Lakewood Ranch Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
According to Insurify, at least 2.27 percent of drivers nationwide have a prior DUI citation while 17.78 percent of adult Americans admit to excessive or binge drinking. When a driver consumes alcohol and then gets behind the wheel, they not only endanger their own life and the lives of any passengers, but they put other road users at risk. If you or a loved one has been hit by a drunk driver, they need to be held liable not only for the DUI, but for the injuries, pain, and property damage they caused you, contact our experienced Lakewood Ranch drunk driving accident attorneys.
HOW DOES BEING DRUNK INFLUENCE A DRIVER’S ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE A VEHICLE?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a person with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of .08 will experience the following:
- Trouble concentrating;
- Short-term memory loss;
- Inability to judge speed;
- Poor muscle control;
- Reduced information processing capability to see signals and visual cues; and
- Impaired perception.
When a driver is impaired in those ways, they become unpredictable to others on the road. They may brake or speed up erratically. They will not be able to react in time to changing traffic signals or other turn signals. Another common sign of a drunk driver is someone who is swerving on the road because their vision is impaired. When a driver is unpredictable and unable to follow rules of the road they become a risk to others on the road and can cause a collision.
WHAT DOES COMPENSATION COVER?
An injured party in a traffic collision where another person is at-fault can seek financial compensation through a personal injury claim. Claims will take into consideration economic damages such as medical bills, future anticipated medical treatment, property damage and lost wages due to injuries. A skilled personal injury attorney can also help a victim determine non-economic damages such as pain and suffering.
In Florida, being hit by a drunk driver does not automatically make the drunk driver fully liable. Florida is a comparative negligence state, which means multiple parties can be found at fault in a collision. For instance, if a drunk driver hit you but you were found to have been speeding, you could also be held partially liable and the amount of compensation you recover would be proportion to how at-fault you are in the collision. Having legal representation will prevent insurance companies from trying to place undue blame on to you.
CONTACT A LAKEWOOD RANCH LAWYER IF YOU HAVE BEEN HIT BY A DRUNK DRIVER
If you have suffered unnecessary injuries due to a traffic collision with a driver who was impaired, you have the right to seek financial compensation for the damages. While you focus on recovering from physical injuries and the emotional distress of being in a crash, let the Lakewood Ranch drunk driving accident attorneys at Hale Law, P.A handle the legal legwork. We can collect evidence, compile documentation of your injuries, and advocate for you against the insurance companies. To schedule your free consultation, call our offices at 1-800-800-1414.