What Should I Do If I Have Been Injured in a Drunk Driving Accident?

Driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol is classed as a criminal offense in the State of Florida. Drunk driving puts everyone on the road in danger. If you were hit by a drunk driver, then you deserve to be compensated for the injuries and damages that you sustained.

The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) reported that there were close to 5,000 car accidents caused by drunk drivers, which lead to 3,000 injuries and 400 deaths in the year 2019. If you are in need of legal advice following a drunk driving accident, then you have come to the right law firm.

At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of combined experience and knowledge in fighting drunk driving accident cases for clients throughout the State of Florida. Our law firm has an in-depth understanding of car accidents, and we are aware of the complex nature of drunk driving accidents.

If you were injured by a drunk driver, then it is completely understandable that you will have a number of questions following an accident. One of the biggest questions that you might have is, “what should I do if I have been injured in a drunk driving accident?” The answer is that you should get in contact with a car accident lawyer now.

If you call our office now, then we will talk you through the legal process. We will also discuss the details of your case and answer all of your questions following a drunk driving accident. Our phone lines are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today.

What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident

If you were hit by a drunk driver, then you need to know how your actions will affect your personal safety and legal rights. Our law firm strongly advises that you follow these steps at the scene of a drunk driving accident:

• Remain at the location – You are required to remain at the location of a drunk driving accident, even if you were not the cause. If you need to move to prevent an injury or further damage, then you can move to the side of the road.
• Check for injuries – You have to prioritize your safety after a car accident. If you or someone else suffered an injury, then you need to pick up your phone to call an ambulance to the location of the accident. However, if you believe that approaching the drunk driver would put you at risk, then you should stay in your car and simply call the police.
• Collect evidence – You should take the time to collect evidence from the scene of the car accident by taking photographs and videos of the location, motor vehicles, property damage, injuries, road marks, and more.
• Eyewitnesses – You should get the contact information (names, phone numbers, and more) of the people who witnessed the car accident. The eyewitness could be willing to make a statement that will help you to pursue compensation later.
• Go to the doctor – You should go to the doctor to get a check-up after a car accident, even if you feel fine. In most cases, the shock or adrenaline can hide the symptoms of an injury. A doctor will be able to rule out any potentially serious or life-threatening injuries.
• Hire a drunk driving accident lawyer – If you or someone you love were hurt in a car accident that was caused by a drunk driver, then you should get in contact with a drunk driving accident lawyer at The Law Place. Our law firm will support and guide you through the legal system. A car accident lawyer will help you to win the compensation that you deserve for the injuries and damages that you sustained. Call our office to set up a free consultation now.

Types of Injuries Sustained in Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving accidents can result in a number of injuries ranging from burns and bruises to long-term and disastrous injuries. A list of the most common types of injuries sustained in a drunk driving accident include:

• Broken bones – A drunk driving accident can cause a person’s bone to bend in an unnatural way.
• Burns – A drunk driving accident can result in an explosion that leads to burns and permanent scars.
• Soft tissue injuries – A drunk driving accident can cause soft tissue injuries such as bruises, sprains, strains, and inflammation.
• Spinal injuries – A drunk driving accident can cause spinal injuries, such as bulging, herniated discs, and more. A spinal cord injury can even lead to constant pain and paralysis.
• Traumatic brain injuries – A drunk driving accident can cause a traumatic brain injury with symptoms like headaches, sensory issues, speech impairment, dizziness, loss of consciousness, and other complications.

Types of Compensation for Drunk Driving Accidents

If you are involved in a drunk driving accident that caused you to suffer injuries or other damages, then you could be entitled to receive compensation in the State of Florida. A drunk driving accident lawyer from The Law Place will help you to recover:

Economic Damages

• Medical bills – If you were hurt, then you deserve compensation for past, present, and future medical bills, which includes surgery, hospitalization, doctor’s visits, rehabilitation, physical therapy, prescription medication, and more.
• Lost wages – If you were forced to stay home from work following an injury, then you deserve compensation for lost wages along with a reduced earning capacity and future lost earnings.
• Property damage – If your motor vehicle or other property were damaged, then you deserve compensation for the costs of the property damage.

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering – If you feel physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional suffering after an accident, then you deserve compensation for pain and suffering, reduced quality of life, and loss of enjoyment if you find it hard to perform the activities and sports that you were able to do before the accident.
• Wrongful death – If someone that you love was killed in an accident, then you deserve compensation for wrongful death. A surviving partner and surviving family members can file a wrongful death lawsuit (Florida Statute 768.21) and recover compensation for funeral costs, medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, and more.

The Signs of a Drunk Driver on the Road

The reactions of a driver are significantly reduced by drinking alcohol. Drunk drivers are notorious for lacking awareness and suffering from confusion and poor judgment. If you have a reason to believe that a driver is under the influence of alcohol, then you must call the police. When you are on the road, you should keep an eye out for the following signs of drunk driving:

• Swerving – If you see a driver recklessly moving in and out of their lane, then they are most likely drunk.
• Ignoring traffic laws – If you see a driver ignoring traffic laws by running red lights and stop signs, speeding, failing to signal, driving the wrong way, or something else, then they are most likely drunk.
• Following too closely – If you see a driver finding to hard to judge their distance between other motor vehicles on the road by tailgating, then they are most likely drunk.
• Driving too slowly or too fast – If you see a driver slowing down too much or driving too fast on the road, then they are most likely drunk.
• Wide turns – If you see a driver making dangerous or wide high-speed turns, then they are most likely drunk.

Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driving Accidents in the State of Florida

The statute of limitations sets the amount of time that a person has to file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim after an accident. The statute of limitations is different from one state to the next.

The State of Florida writes that you have up to four years from the time of your accident to file a personal injury claim according to the statute of limitations. In the case of wrongful death, then you will only have two years from the time of a loved one’s death to file a wrongful death claim. If you try to file a claim outside of the time frames, then your case will get dismissed by the court.

The statute of limitations is written in Florida Statue 95.11.

Contact The Law Place Today

If you or someone you love were injured by a drunk driver, then you should think about filing a personal injury claim in the State of Florida. We highly recommend that you speak to a car accident lawyer who can answer all of your questions.

At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of collective experience when it comes to managing drunk driving accidents all over the State of Florida. Our law firm will help you through the legal process when you have been injured in a drunk driving accident.

If you were injured by a drunk driver, then you could be owed compensation for medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and much more. A car accident lawyer will investigate the accident, collect facts and evidence, speak to the insurance company involved, discuss the case with the police department, call on eyewitnesses, deal with the relevant paperwork, calculate the amount of injuries and damages and file a personal injury claim on your behalf. We will deal with all of the legal work so that you can take the time that you need to recover from your injury.

If you call us now, we will immediately get to work on your case. Our law firm will hold the drunk driver liable for your damages and aggressively pursue the compensation that you and your family deserve from their insurance company. When you put your trust in The Law Place, you will always reach the outcome that you desire. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week so that you can speak to a lawyer at any time of the day or night.

Contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today.