Drunk Driving Accidents

There are often many factors that come into play during a drunk driving accident, including the speed of both drivers, weather conditions, and whether passengers were wearing seatbelts. Our Orlando drunk driving accident lawyers at FVF offer no-cost evaluations to help you understand your legal rights and the extent of your damages.

We can also make sure you get the expert medical treatment needed for your injuries. Injuries that can occur as the result of a car accident include:

• Back injuries
• Neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal injuries
• Bone fractures
• Skull fractures
• Whiplash

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, whether or not drunk driving was at play, it’s important to get immediate medical attention for yourself and anyone else who was harmed.

No matter your injury, recovering after a collision can be painful and stressful. Our Orlando drunk driving attorneys are here to provide guidance and support in a pressure-free environment so that you can focus on healing from your injury.

Of the 5,000 impaired driving accidents that occurred in Florida in 2019, about 320 were in Orange County. Of those, 236 involved injuries and 43 involved fatalities. While these numbers may not sound like a lot, they were significantly more than the previous year’s numbers for Orange County, which saw 176 injuries and 24 fatalities in alcohol-related crashes.

In Florida, it’s illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or above. Drunk driving is considered either a misdemeanor or a felony in the state, depending on how many DUIs the driver has received. A driver under the influence may be charged with a felony if they have had two prior DUI convictions in the past 10 years or three or more prior DUI convictions during their lifetime, or if they caused serious bodily injury or death to another person while driving under the influence.

Florida is also one of many states that has enacted what’s known as a dram shop law. Under this law, it’s not just the drunk driver who may be held liable for a collision. A host or establishment who provided or sold alcohol to an underage driver or someone they knew was addicted to alcohol may also be found responsible for accidents that occur as a result. That means victims may be able to seek compensation from a bartender, liquor store owner, or social host as well as the drunk driver themselves.

Negligent drivers in Florida can face steep fines and jail time. Despite knowing this, many drivers still choose to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after having one too many drinks. Unfortunately, deadly accidents result. That’s why we at FVF are committed to protecting Orlando drunk driving accident victims and protecting their rights after a collision.

The type of damages you can seek in a drunk driving accident depend on the specifics of your particular case. We can help you determine whether you’re able to recover any of the following types of damages:

• Medical expenses, both current and ongoing
• Property damage to your vehicle
• Lost earnings and future wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Wrongful death

In Florida, you must first seek compensation from your insurance company’s personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for medical costs and other damages before suing a negligent driver. However, you can automatically sue an at-fault driver if you suffered permanent injury or scarring or loss of a significant bodily function, or for wrongful death of a loved one.

Florida also permits punitive damages in a drunk driving accident in addition to compensation for damages.

Drunk driving accidents may involve many parties, as well as criminal charges. Both of these can make it challenging to navigate complex accident claims on your own. An Orlando drunk driving accident lawyer can help you with the following:

• Educate you on your legal options. Drunk driving accident lawyers can help you navigate both criminal and civil proceedings. They can give you clear understanding of the status of your case and the evidence you have available to you as your criminal case proceeds. They can also provide guidance throughout your case so that you always make the decisions that are best for you.
• Handle communications. Drunk driving accident attorneys can manage the communication between everyone involved in your case, which might include law enforcement, prosecutors, witnesses, and the defendant. When you have an attorney representing your interest with various parties, you can make sure that all communication is streamlined and your legal rights are always upheld.
• Stand up to insurance providers. Insurance companies will often try their best to get you to settle for a lower amount than you deserve or work to deny your claim. Drunk driving accident lawyers know what tactics insurance companies use and will advocate for you to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
• Afford medical bills and other damages. You may have extensive medical bills and other damages as the result of a drunk driving accident, especially if it resulted in severe injuries or disability. An Orlando drunk driving injury lawyer can help you figure out ways to finance your medical care and other bills as you wait for resolution of your case.

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Why Hire FVF for Your Orlando Drunk Driving Accident Case?