When a drunk driver causes a serious accident, injured victims often face significant challenges. Fortunately, Florida law gives drunk driving accident victims a way to pursue compensation for their losses.
If you’ve sustained injuries due to a drunk driver in Tampa, our accomplished team at Brooks Law Group will help you hold them accountable for their recklessness. Our Tampa car accident lawyers provide thorough, comprehensive legal services to injured people throughout Central Florida.
Contact a drunk driving accident lawyer in Tampa with our firm today to start the legal process. We have over 100 years of combined legal experience, and we’re ready to fight for you, so Look to Brooks® after your crash.
How Our Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers in Tampa Can Help
Injuries due to a drunk driver’s fault are difficult enough without having to worry about whether you will get full and fair compensation for your losses. You need a highly skilled drunk driving accident attorney to represent you. You need Brooks Law Group.
Our Tampa personal injury lawyers will focus on getting you the results you deserve. We will:
- Investigate your accident thoroughly
- Collect all necessary evidence to build a solid claim for maximum compensation
- Handle all negotiations with the other party or parties involved
- Represent you aggressively in court when necessary
Our law firm believes in prioritizing the needs of injury victims, and we’re ready to take charge on your behalf. We can adjust our services to your situation, and we’ll stand by you every step of the way.
Reach out now to learn more about how we can help with your personal injury claim after a DUI accident in Hillsborough County.
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(800) 529-3030
Compensation for a DUI Accident
A DUI accident attorney in Tampa can work tirelessly to ensure you get the funds you deserve to cover all of your economic and non-economic damages. Based on your situation, our team may focus on bringing you compensation for your:
Medical Expenses
The at-fault party may have to pay for any medical costs related to the treatment of your injuries caused by the accident, as well as expected expenses for future medical care. We understand the severity of the injuries you could sustain in this kind of crash.
We’ll need copies of your medical records and other documentation to establish the extent of these losses.
Property Damage
We can fight to bring you compensation for any vehicle or other property damage caused by the crash. In many cases, we can get invoices from vehicle repair shops to determine the amount of money it will take to fully repair your car.
Lost Wages
You may qualify for money to cover any lost income resulting from time off from work. Loss of future income can also be a factor if you are disabled from the collision. We can assess the severity of your injuries and work with your employer to establish the value of these losses.
Pain and Suffering
You may qualify for funds to cover any physical, mental, or emotional pain and suffering directly caused by the accident. You may also receive compensation for any losses that you suffered as a result of permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Note that you may only qualify for this form of compensation if you can step outside of Florida’s no-fault insurance requirements.
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No-Fault Insurance and DUI Accidents
Florida is a no-fault insurance state. Therefore, if a drunk driver hit you, your own insurance policy should be able to cover the cost of expenses directly resulting from the accident up to your policy limit.
You may also be able to pursue an injury claim or lawsuit against the at-fault party if you suffer injuries that Florida law considers “serious,” such as a bone fracture, significant disfigurement, or a permanent injury.
We can review all your legal options when you contact us for help.
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Proving Liability for a Drunk Driving Traffic Collision in Tampa, FL
In order to pursue a drunk driving injury claim or lawsuit in Tampa, you must prove that the other party is liable for your injuries. To do so, you have to show that the drunk driver was negligent while operating the vehicle that caused the accident.
If a driver exceeded the BAC limit of 0.08, the legal system would assume negligence under the state’s negligence per se doctrine. A blood test is necessary to show the driver’s blood alcohol content. Additionally, we may gather the following types of evidence to help prove liability:
- Medical reports
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony
- Photos of the accident scene
- Video footage that may have captured what led up to the accident
We’re ready to take charge of the investigative process after a crash caused by impaired driving. Get the legal representation you deserve by contacting us right now. A DUI accident attorney in Tampa can fight for you.
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Drunk Driving Car Accident Statistics in Florida
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving accidents kill around 30 people in the United States per day, or about one person every 44 minutes.
Even small amounts of alcohol can impair drivers. Alcohol represents a danger because it can make drivers engage in riskier behavior while lowering their reaction speed. If you or a loved one sustained injuries in an accident caused by drunk driving, you deserve legal assistance.
