Florida Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents occur all too frequently despite decades of work by interest groups and the increasing availability of taxi cabs and ridesharing services such as Uber. Drunk driving accidents often involve more serious and even deadly injuries because intoxicated drivers drive recklessly at high rates of speed.
Florida law allows the victim of a drunk driving accident to recover punitive damages (a monetary award meant to punish the drunk driver) in addition to damages which are recoverable in other automobile accidents. Additionally, there is often a claim against the bar or establishment that served the drunk driver to the point of intoxication.
At Trelles, we investigate every angle of how a drunk driving crash occurred and pursue every avenue of recovery available to the victim, including potential dram shop claims. A dram shop action seeks to recover damages from the bar or restaurant that served alcohol to the drunk driver before the DUI accident occurred.
Whether your drunk driving accident happens in Palm Beach County or anywhere else in Florida, the same laws apply?
Yes, an insurance provider will cover damages arising from a drunk driving accident if you can prove the drunk driver caused the crash and that you sustained injuries and damages because of the collision. In this regard, a DUI accident insurance claim is no different from an insurance claim for another type of traffic accident. The fact that the driver was intoxicated can be a factor in the cause of the crash; however, it is up to you to prove that the driver’s actions behind the wheel “caused” the crash.
For example, a drunk driver could be involved in an accident in which another driver fails to yield the right of way and crashes into the drunk driver’s vehicle. In this case, it is obvious that the sober driver caused the crash. The drunk driver may be charged with DUI and face criminal penalties, but the sober driver cannot hold the intoxicated driver responsible for damages simply for the fact that the driver was intoxicated when the sober driver caused a crash.
On the other hand, the fault of the crash could be disputed. Either driver could have contributed to the cause of the accident. The fact that one driver was intoxicated could weigh heavily in the determination of fault.
If the drunk driver was at fault, the driver’s insurance is responsible for damages. However, as with all other traffic accidents, an insurance company may attempt to deny liability or minimize the claim even though they know their driver was responsible for causing the DUI crash.
Contact a Florida Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Now for a Free Appointment!
For all of the above reasons and more, Trelles strongly recommends that you schedule a free consultation with one of our Palm Beach County DUI Accident Attorneys if you are a victim of a DUI. Call (561) 299-HURT now to speak with a member of the Trelles legal team.
Drunk driving accident claims can be very complex. It is best to obtain expert legal advice from a drunk driving accident attorney in Palm Beach before speaking to any insurance provider that may have insurance coverage for the accident.
How Do We Treat Drunk Driving Accidents in Florida?
Our Palm Beach County drunk driving accident attorneys handle DUI accident claims in many of the same ways that we treat other traffic accident cases. The reason for this is that we need to build a strong case with solid evidence proving that the drunk driver did something to cause the collision.
For instance, we need to establish the drunk driver ran a stop sign, failed to yield the right of way, was speeding excessively, rear-ended another vehicle, or committed another traffic infraction or other wrongdoing that led to the crash.
The steps to investigate the crash and gather evidence in a DUI accident case are the same steps we take to investigate other car crash cases except for a few additional steps:
- We obtain copies of the police report for any criminal charges against the driver for DUI or other alcohol-related charges.
- We follow the criminal case closely to gather any evidence that might support our personal injury claim or a dram shop claim against a third party.
- We investigate the circumstances of how the driver became intoxicated before getting behind the wheel to determine if we have a valid dram shop claim.
The legal team of Trelles has handled a significant number of drunk driving accident claims over the years. Through our experience, we have developed the skills, knowledge, and resources to hold drunk drivers responsible for their negligent, reckless, criminal behavior by filing a personal injury lawsuit on behalf of the victims they injure.
You are not responsible for the wrongdoing of a drunk driver!
Trelles will help you seek justice for yourself and your family members.
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