Florida Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers

Everyone knows that alcohol & other illicit substances seriously impact judgment and safe driving. It poses an imminent danger on the road. Despite efforts to raise awareness, Floridians every day get in their cars when they’ve had a few too many, causing serious accidents to occur. If you were injured in an accident because someone couldn’t be bothered to call an Uber or find another safe ride home after a night of partying, you should pursue financial compensation by contacting our Florida drunk driving accident lawyers today.

The experienced Florida personal injury lawyers at Eltringham Law Group will see that you are covered for your damages. Contact us to find out what our Florida drunk driving accident lawyers can do for you or your loved one.

What Are Florida’s Drunk Driving Laws?

According to Florida’s laws on drunk driving, drivers can be arrested if they get behind the wheel with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. It’s a uniform threshold for adults who can legally drink. The car doesn’t even have to move for an arrest to occur. In fact, someone “sleeping it off” in a parking lot can still be arrested even without keys in the ignition.

Most everyone knows that drunk drivers can be arrested if law enforcement determines that they are legally impaired. However, most people don’t know that “circumstantial evidence” of intoxication is also admissible in civil cases and is adequate to prove by the greater weight of the evidence that a person was under the influence to the extent that their normal faculties were impaired. For example, despite the lack of direct proof of intoxication such as roadside sobriety or BAC testing, evidence that the driver had spent seven to eight hours in two bars on the night of the accident, that he admitted to drinking two beers and a sip of champagne, and that he fled the scene were sufficient for the jury to determine that the driver was intoxicated in a civil negligence action. Matalon v. Lee, 847 So.2d 1077 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003).

It is therefore crucial to immediately hire experienced drunk driving accident attorneys like Eltringham Law Group to investigate right away & uncover critical evidence when you have been involved in a suspected drunk or impaired driving accident. This type of evidence can include obtaining witness statements or even your own testimony that the drunk driver’s normal faculties were impaired, including his own admissions to drinking, his erratic, inexplicable and reckless driving, rear-ending a vehicle stopped in the emergency lane at high speed, observations of first responders of him staggering and having glassy eyes, smelling of alcohol, etc.

What is the Florida Dram Shop Law?

In Florida, establishments such as a bar or restaurant may also be financially responsible for a drunk driving accident if they overserve a customer who becomes severely intoxicated and then gets in a motor vehicle and hurts someone else. However, Florida’s dram shop law generally limits such vendor liability to only certain situations. First, where the establishment knew or reasonably should have known that the customer was a “habitual drunkard” based on past experience & interaction with that particular customer. Or, where the drunk customer that injured you was under Florida’s legal drinking age of 21. This is just one of many reasons that it is so important to hire an experienced drunk driving accident attorney like Eltringham Law Group to investigate right away & uncover critical evidence any time you have been involved in a drunk driving accident. A drunk driver’s status as a habitual drunkard implicating possible vendor liability is not something that’s likely to appear in any police report. It is not law enforcements’s job to figure that out for drunk driving accident victims. But it is Eltringham Law Group’s job should you decide to hire us to be your drunk driving accident lawyers. We will do whatever we have to do uncover the evidence necessary to hold all responsible parties financially accountable for any injuries & legal damages resulting from a drunk driving accident.

Common DUI Accident Injuries

A DUI accident can result in serious injuries or the loss of life. These include:

  • Disc herniations & bulging discs
  • Shoulder & knee injuries
  • Whiplash
  • Amputations
  • Broken bones
  • Paralysis
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Head injuries, including concussions
  • Brain Damage (often referred to as TBI)
  • Burns
  • Organ damage
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Wrongful death

Compensation for Drunk Driving Accidents in Florida

The compensation you may receive in a drunk driving accident will vary depending on your personal and professional situation and the severity of your injuries. They may include:

  • Medical expenses (past & future): Medical expenses will cover care needed directly after the accident and any ongoing or future care needs.
  • Lost wages (past & future): You may be compensated for wages lost due to taking time off work to recover from your injuries. And you may also receive compensation to the extent that you have suffered a loss of earning capacity in the future as a result of your injuries.
  • Residential modifications: If you were severely injured in a DUI accident, you might have to make residential modifications to your home to accommodate a disability. The expenses for these modifications may be covered in your damages.
  • Non-Economic Damages: these are personal damages for pain & suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, scaring, loss of consortium, and, perhaps most significantly, “Loss of Enjoyment of Life” to name a few.
  • Punitive damages: Punitive damages don’t typically apply in most car accident cases but they are often brought to the table in DUI accidents. They are meant to punish the drunk driver for injuring you in the commission of a crime, namely drunk or impaired driving. And to further discourage & deter the drunk driver from engaging in similar behavior in the future.
  • Wrongful death: If the victim dies in the drunk driving accident accident, their family members may bring a civil claim for emotional pain and suffering, a loss of financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and more.

Every case is different so our Florida drunk driving injury lawyers at Eltringham Law Group will investigate your case and determine which types of compensation you may be eligible to receive.

How to Spot a Drunk Driver

If you spot a drunk driver on the road in Florida, it is best to get out of their vicinity as soon as possible and call the police. Here are some signs that will tell you if someone is drinking and driving:

  • Braking erratically
  • Driving very slowly
  • Driving on the wrong side of the road
  • Making very wide or tight turns
  • Driving too close to the center lane
  • Weaving, swerving and drifting out of the lane
  • Driving at night without headlights
  • Driving at erratic speeds
  • Nearly striking objects when driving
  • Slow response to traffic signals
  • Ilegal turns
  • Tailgating

DUI Accident FAQs

Does car insurance cover DUI accidents in Florida?

