After suffering debilitating injuries in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you may be anxious to hold them accountable. There is no reason you should be forced to cover your medical bills, get behind on your monthly expenses, and struggle to cope with the physical and emotional toll of your injuries while the drunk driver gets away with it.
Fortunately, when you have help from reputable drunk driving accident lawyer, Matthew R. Boren, Attorney At Law, you can breathe easier knowing our team of legal advocates will do everything possible to get the most out of your claim. Contact our office to schedule a free consultation with your dedicated car accident attorney today. When you do, you can learn more about the various penalties the drunk driver may face, how you can pursue the fair compensation you deserve, how to protect your rights after a DUI crash, and what to expect from the car accident claims process.
Drunk Drivers Can Face Harsh Penalties
Drunk drivers take serious risks when operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Not only are they risking their own safety and well-being, but that of others on the roadways. Between the risk of physical injury, extreme financial losses, and harsh criminal penalties, you would think drunk drivers would think twice before getting behind the wheel.
Unfortunately, this continues to be a serious cause for concern across the state. To potentially reduce the number of drunk driving accidents, law enforcement officials and drunk driving accident lawyers are doing everything possible to ensure drunk drivers are held accountable.
Criminal Consequences
Individuals convicted of drunk driving may face harsh criminal penalties. A first-time offender could spend up to six months in jail and pay fines of up to $1,000 per Florida Statutes 316.193. Their driving privileges will be suspended and they could face other penalties, including community service and probation restrictions. These penalties increase with subsequent convictions.
Civil Liability
The drunk driver who hit you can also be ordered to compensate you for the total value of your damages. Civil liability ensures you receive the fair compensation you are entitled to. The at-fault party can be ordered to compensate you for not only your vehicle repairs and medical expenses, but your emotional distress, physical injuries, and other losses. Some examples of potentially recoverable damages in drunk driving accident claims include:
- Disfigurement and permanent disability
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of employee benefits and income
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Mental anguish
- Feelings of shock, fear, anticipation, indignity, or shame
- Inconvenience
- Damage to your professional reputation
- Medical bills and equipment fees
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of household services
It is also possible that punitive damages may apply, especially if the driver who hit you has multiple DUI convictions on their record. As described under Florida Statute 768.72, punitive damages could be issued if the defendant’s conduct rises to the level of gross negligence, reprehensibility, or malicious intent.
How to Protect Your Rights After a Car Accident
If you hope to protect your rights after a car accident, knowing how to handle your personal injury claim is crucial. You need to gather as much evidence as you can to support your case which could be collected at the accident scene immediately after the collision. For instance, you should take photos of damage to all involved vehicles, your injuries, and any surrounding property damage. This will help accident reconstructionist generate their reports.
We must prove liability based on a preponderance of the evidence according to the Florida Courts. Hiring the right catastrophic injury lawyer could make all the difference in the outcome of your case. When you file a claim with the insurance company, the insurer may attempt to avoid liability since the driver who hit you was intoxicated. The insurance adjuster may argue that the insurance policy was not active since the driver was drunk at the time of the collision. However, our team will closely evaluate the insurance policy terms to ensure the insurer does not take advantage of you during one of the most challenging times in your life.
An insurance settlement may not be enough to cover the full value of your losses anyway. For this reason, if you hope to protect your right to maximum compensation, be prepared to bring your drunk driving accident lawsuit to trial. This way, you can recover the compensation you deserve without restrictions.
Trust In a Respected Drunk Driving Accident Attorney for Help Today
The injuries you suffered in the drunk driving accident may have a terrible impact on your life, but when you have the support and resources of top-rated personal injury lawyer, Matthew R. Boren, you have a real opportunity to take back control of your future.
The liable party should not be able to move forward with their life as if nothing happened. They should be compelled to compensate you for the total value of your damages and suffering. We can help you make them pay. Fill out our convenient contact form or call our office to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation today.