Dallas, TX — January 17, 2026, one person was injured in a suspected drunk driver accident just before 3 a.m. in the 3400 block of Highland Drive.

A preliminary accident report indicates that an eastbound 2023 Toyota Camry collided with a westbound 2018 Volkswagen Passat near the intersection with North Jim Miller Road.

The Volkswagen driver, a 42-year-old man, was seriously injured in the crash, according to the report. His name has not been made public yet.

The Toyota driver, who was not injured, is suspected of being intoxicated at the time of the crash, the report states.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Dallas County crash at this time.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I read about incidents like this one, what stands out to me isn’t just what happened, but what often gets left out of the conversation. Reports may focus on a suspected impaired driver and an injured party, but they rarely pause to ask how that driver reached the point of getting behind the wheel in the first place. That missing piece matters, especially when someone else’s life is altered in a matter of seconds.

If the early information is accurate and impairment is involved, one of the most important but often overlooked questions is where the driver may have been drinking beforehand. Texas law recognizes that responsibility doesn’t always stop with the person behind the wheel. If an alcohol provider continued serving someone who was obviously intoxicated, that decision can play a role in what followed. That’s the kind of question dram shop law is built to answer, and it’s not something most people think about when they first hear about a crash.

It may be surprising, but in many suspected drunk driving investigations, there simply isn’t enough time or support to fully explore where the alcohol came from. That doesn’t mean the question isn’t important. For the injured party, understanding whether overservice occurred can shed light on how this situation developed and whether broader accountability exists beyond the driver alone.

When I come back to stories like this, I’m reminded that what’s missing can be just as important as what’s reported. Looking beyond the surface helps ensure these incidents are fully understood, not just reacted to, and it reinforces why the law provides tools that many people don’t even realize are available.

Summary

• Texas dram shop law exists to examine whether an alcohol provider may have contributed by overserving an obviously intoxicated patron.
• A full investigation should look beyond the driver to understand how alcohol may have been served before the crash.
• Legal remedies may exist that most people are unaware of, offering a way to uncover the complete story and broader accountability.