Jeffrey Joiner & One Other Killed in Accident near 3800 Cedar Crest Boulevard in Dallas, TX
Dallas, TX -- A wrong-way crash in Dallas, TX left 58-year-old Jeffrey Joiner and one other dead around 11:45 p.m. Sunday, March 12, 2017.
It appears a 2002 Ford Explorer was southbound near 3800 Cedar Crest Boulevard when it collided head-on with a Toyota Camry. The report claims the two drivers were killed at the scene of the incident.
The report mentions no other injuries in the collision.
The official investigation is currently underway.
There was no further information available at the time of the report.
map of the area
Commentary
While we can't say for certain alcohol was a factor in this accident, it's a reasonable assumption. I say this because having handled hundreds of liquor liability accident cases, it's highly uncommon for reasonable, sober drivers to head the wrong way down the road, crashing head-on into another vehicle. Considering the accident happened around midnight, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the drivers was drunk.
If it turns out alcohol was involved, then those responsible should be held accountable. Drunk drivers usually face criminal punishment for their actions, but what is often overlooked is these drivers are often enabled by bars that over-serve them. This is where dram shop law comes into play.
Dram shop law states that bars illegally over-serve customers may be held liable when these patrons go out and hurt themselves or others. Unfortunately, plenty of bars will do all they can to place the responsibility on the shoulders of the drivers. Just as often, bars will glom onto what may seem minute details in an accident with the hopes of proving it's the victim made a poor decision leading to their injuries.
One detail in this accident that a bar might attempt to exploit is the claim neither driver was properly restrained in their vehicle. It's not unheard of for a bar on the losing end of a dram shop case to excuse themselves in an accident by pointing out the lack of seat belts.
Now, while this argument might hold water where the injured parties are of sound mind, it's shot full of holes when a driver is blitzed out of their head. If a driver is drunk enough to decide it's a good idea to get behind the wheel of a car, seat belts are probably of no great consequence to them. I don't think you have to be Perry Mason to see through this paper-thin defense. When you're accused of contributing to a person's altered state, you can't really expect them to behave as a reasonable person would.
As our law firm has litigated more drunk driving cases than almost any firm in Texas, I can tell you from personal experience this is only one of many ridiculous tactics bars will use to diffuse blame.
--Grossman Law Offices
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