If you or someone you love is involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you may have gone through a period of physical, emotional, and financial hardship. Injuries sustained may have required extensive rehabilitation. You or your loved one may have lost earnings, if you could not work during your recovery from injury. Perhaps the emotional scars of the incident have caused you or your loved one ongoing distress and turmoil. Whatever damages have been incurred, you could be entitled to compensation for the negligence of the drunk driver. The driver could also face criminal prosecution that may include hefty fines or even a custodial sentence.

What does the law say about drink driving?

Across the United States of America, including Florida, a driver is considered to be “impaired” and can be subjected to a drunk driving penalty, if he/she has a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or above. This measurement is lower for two specific groups of drivers, .04 percent for drivers of commercial vehicles, and .02 percent for drivers under the age of 21.

Unfortunately, blood alcohol levels do not correlate exactly with types or sizes of alcoholic drink. Everyone processes the alcohol in their system at a different rate, and while one person may be under the legal limit after two beers, another person may be over the limit after just one. Our advice? It is safer for everyone in your vehicle, and on the road around you if you abstain from alcohol completely if you are going to be driving.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the common sense to adhere to drink driving laws. A 2012 report¹ by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that although the number of drunk driving incidents has decreased in recent years, around one in three traffic deaths in the United States still involve a drunk driver.

What you should do if you are involved in a drunk driving accident

If you are involved in a road traffic accident in Florida that has been caused by a drunk driver, the most important thing that to do is to get a medical evaluation completed as soon as possible after the incident. This may happen at the scene. However, it is important to understand that shock and adrenalin may mask any initial signs and symptoms of injury, so you should also arrange to have a check-up with your doctor several days after the accident occurred.

Evidence is an essential element in any DUI compensation claim, so if you are able, you should try and get the details of any witnesses who can corroborate what happened, as well as photographs or camera footage.

At Juan Lucas Alvarez P.A, our experienced attorney is highly experienced in building strong, successful cases for compensation from drunk driving accidents in Miami and the South Florida area. We will work on your behalf to collate the evidence required to secure you the financial recompense that you need and deserve at this difficult time. Contact us today to discuss your case in confidence at 305-442-7375.

¹https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pdf/impaired_driving/drunk_driving_in_fl.pdf