An arrest for DWI in Fort Worth can threaten your license, career, reputation, and freedom. At Varghese Summersett, our Fort Worth DWI lawyers have handled hundreds of intoxication cases in Tarrant County — from first-time misdemeanors to felony intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter cases.
Trusted Fort Worth DWI Defense
Our team includes Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists, former prosecutors, and trial lawyers with deep experience defending DWI charges in Fort Worth and throughout Tarrant County. If you have been arrested for DWI, call 817-203-2220 for a free consultation.
- Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists
- Former prosecutors
- Hundreds of Fort Worth DWI cases handled
- 300+ DWI, intoxication assault, and intoxication manslaughter jury trials
- Office three blocks from the Tarrant County courthouse
- Free consultation
Contact a Fort Worth DWI Lawyer Today
Why Choose Varghese Summersett for a Fort Worth DWI Case?
DWI cases are highly technical. The best result often depends on whether your attorney knows how to attack the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, probable cause for arrest, blood warrant, breath test, lab work, and the State’s timeline of intoxication.
Our Fort Worth DWI defense team has tried intoxication cases at every level. We have defended professionals, elected officials, pilots, nurses, firefighters, lawyers, doctors, and people who had never been in trouble before. We understand what is at stake, and we know how DWI cases are prosecuted in Tarrant County.
Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists
Benson Varghese, Anna Summersett, and Letty Martinez are Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Board Certification is a mark of experience and special competence in criminal defense.
Trial-Tested DWI Defense
Many DWI cases resolve through negotiation, but the best negotiations usually come from being ready for trial. Our lawyers know how to identify weak evidence, challenge police assumptions, and present a defense that prosecutors must take seriously.
Local Tarrant County Experience
Our office is located at 300 Throckmorton Street in downtown Fort Worth, just three blocks from the courthouse. We regularly handle cases in the Tarrant County criminal courts and understand the local procedures, prosecutors, judges, and practical realities that can affect a DWI case.
Significant DWI Jury Verdict
In one notable DWI trial, our team obtained a Not Guilty verdict in a case involving an alleged .359 BAC — more than four times the legal limit. Results like this require preparation, technical knowledge, and the willingness to take a case to a jury when the State’s evidence does not tell the full story.
DWI Cases We Handle in Fort Worth
Our Fort Worth DWI lawyers defend the full range of intoxication-related offenses, including:
- First-time DWI
- Second DWI
- Felony DWI
- DWI with BAC of .15 or higher
- DWI with a child passenger
- DWI involving an accident
- DWI involving prescription drugs or controlled substances
- DWI refusal cases
- DWI blood warrant cases
- Intoxication assault
- Intoxication manslaughter
How Our Fort Worth DWI Lawyers Fight DWI Charges
Beating a DWI charge often starts with finding weaknesses in the State’s case. Prosecutors must prove more than alcohol consumption. They must prove that the accused operated a motor vehicle in a public place while legally intoxicated.
1. Challenging the Traffic Stop
Police must have reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle. If the officer misunderstood the law, exaggerated driving behavior, or made a stop unsupported by video, the defense may be able to challenge the stop and seek suppression of the evidence.
2. Challenging Probable Cause for Arrest
An officer must have probable cause before making a DWI arrest. Field sobriety tests, officer observations, body camera footage, medical conditions, fatigue, footwear, weather, and roadway conditions can all affect whether probable cause really existed.
3. Attacking Field Sobriety Tests
Field sobriety tests are voluntary in Texas, and they are often less reliable than officers suggest. These tests can be affected by medical conditions, age, weight, injuries, anxiety, uneven surfaces, poor instructions, and improper administration.
4. Challenging Breath or Blood Evidence
Breath and blood results are not automatically reliable. Our attorneys examine whether testing procedures were followed, whether the machine or lab work was reliable, whether the blood draw was lawful, and whether the State can prove intoxication at the time of driving.
5. Fighting Blood Warrants
If police obtained a warrant for a blood draw, the warrant affidavit must establish probable cause. If the affidavit is weak, misleading, or contains false statements, the defense may be able to challenge the blood evidence.
6. Showing the State Cannot Prove Intoxication Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
In many cases, the most important issue is whether the State can prove intoxication at the time of driving — not later at the jail, hospital, or lab. Timing matters. So do video evidence, witness testimony, officer credibility, and the science behind alcohol absorption and elimination.
Defending DWI Cases in Tarrant County
Fort Worth DWI cases are usually prosecuted in Tarrant County courts. Local experience matters because every county has its own practices for bond conditions, alcohol monitoring, ignition interlock devices, plea negotiations, blood warrants, ALR hearings, and trial settings.
