Williamson County, TX · Free Consultation
Jollyville, TX Wrongful Death Lawyer
When a drunk driver takes a life on the roads around Jollyville, the grief is compounded by anger — and Texas law may hold more than just the driver responsible. SMB Law, PC helps families pursue every party that contributed to the loss. A Jollyville wrongful death lawyer knows a drunk-driving death can reach beyond the driver to a bar or host under Texas law. Shane M. Boasberg has guided Central Texas families for more than twenty years and personally pursues every party that contributed.
The US-183 and Research Boulevard corridor through Jollyville sees its share of late-night and impaired driving, and when a drunk driver causes a fatal crash, the bar or business that over-served them may share the blame.
Where a Jollyville wrongful death claim is handled
Most of Jollyville lies in Williamson County, so a wrongful death suit is filed with the Williamson County District Clerk at the Justice Center in Georgetown; the Travis County portion files in Austin. Many claims are resolved with the insurer before any suit is filed.
Dram shop liability when a drunk driver causes a death
When a fatal crash is caused by a drunk driver, the driver is rarely the only one at fault under Texas law. The Texas Dram Shop Act can hold a bar, restaurant, or other alcohol provider responsible when it served alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person who then caused a death — and a licensed establishment’s insurance is often far larger than an individual driver’s policy. Proving a dram shop claim takes fast work: preserving receipts and surveillance video, identifying the servers, and reconstructing how much the driver was served and how visibly impaired they were. There may also be social host responsibility when an adult provides alcohol to a minor who then causes a fatal wreck. For a grieving Jollyville family, pursuing the provider as well as the driver can be the difference between a token recovery and one that reflects the loss — and it also holds accountable the business whose choices helped cause it.
Holding every responsible party accountable
A fatal drunk-driving crash near Jollyville often involves more than one source of responsibility, and finding all of them changes what a family can recover. Beyond the driver, a dram shop claim against the bar or restaurant that over-served requires moving quickly — alcohol receipts, point-of-sale records, and surveillance footage are routinely overwritten or discarded within weeks. We move to preserve that evidence, identify the servers and managers on duty, and document the chain of over-service that led to the crash. Where an adult furnished alcohol to a minor, social-host responsibility may apply as well. Pursuing these claims is not about piling on; it is about reaching the insurance that can actually support a grieving family and about making the businesses whose choices contributed to a death answer for them.
Compassionate, experienced counsel when it matters most
A wrongful death case is never really about money — it is about accountability and about protecting a family’s future. You work directly with attorney Shane M. Boasberg, who has represented Texans for more than two decades and has been licensed by the State of Texas since 2003. He handles these cases with the care they deserve, keeps families informed at every step, and takes on the insurance company so you can focus on grieving and healing. You get a lawyer who treats your loss with respect — not a case manager reading from a script.
Working with us from Jollyville
Our office is in downtown Austin, an easy reach from Jollyville. We handle most consultations and case updates by phone and video, and there is no fee unless we recover for you. If travel is difficult, we can also come to you.
Why families choose SMB Law, PC
- Direct attorney access — you talk to Shane, licensed since 2003, not a call center.
- No fee unless we recover — wrongful death cases are handled on a contingency basis.
- Honest, patient guidance and transparent terms explained before you commit.
What working with us looks like
- Free, private consultation to understand your family’s situation and the law that applies.
- Investigation — we preserve evidence, obtain the reports, and identify every responsible party and insurer.
- Negotiation or court — we settle when the offer is fair and litigate when it is not.
- Resolution handled with care so your family can move forward.
Frequently asked questions
Can a bar be sued if a drunk driver killed my family member?
Sometimes. The Texas Dram Shop Act can hold an establishment liable if it served alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person who then caused the death.
Why pursue the bar as well as the driver?
A licensed establishment usually carries far more insurance than an individual driver, so its coverage can matter greatly when the driver’s policy is small.
What evidence does a dram shop claim need?
Receipts, surveillance video, and server accounts showing the person was over-served while obviously intoxicated — evidence that must be preserved quickly.
Do I have to travel to your office from Jollyville?
No. Our office is in downtown Austin, about 14 miles southeast via US-183 and Mopac, and we handle Jollyville wrongful death matters by phone and video.