We can step in to provide the care that you deserve. You can learn more by immediately contacting us to discuss the next steps you should take.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Laws in Tampa
Florida has very little tolerance when it comes to drunk driving. The legal BAC limit is 0.08. Drivers with higher BACs will face arrest. This limit applies even if the vehicle was not running at the time of the arrest.
A DUI conviction in Florida will stay on the driver’s record for 75 years. Additionally, first-time offenders can face fines of up to $2,000 and six months in jail. The jail time may increase to nine months when other factors are present, such as a BAC level of 0.15 or more, or having an underage passenger.
In addition to increased jail time, the driver will usually have to do community service, and they can lose their license for up to a year. Although 0.08 percent is the legal limit, a driver can still face arrest even if their BAC is below that limit. An arrest might happen if the driver is:
- Showing signs of impairment: A driver may indicate impairment by their actions, such as swerving on the road, or by their inability to pass the field sobriety test.
- Underage: Having a BAC of 0.02 or more is prohibited for anyone under the legal drinking age of 21.
- A commercial driver: Truck and other commercial drivers must adhere to a higher standard than other motorists. Their BAC limit is half the legal limit for non-commercial drivers, at 0.04.
Third-Party Claims
Florida is also one of the few states that can hold a third party liable for losses due to alcohol-related accidents. Florida’s dram shop law allows a person or a vendor to face liability for negligence if a lawyer can show that they intentionally and knowingly served alcohol to a driver who was under 21 or a known alcoholic.
In order to file a case for compensation due to a drunk driving accident, you have to file the lawsuit within two years of the accident. If the accident is fatal, your family must file a wrongful death claim within two years of the date of death.
Common Injuries from Drunk Driving Accidents
Because of their reduced coordination and reaction time, drunk drivers tend to operate their vehicles erratically and at high speeds. As a result, drunk driving accidents can be extremely destructive and cause serious injuries, including:
- Head trauma
- Neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Crush injuries
- Full or partial paralysis
- Facial injuries and disfigurement
- Deep cuts and lacerations
- Burns
- Bruises
Make sure that you get immediate medical care after sustaining injuries in a crash caused by a drunk driver. Getting treatment quickly makes it clear that the accident directly caused your injuries, which improves your chances of getting the money you need to cover all of your healthcare costs.
What to Do After a DUI Accident in Florida
Your first priority after being injured by a drunk driver is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. In order to qualify for no-fault PIP benefits in Florida, you must see a medical provider within 14 days of the accident.
You should also contact a Tampa DUI accident lawyer as soon as possible so they can start collecting evidence while it’s still available. There are also steps you can take to protect your health and your right to maximum compensation in the days and weeks after the accident:
- Contact your insurer: You have to promptly report any car accidents to your own insurance company. We advise you to let a lawyer handle this step for you, as the insurer can use anything you say against you.
- Follow through with your medical treatment: Continue to follow your doctor’s orders, and don’t miss any medical appointments. Any gaps in treatment could give the insurance company a reason to deny or minimize your claim.
- Keep detailed records: Collect any and all documentation in connection with the accident, such as police reports, medical records, medical bills, pay stubs, income tax forms, repair estimates, and photos or videos of the crash site.
- Keep a pain journal: Tracking the challenges you face daily as a result of your injuries can help to show the extent of your pain and suffering since the accident.
- Avoid posting on social media: Don’t discuss the details of the accident with anyone other than your attorney. Refrain from posting any pictures or updates about your injuries on social media, and ask friends and family members to do the same.
Get more information about the steps you should take after your crash by reaching out to our law firm for professional help and advice.
Talk to Us After a DUI Accident in Tampa
You can get professional help with all of your legal needs after a drunk driver hits you by reaching out to a Tampa DUI accident attorney from our team at Brooks Law Group. We understand what it takes to handle these claims, and we’re ready to put our experience to work for you.
We can fight tirelessly to help you make a full financial recovery when you turn to us for assistance. We’ll discuss options like getting an insurance settlement to cover your losses or filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Discuss your next steps today with a risk-free initial consultation.
Call or text (800) 529-3030 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
