligation consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Houston call the Baumgartner firm.

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In this legislative session such things as sobriety checkpoints and ignition locks have been under consideration but have yet to make it to the floor. Nevertheless, Texas has recently considered raising the speed limit to 85 mph.

For some reason, Texas has problems strengthening the drunk driving problem our state is confronted with. According to mothers against drunk driving, Texas has almost 125,000 three time DWIs and almost 20,000 five-time offenders. The state of Texas has over 1200 DWI accidents that are fatal every year. With 40% of all wrongful death drunk driving accidents as alcohol-related.

Houston fares no better and is one of the leaders in fatal drunk driving accidents of major cities.

It is my belief that increasing penalties alone is not sufficient to battle the epidemic we face today. It is a culture that has come from the old West and is not going to be changed simply by penalties. We desperately need ongoing education particularly at the younger age groups such as first-time drivers.

The campaign “friends don’t let friends drive drunk” has been very successful and should be replicated for teens. I understand in this age of cutbacks difficult choices must be made and this is one area that is underfunded and needs resources.

Greg Baumgartner is a Houston DWI accident attorney and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping injury victims seek civil justice. For a free no obligation consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Houston call the Baumgartner firm.

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If you listen closely in reports from 12 step programs today, many of the teenagers, and young adults that are in attendance started at the ages eight to twelve years old with their drinking vocations. By the time they are ready to drive, they are full blown alcoholic that are more likely to achieve a black out, than most adults drinking currently. For example, they get a fifth of vodka on the way home from school and two or three teens consume the entire bottle in two to three hours.

Often drunk teens can barely navigate a staircase much less getting behind the family’s second vehicle parked in the garage. Joy riding after binge drinking is worse in many ways than simply a drunk driver trying to make it home after having three or four at the local watering hole. These youngsters are at the point of inducing themselves into alcoholic comas, and on their way to taking out unsuspecting pedestrians, and drivers. Waking up to the fact that they have killed one or more individual because of their extreme drinking is a reality that no one would like to face, much less the financial, and criminal responsibilities that will ensue afterwards.

It is not known if there will be a new way of raising the consciousness of parents, and educating the children in the dangers of these situations. Apparently stronger educational tools are needed, with a shock and awe value that will get teens to quit taking their own, and others life in their hands over a fifth of hard liquor is needed.

As these youngsters graduate from high school, they will be exposed to campus populations of students where sixty eight percent drink while attending college, and forty percent of them drink muliple times per week. It might seem their futures are not that bright unless some sort of group task force implements new rules, educational processes, and therapy for this new generation of drinkers.

Greg Baumgartner is a Houston personal injury attorney and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek civil justice. If you would like to speak with a Houston drunk driving accident lawyer call the Baumgartner firm.

Please help support the fight against drunk driving in Texas.

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Further it has been reported that the driver was unable to stand on his own after being taken out of the vehicle. The kicker comes from allegations of this being a third offense for DWI.

In this incident, there was no car accident and thankfully no one was hurt. But with drivers swerving into oncoming lane of traffic and jumping curbs it is only matter of time until someone perhaps even the driver gets seriously injured.

One of the main components in battling drunken-driving is deterrence such as criminal penalties, however an equally important component is getting someone with alcohol problem help.

There are many organizations that are committed to helping people with drug or alcohol problems and one of the most successful over time has been Alcoholics Anonymous. If you have a loved one or friend with an alcohol problem consider contacting AA and find out what you can do to prevent tragedy.

Greg Baumgartner is a The Woodlands  personal injury lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek civil justice. If you would like to speak with a drunk driving accident lawyer call the Baumgartner firm.

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Texas ranks number one in the country for drunk driving fatalities AND HOUSTON RANKS NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE for this very same distinction.

For those who have either suffered injuries at the hands of a drunk driver – or loved ones who have been left behind to mourn the loss of their child, parent, friend or other family member – there are developments on the technological horizon that may simply wipe out intoxicated driving in a way that laws, community service and jail time seem not to have been able to effect.

Ignition interlocks are being perfected – and are currently available in some vehicles and required to be installed in the vehicles of those who have been convicted of drunk driving – that will literally prevent the cars and trucks of intoxicated drivers from starting up. There are many organizations – such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving – who hail this new technology and feel we cannot move fast enough to install it in all cars – thereby (hopefully) bringing down the number of injuries and deaths due to drunk driving to close to ZERO.

Detractors argue that these devices are a gross imposition on our civil rights. Well, if that’s true then perhaps so are seat belts and airbags – all meant to keep drivers and passengers safer on the roads.

Ignition interlock systems would not even be in consideration – let alone under production – if people themselves would make the right choice. Don’t drink and drive.

Greg Baumgartner is a Houston drunk driving accident lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping injury victims seek civil justice. For a free no obligation consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Houston call the Baumgartner firm.

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