Get Justice with Our Gainesville Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

As home to Florida’s flagship university, we regularly see Gainesville headlines regarding students from the University of Florida (UF) causing accidents due to impaired driving. If you have been the victim of a drunk driving accident, it can change your life and leave you without the ability to work or enjoy your life the way you used to before your injuries.

After an accident caused by an intoxicated driver, always get the medical attention you need, and then contact Meldon Law to discuss how a Gainesville drunk driving accident attorney can help.

Even though Florida law strictly prohibits driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, millions of people continue to get behind the wheel with impaired faculties. If an intoxicated driver injured you or a loved one in a crash, you need qualified legal representation as soon as possible.

Can You Sue a Drunk Driver for an Accident in Gainesville, Florida?

If you were injured in an accident that was caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to seek damages. Even if you were also drinking or were also a passenger in the drunk driver’s car, you may still have the right to compensation. The only way to know for sure if you have a valid claim is to talk to a lawyer who can review the circumstances of the accident.

Florida law gives victims the right to pursue compensation through lawsuits against drunk drivers. Our personal injury lawyers in Gainesville can determine if sufficient evidence exists to prove the driver’s sole negligent actions directly caused the crash, despite other factors.

How Much You Can Get for a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Gainesville

Driving while drunk is an act of negligence, and victims of negligent acts have the right to file a claim to recover your losses in Florida. You can recover the full value of your damages like medical bills, lost income and vehicle repairs. DUIs may also warrant extra punitive damages as punishment.

The money you get in a settlement after a drunk driving accident serves two important purposes: it helps to restore your life and it sends a harsh warning – drunk drivers will pay a severe price in Florida.

Our drunk driving accident attorneys in Gainesville have obtained substantial recoveries for past DUI crash clients. Financial recovery helps heal, but accountability also sparks change. No settlement will erase trauma, but it can empower new beginnings. If a reckless intoxicated motorist altered your life, we can provide the resources to take control back.

How Drunk Driving Leads to Serious Crashes in Gainesville

Alcohol is an intoxicating substance and depressant that causes drunkenness. Many people enjoy having some drinks with friends, for sporting events and other celebrations, or to simply relax. While drinking alcohol is perfectly legal for adults over age 21, driving after drinking too much is strictly against the law for important reasons.

Alcohol can have the following effects on a driver, among others:

• Blurred vision
• Lack of focus and awareness
• Impaired judgment
• Impaired spatial awareness
• Confusion
• Slowed reaction times
• Falling asleep

Drunk drivers are often much less aware of their surroundings, and they have delayed reaction time. Drunk drivers often do not know where they are going, which can result in highly dangerous wrong-way driving and head-on collisions. They also might drive dangerously slow, or they might decide to engage in reckless behavior like excessive speeding or drag racing.

No matter what the exact behavior that led a drunk driver to crash might be, the results can be devastating. Victims who suffer injuries due to drunk drivers deserve to fully recover for all of their losses from the driver who violated the law.

Drunk Drivers Are Typically Liable for the Injuries they Cause

Under Florida law, people who are injured by the negligence of others can typically recover compensation for their accident-related losses. In virtually any conceivable situation, drunk driving is negligent driving, so people who are hurt by drunk drivers can usually recover compensation for the damages they suffer.

Examples of losses that victims can often recover in drunk driving accidents include:

• Property damage
• Medical expenses
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering
• Lost income
• Lost quality of life

In many cases, drunk driving accidents leave victims with injuries that will affect them for years or even decades to come. If you are in this position, any settlement that you accept should compensate you for your future losses in addition to the damages you have already incurred. In many instances, establishing these future losses requires working with medical or financial experts.

A Florida personal injury lawyer with experience in drunk driving accident claims will be able to demonstrate your future losses to the insurance company or the court, ensuring that your future losses do not go uncompensated.

Can I Sue if I Was in the Car With the Drunk Driver During an Accident?

Passengers in the vehicle with the drunk driver have the same right to recover compensation for their damages as any other accident victim in Florida. It was the driver’s choice to get behind the wheel when they had been drinking, and this negligent choice resulted in your injuries. If you weren’t the drunk driver, you shouldn’t be stuck with the drunk driving accident bills.

Recovering the full value of your compensation can be tricky in certain situations. For example, if you knew the driver of the car had been drinking, it can affect your settlement. That’s why it’s best to speak to a lawyer right away after the crash – before you’ve made any statements to the drunk driver’s insurance company.

Civil Claims vs. Criminal DUI Charges in Florida Drunk Driving Accidents

After a drunk driving accident, police who arrive on the scene might identify that the other driver is intoxicated. They might perform roadside sobriety tests and, if officers see probable cause for drunk driving, they can arrest the driver on the spot. The driver may face criminal DUI charges, and a conviction can mean up to six months in jail, fines, and the suspension of their driver’s license. The penalties can be significantly greater if the driver caused injuries in a crash.

You might assume that the criminal process is in place to help victims of drunk drivers. While Florida does have services for the victims of crimes, and the judge might order a drunk driver to pay restitution, this is often not adequate assistance for victims with serious injuries. Instead, you likely need to turn to the civil court system for sufficient help.

A civil injury case generally begins with an insurance claim against the drunk driver. If the insurance process is not successful in obtaining a fair settlement, your attorney can file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. The good news is that, if a drunk driver received a DUI conviction, the conviction can serve as automatic proof of liability.

However, even if there was no DUI conviction, you might still prevail in an injury claim, as the civil process differs significantly from the criminal process. Your Gainesville drunk driving accident  attorney can identify how you can best prove a drunk driver’s liability.

Do You Need an Attorney When You Are Hit By a Drunk Driver in Gainesville?

You might wonder whether it is necessary to have legal representation for your drunk driving accident claim, especially if it was obvious the driver was intoxicated. However, the process of seeking compensation is often much more complicated and stressful than you would imagine. That’s where a Gainesville personal injury lawyer can make a significant difference.

Insurance companies are notoriously difficult when it comes to offering the full settlement you deserve, and you should be focusing on your recovery from your injuries – not back-and-forth negotiations with the insurer. In addition, should your case need to go to court, the litigation process is extremely complex, and you want an experienced injury litigator on your side.

Learn How a Gainesville Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Can Help

Suffered harm by a negligent drunk driver in Gainesville? One call to our firm gets the ball rolling toward rightful recovery. We passionately assist injury victims while fighting to improve community safety. Here’s what we offer:

• Thorough investigation – We dig into police reports, chemical tests, eyewitness accounts, and all evidence.
• Expert analysis – We collaborate with specialists in accident reconstruction, law enforcement, medicine, and more to build an ironclad case.
• Ongoing support – We help you navigate any criminal charges filed against the driver too.
• Tough negotiation – We fight back against insurers’ typical denial tactics to maximize compensation.
• Courtroom advocacy – If a satisfactory settlement can’t be reached, we’re fully prepared to argue your case to a jury.

With decades of in-depth experience holding drunk drivers fully accountable, we’re eager to discuss your potential claim. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can begin building a strong case for your compensation. In Florida, you have two years to file a drunk driving accident claim.

Talk to a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Gainesville, FL

At Meldon Law, we understand how devastating the aftermath of an accident caused by drunk drivers can be, and our experienced team is committed to helping victims get the compensation you deserve.

We will review the facts of your case at no cost to you and will never charge legal fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. To schedule your consultation with a drunk driving accident lawyer in Gainesville, call our office today or contact us online.