Our attorneys regularly handle DWI cases arising from arrests by Fort Worth Police, Tarrant County law enforcement agencies, and other North Texas officers. We know how these cases are investigated, how prosecutors evaluate them, and where weaknesses commonly appear.
What Is a DWI in Texas?
Under Texas law, a person commits DWI if the State proves the person operated a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. Intoxication can mean a BAC of .08 or more, or the loss of normal mental or physical faculties because of alcohol, drugs, prescription medication, or a combination of substances.
That means a person can be arrested for DWI even without a breath or blood result over .08. In many cases, the State relies heavily on officer observations, driving behavior, field sobriety tests, and video evidence.
DWI Penalties in Texas
| Offense | Possible Punishment |
| First DWI | 3 to 180 days in jail and up to a $2,000 fine |
| DWI with BAC .15 or higher | Up to 1 year in jail and up to a $4,000 fine |
| DWI with Child Passenger | State jail felony; up to 2 years in state jail and up to a $10,000 fine |
| Intoxication Assault | Third-degree felony; 2 to 10 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine |
| Intoxication Manslaughter | Second-degree felony; 2 to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine |
A DWI conviction can also lead to license suspension, probation, surcharges, ignition interlock requirements, increased insurance costs, employment issues, and a permanent criminal record.
What Happens After a DWI Arrest in Fort Worth?
After a DWI arrest, the officer may request a breath or blood specimen. If you refuse, the officer may seek a warrant for your blood. After the arrest process, bond will be set, and the court may impose bond conditions such as no alcohol, random testing, or an ignition interlock device.
You may also face an Administrative License Revocation hearing, commonly called an ALR hearing. This is separate from the criminal case and concerns whether your driver’s license may be suspended.
The sooner you involve an experienced DWI lawyer, the sooner your defense team can preserve video, request evidence, challenge the stop, evaluate the blood or breath evidence, and begin building a defense.
Named Best DUI Lawyers in Fort Worth Five Years in a Row
Varghese Summersett has been recognized by Expertise.com as one of the best DUI law firms in Fort Worth every year since 2021. The firm has also earned strong marks for responsiveness, helpfulness, friendliness, and detail.
Meet Your Fort Worth DWI Defense Team
Our Fort Worth DWI cases are handled by Board Certified Criminal Law Specialists and former prosecutors with deep experience in Tarrant County courts.
- Benson Varghese — Managing Partner. Board Certified in Criminal Law. Former Tarrant County prosecutor. 100+ jury trials.
- Anna Summersett — Partner. Board Certified in Criminal Law. Former Tarrant County prosecutor.
- Letty Martinez — Partner. Board Certified in Criminal Law. Former Tarrant County Chief Prosecutor and Assistant U.S. Attorney.
- Christy Jack — Partner. Former Tarrant County Chief Prosecutor.
- Tiffany Burks — Partner. Former Tarrant County Deputy Chief Prosecutor.
See the full Varghese Summersett team →
Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Worth DWI Cases
Can a DWI be dismissed in Fort Worth?
Yes, but dismissals depend on the facts. A DWI may be dismissed if the stop was unlawful, probable cause was lacking, field sobriety tests were improperly administered, blood or breath evidence is suppressed, or the State cannot prove intoxication beyond a reasonable doubt.
Should I refuse field sobriety tests in Texas?
Field sobriety tests are voluntary in Texas. Many people do not realize they can decline them. If you already performed field sobriety tests, an experienced DWI lawyer can still evaluate whether the tests were properly administered and whether the results can be challenged.
Can I be convicted of DWI if my BAC was under .08?
Yes. Texas law allows the State to pursue a DWI case based on alleged loss of normal mental or physical faculties, even if the BAC is under .08 or there is no chemical test result.
Will I go to jail for a first DWI?
A first DWI carries possible jail time, but many first-time misdemeanor DWI cases do not result in jail as punishment if properly handled. The outcome depends on the facts, criminal history, BAC level, accident allegations, and available defenses.
How much does a DWI lawyer cost in Fort Worth?
The cost depends on the seriousness of the charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, whether blood or breath testing is involved, whether experts are needed, and whether the case is resolved by negotiation, suppression hearing, or trial.
Talk to a Fort Worth DWI Lawyer Today
A DWI arrest does not have to define your future. Our Fort Worth DWI lawyers know how to attack weak evidence, challenge unlawful police conduct, and fight for the best possible result.
Call Varghese Summersett at 817-203-2220 or contact us online for a free consultation with a Fort Worth DWI lawyer.