Port Charlotte Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were over a million drivers arrested in 2016 for alcohol or drunk impairment. This number pails to the 111 million drivers who self-reported driving drunk at some point during 2014. Alcohol impairs a person’s decision-making ability, their visual function, and their muscle coordination. If you were hit on the road by a drunk driver, it is imperative that you work with an attorney to seek damages for your injuries and property loss. The Port Charlotte drunk driving accident attorneys at Hale Law have the experience needed to get you the best compensation possible.
ACTIONS OF AN INTOXICATED DRIVER
Drunk drivers exhibit behaviors on the road that are reactionary to their loss of motor control, visual acuity, and mental processing. Examples of this include:
- Drifting, swerving, or weaving between lanes;
- Driving aggressively;
- Speeding or changing speeds erratically;
- Unpredictable and unnecessary braking;
- Not reacting in a timely manner to signs or changing traffic lights;
- Failing to use headlights at night or turn lights; and
- More.
All of these actions make drunk drivers unpredictable on the road. While drunk driving is considered anyone with a BAC of over .08, even driving buzzed can cause a person to have slow reaction times, impaired judgement, and a loss of fine motor control.
FLORIDA IS A COMPARATIVE NEGLIGENCE STATE
While the Huffington Post reports that drunk driving is the second leading cause of car accidents in the United States, being hit by a drunk driver does not automatically make them fully at fault. Florida has a comparative negligence law, which means multiple parties can be deemed at fault for a traffic collision. For instance, if you were sober but speeding when you were hit by a drunk driver, you could be deemed 10 percent liable for the crash, for example. This means you would only be able to seek 90 percent compensation for the damages.
The other party’s insurance company may try to partially blame you for the crash so that they do not have to cover all of the damages caused by their reckless driver. It may require further investigation into eyewitness statements, crash scene evidence, and police reports to prove your innocence in the traffic case. A qualified attorney will know what to look for to show that you were the victim and deserve full compensation. Compensation will take into account the following:
- Medical bills and anticipated future medical expenses;
- Lost wages due to injuries;
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss of joy in life;
- Property damage;
- Emotional distress; and
- More.
CALL A PORT CHARLOTTE LAWYER FOR HELP
Being a victim in a traffic collision can take an emotional toll, especially when you know the driver was acting in a way that was entirely preventable such as drunk driving. These cases require an attorney who will look out for your best interests as you recover by investigating the case and negotiating with all of the insurance companies involved. Call a Port Charlotte drunk driving personal injury attorney at Hale Law today at 1-800-800-1414 to schedule a free consultation.