Being hit by a drunk driver can be a devastating event. This is because the reckless behavior of intoxicated drivers often leads to more serious and damaging collisions. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver in Florida, you may be entitled to hold the driver responsible to compensate you for your injuries and losses. Continue reading to learn more about what you should do if you’re injured in a car accident with a drunk driver.
Read more: The Common Causes of Florida Car Accidents
Why Do Drunk Driving Accidents Occur?
Drunk drivers are more likely to cause a motor vehicle accident because alcohol intoxication impairs a driver’s perception, judgment, and reaction times. As a result, they cannot promptly respond to conditions on the road, such as a changing traffic signal or an oncoming vehicle. Alcohol intoxication can also make drivers feel drowsy or fatigued, which can lead to behaviors such as drifting across lanes of traffic or off the road. Alcohol also lowers inhibition, so some drunk drivers may decide to engage in aggressive or reckless driving behaviors like speeding or tailgating.
What Should I Do After a Drunk Driving Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a drunk driving accident, you can take the following steps to help protect your ability to hold the intoxicated driver responsible for the accident and obtain compensation for your injuries:
- Call 911 or contact the police department directly, especially if you suspect that the other driver may be under the influence since that driver should not be allowed to get back on the road.
- Get the other driver’s license, vehicle registration, and insurance information; the responding police officers will be able to obtain this information for you and may note it down on the police accident report.
- Make sure to obtain a copy of the police accident report following the crash.
- Talk to any eyewitnesses to the crash and have them provide a short written or recorded statement and their contact information.
- If possible, take photographs or video of the accident scene, including the traffic controls, along with any damage to the vehicles involved in the crash and any visible injuries you may have suffered.
- Get examined by a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. If you wait too long to seek medical attention, you may lose the right to obtain personal injury protection coverage from your own insurance company to help pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses. The at-fault driver or their insurer may also later argue that you were not as seriously injured in the crash as you claim.
Read more: Will a Lawyer Still Take My Case If I Don’t Have Car Insurance?
What Compensation Am I Entitled to for a Drunk Driving Accident?
If you have a legal claim against a drunk driver for involving you in a motor vehicle accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation for expenses and losses that you’ve incurred, such as:
- Medical expenses, including hospital bills, doctor’s appointments, surgeries or other procedures, prescription medications, or physical/occupational therapy
- Lost wages and income
- Lost earning capacity caused by disabilities that interfere with your ability to work
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality or enjoyment of life, such as due to embarrassment or humiliation from physical scarring or disfigurement, or due to physical disabilities that interfere with daily activities
- Loss of consortium, which provides compensation to your spouse for the loss of your companionship due to your injuries
- Property damage, including costs to fix or replace your vehicle involved in the crash
Read more: Average Payout For a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Florida
Contact a Lake Worth Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Drunk Driving Accident Case in Florida
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a drunk driving accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled, bilingual attorneys at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. represent clients injured because of DUI accidents in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miramar, Coral Springs, and throughout Florida. Call (561) 533-0345 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 813 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth, FL 33460, as well as offices in Pompano Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.