A car accident can result in serious injuries and damages for every person involved. However, drunk driving accidents are even more severe in nature, especially when a driver intentionally gets behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Hundreds of car accidents involving drunk drivers happen every single year, resulting in life-altering changes or even killing innocent drivers, pedestrians, or bicyclists on the road. If you or someone you love were hurt in a car accident as a result of drunk driving, then you should contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible.
The Law Place has gathered over seventy-five years of collective experience and knowledge in a multitude of legal areas. Our law firm has managed plenty of car accident claims for clients in Port Charlotte and all over the State of Florida with great success. If you are seeking compensation following a Port Charlotte car accident, then you have come to the right place.
Our team of car accident attorneys will investigate your case, evaluate the damages and develop a personal injury claim that will cover all of your injuries, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. Rest assured that we will handle your case and fill you in every step of the way while you take the time that you need to recover from your injuries.
Contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today, and a personal injury lawyer will fight for the compensation that you deserve following a drunk driving accident in Port Charlotte.
Common Types of Drunk Driving Accidents in Port Charlotte, FL.
Alcohol is known for diminishing a driver’s ability to react in a timely manner on the road. There are a number of factors that contribute to causing a drunk driving accident, including a lack of awareness, poor judgment, and confusion as a result of consuming alcohol. Here are the most common types of drunk driving accidents:
- Wrong-way car accident – A drunk driver can cause a wrong-way crash when they enter a freeway off-ramp or turn the wrong way on a one-way street.
- Rear-end car accident – A drunk driver usually has a delayed response time as a result of consuming alcohol, which means that it is often a challenge for them to stop their motor vehicle in time. It can also lead them to tailgate other road users.
- T-Bone car accident – A drunk driver can cause a T-bone collision (also known as a side-impact crash) when they fail to stop at a red light or a stop sign, and they coincidently hit another motor vehicle at the side.
- Head-on car accident – A drunk driver can swerve into the opposite side of traffic, which makes it hard for other road users to respond in time. More often than not, it can result in a head-on collision which is a highly serious case.
Common Drunk Driving Accident Injuries in Port Charlotte, FL.
Drunk driving accident injuries can range from minor cuts and burns to life-altering injuries such as a spinal cord injury to a traumatic brain injury. It is imperative that you get a check-up at the hospital following a Port Charlotte car accident so that a medical professional can diagnose you. Then your car accident attorney will be able to recover compensation that will adequately cover all of your medical bills.
- Burns and scars – A serious car accident can potentially result in an explosion, creating burns and scars.
- Broken bones – A car accident can result in bones getting bent in an unnatural way.
- Soft tissue injuries – A car accident can cause soft tissue injuries, ranging from complaints like strains, sprains, bruises, and inflammation.
- Spinal cord injuries – A car accident can lead to bulging and herniated discs, spinal cord injury, paralysis, or constant pain.
- Traumatic brain injuries – A severe car accident can result in traumatic brain injuries, including headaches, loss of consciousness, sensory issues, dizziness, speech impairment, and more complications.
Common Types of Compensation After a Drunk Driving Accident in Port Charlotte, FL.
It might feel overwhelming for you to comprehend the amount of bills and expenses on your shoulders following a drunk driving car accident in Port Charlotte. The good news is that a car accident attorney will help you to recover the losses that you have suffered as a result of another driver’s negligence.
Economic Damages
- Medical expenses – If you sustained an injury, then you will need compensation to pay the costs of medical bills, hospitalization, physical therapy, rehabilitation, prescription medication, and more.
- Lost wages – If you have been left unable to work as a result of your injury, then you will need compensation for a loss of income, reduced earning capacity, or changes to your usual income.
- Property damage – If your motor vehicle or other personal property was damaged, then you will need compensation to pay the costs to repair or replace your motor vehicle or other personal property.
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering – If you are suffering from physical pain, mental anguish, emotional trauma, or depression, then you will need compensation for a reduction or a loss of quality of life.
- Wrongful death – If your loved one was killed in a drunk driving car accident, then you will need compensation to pay the costs of funeral expenses, medical bills, and more. You could be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit according to Florida Statute 768.21.
Other Liable Parties for a Drunk Driving Accident in Port Charlotte, FL.
The drunk driver is the clear choice to blame for a car accident. However, there might be other parties that could be held liable. A personal injury lawyer will investigate your case to determine what parties should be held financially responsible for your losses. A list of other liable parties might include:
- An establishment serving alcohol or a bartender – Dram Shop Law covers an establishment’s liability in the case of a drunk driving accident in the State of Florida. However, the law also states that an establishment that serves alcohol can be held liable in the event that they knowingly serve alcohol to a minor or to a person that they knew had a drinking problem. More information on Dram Shop Law can be found in Florida Statute 768.125.
- An adult serving a minor – If alcohol is being served at a private residence, then every adult has a responsibility to ensure that they arrive home safely. However, in the event that an adult serves alcohol to a minor and that minor causes a car accident that injures someone else, then the adult can be held partially liable for damages.
Signs of a Drunk Driver in Port Charlotte, FL.
If you notice someone on the road who you think might be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, then you should immediately call the police. You could save someone else’s life by acting fast and reporting them to the police. The most obvious signs to tell whether someone has been drinking include:
- Following too closely – A drunk driver will often find it hard to judge the distance between the motor vehicle in front of them as a result of alcohol affecting their depth perception. This is also known a tailgating.
- Driving too fast or too slow – A drunk driver might drive too slowly in an attempt to be more careful when they are aware that they have had too much to drink. In other cases, a drunk driver will travel too fast in order to arrive at their destination more quickly. Most of the time, a drunk driver might not be able to tell the speed that they are traveling at.
- Wide turns – A drunk driver will often suffer from poor judgment, diminished peripheral vision, and problems with depth perception that can result in wide turns and/or high-speed turns.
- Swerving – A drunk driver will find it hard to stay in their own lane, and they will often swerve in and out of lanes.
- Ignoring traffic laws – A drunk driver might struggle to see or read traffic signs, or they might choose to ignore traffic signs altogether. A number of traffic infractions include driving the wrong way, running red lights or stop signs, speeding, or failing to signal.
Contact The Law Place Today in Port Charlotte, FL.
If you or someone you love were injured in a drunk driving car accident in Port Charlotte, then you could be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. It is not fair that you have to suffer the consequences of another driver’s negligence, and you deserve to be compensated.
The Law Place has accumulated over seventy-five years of combined experience when it comes to handling personal injury claims for people in Port Charlotte and throughout the State of Florida. Our law firm has been fortunate to have helped hundreds of clients over the years, and we will guide you through the legal system with proficiency.
Our team of car accident lawyers will work hard to secure the maximum amount of compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, property damage, and more. We understand the difficulty of your situation, and we want to help you fight for the justice that you deserve.
Contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today, and a personal injury lawyer will fight for the compensation that you deserve following a drunk driving accident in Port Charlotte.
