Drunk driving accidents occur on Texas roadways every day. Anyone can become a drunk driving accident victim — drivers are typically not singled out in these incidents. That means parents, teachers, doctors, and more can become victims of a drunk driving accident.
Focusing on parents, in particular, a new law proposed to Texas legislators could provide financial damages to those impacted by their parent being killed by a drunk driver.
Bentley’s Law
Bentley’s Law was initiated by Cecilia Williams from Missouri. Williams is the grandmother of a boy named Bentley. Bentley’s parents, Lacey Newton and Cordell Shawn Michael Williams, and their four-month-old son, Cordell Junior, were killed by an alleged drunk driver in April of 2021.
Bentley’s Law is designed for drunk drivers to pay child support to children whose parents were killed in a drunk driving accident. While the legislation was introduced in Missouri, state lawmakers failed to pass it, citing that drunk drivers would not financially be able to provide a court-ordered payment. These lawmakers also noted that if passed, and the drunk driver could not make those payments, taxpayers or other funds would need to be allocated.
Even though the legislation did not pass in Missouri, Williams has the lofty goal of initiating this law in other states — all 50.
Texas Legislation
Earlier in 2022, a group of Texas residents requested that state lawmakers consider proposing Bentley’s Law for the Lone Star State. If convicted of a fatal drunk driving offense in Texas, the driver faces imprisonment for several years, fines, and their license suspended. As Missouri legislators noted, those punishments would make it nearly impossible for a driver to provide financial child support to the victim’s family.
Fight Against Your Drunk Driving Allegation
If you are charged with a drunk driving offense, you need an expert criminal defense team working on your case. Our attorneys at The Law Offices of Jed Silverman have the necessary knowledge to provide the best defense possible in DWI cases. Don’t let your life be derailed by this accusation — contact The Law Offices of Jed Silverman online or by phone so we can start working for you. (713) 597-2221