Yes, car insurance will cover DUIs in Florida in most cases. However, the drunk driver’s insurance may not provide adequate compensation if that person is underinsured and does not have other available financial assets to fully compensate you.

How bad is the drunk driving problem in Florida?

According to 2018 NHTSA data, Florida ranked as one of the three states with the highest alcohol-related fatalities. 958 deaths were recorded for the year. The state was third to California (1,241) and Texas (1,677).

What is the statute of limitations for a Florida DUI accident injury?

The victim must file a claim within four years of the date of the accident to receive compensation. The claim must be filed within two years if a wrongful death occurred.

Your Florida Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys Can Help You Win Your Case

If you were injured in a Florida drunk driving accident, act quickly to pursue compensation. Our Florida drunk driving accident lawyers have helped accident victims like you file claims and build strong cases. We perform the investigations, evidence-gathering, and fighting for a fair settlement even if the case goes to court.

Trust the Eltringham Law Group in Florida to be considerate about your recovery and fierce against the insurance companies. Our compassion and results speak for themselves.

Injured in a DUI accident? Call the Eltringham Law Group today to begin your case.

What Our Clients Say

Our Reviews

Our clients love the personalized attention we give every case. Read what they have to say:

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5 star review

I usually never leave reviews, good or bad, but for this instance, I most definitely had to. David and Marnie were both AMAZING. They made me feel comfortable and confident in their ability to resolve my case. I was walking in a crosswalk and was hit by a vehicle resulting in having to go to the hospital. I sustained injuries from this that I am still in the midst of dealing with. I contacted the firm and was able to speak with them via zoom immediately. I decided to sign with them on a Monday evening (3 days after my accident) and by Tuesday afternoon (the very next day) my case was settled. And settled for the very max that was able to be obtained. I attribute a lot of this to not only the expertise of the firm, but the relationships that Marnie has built with her experience working as a lawyer within a major insurance provider, which just so happened to be the insurance provider involved in my case. This is incredibly atypical for a case to be settled this quickly, especially with this outcome. It has been two weeks to the day today that my accident has happened and my case has already been resolved. I am blessed and more than happy that I decided to hire this firm. Every case is different, but I can bet that this firm will handle your case with care and the utmost professionalism. I pray I never have to go through a situation like this again, but if I did, I wouldn’t hesitate to call this law firm. Thank you guys very much!!

Shekeara

5 star review

I highly recommend Eltringham Law Group to anyone seeking legal advice after having a car accident. David Eltringham and his entire staff gave me the personal attention I needed during a very difficult and painful time. David took the extra steps needed to ensure that I received the medical care I needed as well as the financial compensation I deserved. Harold Torres, Paralegal updated me every step of the way. Thank you Eltringham Law Group!

Laura Lauri

5 star review

I had such a great experience with Eltringham Law Group! I was always kept in the loop and the experience was so personal. I was always in close contact with Teresa who was an absolute pleasure to work with. I would definitely recommend Eltringham Law Group again and again – I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!!!

Alex Peacock

Recent Case Results

$1.025M

RIDE SHARING

November 2021

$1M

COMMERCIAL TRUCKING ACCIDENT

March 2022

$600K

CAR ACCIDENT WITH MINIMAL VEHICLE DAMAGE

March 2022

$425K

CAR ACCIDENT NO SURGERY

March 2022

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Working With Us

Lighthouse™ is a system unique to Eltringham Law Group – Personal Injury & Car Accident Attorneys, it’s what makes us different from other personal injury attorneys. We built this program to hold our own attorneys accountable and make sure our clients are getting the care and consideration they deserve.

sign up phase 1

Client Onboarding
Client Onboarding

The client meets with our Lighthouse Concierge Team to discuss the details of their potential case. A dedicated Lighthouse Team Member is assigned to the case to gather information and maintain constant communication with the client.

discovery phase 2

Investigation Case Analyzer
Investigation Case Analyzer

The assigned Lighthouse Team Member gathers and assess all information related to the case. A majority of the information is processed, paperwork is submitted and any questions/concerns the Lighthouse Team has for the client are clearly communicated and addressed.

Client Success Maximizer 3

Client Success Maximizer
Client Success Maximizer

The client meets with their Lighthouse Concierge Team Members to conduct a full review and explanation of the process. Both legal and medical records are reviewed and our team sets realistic and achievable expectations for the client.

Phase 1 Medical 4

Phase 1 Medical
Phase 1 Medical

The client is undergoing treatment at this point of the process and the Lighthouse Concierge Team maintains consistent communication to monitor the treatment scheduled. Additional medical referrals and testing may be required at this point if recommended by the current medical provider.

Phase 2 Medical 5

Phase 2 Medical
Phase 2 Medical

The client finalizes initial medical treatments that may include referrals to specialists, medical procedures, further testing and/or additional treatment recommendations by their medical providers.

Resolution or Litigation 6

Resolution or Litigation
Resolution or Litigation

The Lighthouse Concierge Team is in communication with those involved with and/or responsible for the damages incurred in your case. Two possible outcomes at this stage are 1) an achieved settlement agreement or 2) the inability to achieve a fair settlement that will result in the Eltringham Law Group filing a law suit on your behalf.

Post-Settlement Process 7

Post-Settlement Process
Post-Settlement Process

The case has completed and an agreement/resolution has been achieved with maximum in the best interest of the client. The Lighthouse Concierge Team meets with the client to fully explain the results and work diligently to finalize their case.

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