Jason Coquel Killed in Single-Vehicle Accident in Harris County, TX
Harris County, TX -- July 27, 2021, Jason Coquel was killed due to an accident where Coquel's vehicle crashed into a tree off-road.
Investigators reported that the crash took place at around 2:30 a.m. along Grant Road in the area of Jones Road.
Reports said that Jason Coquel was in a Nissan Rogue traveling along Grant Road. While rounding a curve, the Nissan reportedly went off the side of the road onto the median and crashed into a tree.
Coquel sustained injuries which ultimately proved fatal. Authorities allege that alcohol and drugs contributed to the crash. Reports show a BAC test result of .23. They did not release any additional details.
Commentary on Jason Coquel Single-Vehicle Accident in Harris County
I just want to be clear up front that I'm not commenting on this tragic crash to upset anyone or blame anyone. On the contrary, I find that a lot of people are quick to completely dismiss victims when police reports show that they engaged in reckless behavior. While I understand this sentiment, it's simply not how our laws work. There are often unique avenues for victims and families to consider that can get them the help they need during what is no doubt an indescribably difficult period. For that reason, it's important to look at one potential avenue in particular that often follows accidents like this.
Police mention that alcohol played a role here, and their tests apparently show a BAC that would be about three times the legal limit. The reason that matters is because there are laws in Texas prohibiting alcohol providers, such as bars and restaurants, from serving customers who are obviously intoxicated. If they do so anyway, as many businesses do, they can be liable for crashes resulting from their over-service of alcohol. This is called Dram Shop Law.
Dram Shop Law sometimes gets misinterpreted as some blame-shifting tactic to excuse intoxicated drivers. That's not at all true. Drunk drivers almost always have their day in court to answer for what happened. In a situation like this, if the details are accurate, the victim faced the ultimate consequence, and his loved ones are also facing the repercussions of those decisions. If investigations show that a local business benefited off of contributing to such a devastating event, why should they get away with it? Just because the victim also made mistakes? That simply wouldn't be right. Texas law allows for all parties to be held accountable for their individual actions. Making sure investigators look into these possibilities is crucial for victims and families, but if a local business had a hand in all of this, it's important for the community as a whole.
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