DUI Accidents & Your Rights
Drunk driving accidents are one of the leading causes of car accident deaths each year and cause about a third of all traffic crashes. Drunk driving results in more than $51 billion in damages in alcohol-related crashes each year, notes the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it was responsible for the deaths of 10,265 people in 2015. And according to the FBI, more than 1.4 million drivers in the United States were arrested for driving under the influence in 2010.
A car accident can be physically debilitating and emotionally traumatic. An auto accident can also cost thousands of dollars in repairs and medical bills and result in wrongful death to the victim. If you’ve been in a car accident that was caused by a drunk driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses, including pain and suffering. You should speak with a Tallahassee car accident lawyer from Fasig Brooks who is knowledgeable about Florida drunk driving laws and can help represent your Tallahassee personal injury case.
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Who is at Risk?
Drunk drivers put more than just themselves at risk because they can cause accidents that result in catastrophic injuries. They put other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists on the road at risk. In fact, according to the NHTSA, of the 1,140 children who were killed in traffic accidents in 2011, 181 of those deaths involved an alcohol-impaired driver. Anybody in Tallahassee, Fl can be at risk of being hit by a drunk driver, who leaves many injured victims in their wake. If you’ve been hit by a drunk driver, contact a Tallahassee personal injury lawyer from Fasig | Brooks to help you.
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Punitive Damages & Third-party Liability
If you were hit by a drunk driver, you are entitled to pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit against that driver. This is just as you would file a claim in other car accident cases that involved serious injuries caused by another driver. Because the other driver was operating their vehicle while intoxicated, you could receive punitive damages with the help of a personal injury law firm. These are damages awarded in cases of gross negligence and extreme recklessness that can be punished according to Florida law.
Furthermore, if an establishment served alcohol to a minor not of legal drinking age or to an individual who was clearly intoxicated, that establishment may be liable as well. Dram shop laws provide motor vehicle accident victims legal recourse against establishments that continue serving alcohol to an inebriated person. They allow victims to recover damages the accident caused to the injured parties.
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Other Damages Included In Your Settlement
In addition to punitive damages, you can also claim economic and non-economic damages for your accident in Tallahassee, Fl. Your attorney will negotiate with the other party’s insurance company to help you obtain fair compensation. In the past, Florida’s no-fault law made it necessary for every motor vehicle driver to carry personal injury coverage. This law has been repealed, but the other driver and their insurance company can still be held liable for personal injury damages.
Economic Damages
Victims of drunk driving accidents will typically include medical bills, lost wages, and property damage in the personal injury claims they present to the drunk driver’s insurance company. A drunk driving accident could have resulted in a disability that prevented the victim from working full-time. This incurs two financial deficits, one caused by medical bills and another created by missing work.
The personal injury may require x-rays, surgery, prescription medicine, physical therapy, and other expenses. You can collect the bills and receipts for all of your medical expenses and provide them to your law firm so that they can be included in your settlement. A drunk driving accident attorney can calculate the wages you are owed and include them in your compensation.
In wrongful death cases, you can receive additional damages that include burial costs, funeral expenses, and medical costs incurred before the drunk driving accident victim died. You can work with your accident lawyer to help you and your surviving family members identify what additional wrongful death damages should be included in your drunk driving settlement claim.
Non-Economic Damages
In addition to economic damages, your personal injury case will include non-economic damages, including your pain and suffering. Your drunk driving accident lawyer can make sure all of your psychological and emotional problems are taken into account. Non-economic damages are based on how badly you were injured in addition to your emotional suffering, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other negative emotions.
Act Before the Statute of Limitations Expires
Suppose you have been involved in an auto accident caused by a drunk driver. In that case, you must act immediately to seek financial compensation with the help of a reliable personal injury lawyer. Florida Law Code 95.11 sets the statute of limitations for personal injury at four years from when the injury occurred. While some see this as a long time, acting as quickly as possible is advised to avoid any lost evidence.
Drunk driving accident lawyers Tallahassee can guide you through the claims filing process and help you understand the law and the compensation you may be eligible for. Insurance adjusters tend to lowball the damages caused by the bodily injury from a drunk driving car crash. A personal injury lawyer can help pursue fair compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Contact Our Tallahassee Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys Today
If you’ve suffered personal injuries in an accident involving a drunk driver in the Tallahassee area, you deserve to be compensated fairly for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, and other financial losses. In wrongful death cases caused by a car wreck, you will need legal guidance from a Tallahassee car accident law firm. Accidents caused by drunk driving are similar to normal car accidents, which means you will need help. The negligent drunk driver should be held responsible for your suffering. To start filing your claim, contact a drunk driving accident lawyer at Fasig | Brooks in Tallahassee at (850) 777-7777, Orlando at (407) 286-6000, or Jacksonville at (904) 222-3333. We will provide you with a free initial consultation.
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