Longview, TX — Police said that they alcohol might’ve been a factor in a serious accident that hinged a local man this past Monday night, November 2, 2015. Justin James, 39 years old, was injured and sent to a hospital in critical condition after his pickup truck crashed along Pine Tree Road.
This was around 10:00 p.m. at night, they said, near the intersection with George Richey Road.
James had been driving his pickup north along Pine Tree, according to the reports, when he lost control at the George Richey Road intersection and swerved into oncoming traffic. His truck went off the opposite side of the road and went into a creek bank.
The accident left James with very serious injuries and he was rushed to a hospital, where the last update said he was in life-threateninig condition.
The officers with the Longview Police Department also said they think alcohol could have been a factor, but they aren’t sure.
Map of the Accident
View from the Road
Commentary:
Alcohol-related accidents are no laughing matter in Texas, we lead the nation as one of the states with the most drunk driving accidents per year. In 2014, the number was over 10,000. However, it’s not just folks who are drinking and getting behind the wheel, we also have to consider the number of places like bars and restaurants that are serving alcohol in negligent, irresponsible fashion.
I’m talking about bars that break TABC rules and serve customers who are obviously intoxicated and clearly present a danger to themselves or others. Texas law says there are penalties for that kind of behavior.
For example, if this man had been drinking at a bar and was over-served by a bartender who should’ve cut him off, the ensuing accident would actually be considered both his fault and the bar’s fault — provided you could prove the bar over-served him. At that point, any injuries sustained in the accident would be the responsibility of both the victim and the bar to take care of, though that kind of thing is usually left to a jury to decide.
I don’t know whether alcohol was a factor here and I certainly don’t know where this man had been in the hours before the wreck, but my point remains the same. Before people decry drunk driving accidents as being solely the driver’s fault, take a moment and make sure that no other parties were involved. A lot of times, that means investigating to see if the person driving had been at a bar or some other place that served alcohol.
— Grossman Law Offices
