A late-night crash on Main Street in Covington, TX claims the life of 43-year-old Chad Brooks. According to the crash report, Texas DPS responded to a crash at the 500 block of Main Street around 11 p.m. on April 1st. The report indicates that a white Jeep Wrangler driven by Frisco Lowe was traveling south on SH 171 and was attempting a left turn into a private drive when he drove on the wrong side of the roadway, turning in front of a Harley-Davidson driven by Chad Brooks. Emergency crews airlifted Brooks to John Peter Smith hospital in Fort Worth where he succumbed to his injuries. Lowe reported possible injuries. Toxicology reports are pending.
Commentary:
The crash report indicates that the driver who caused this crash may have been drinking prior to getting behind the wheel. Alcohol can slow reaction time, leading to impaired decision making and unsteady maneuvers when behind the wheel. The crash report indicates that this may have contributed to the crash and if it did, the driver may not be the only liable party for the accident. Texas has what’s known as the Dram Shop Act. This law can hold alcohol providers liable for overserving a patron who goes on to injure themself or someone else. A family who has lost a loved one due to a drunk driver has tools to hold those bars responsible for the damages and recover for their losses for the wrongful death of a loved one. It is absolutely imperative to obtain the upfront evidence and preserve it before it is unobtainable such as video footage from the scene and bar, dash cam footage, electronic control module (black box) evidence, witness statements, and measurements from the scene.