When a crash involves a suspected drunk driver, the case may raise questions that go beyond who had the right-of-way. The police may have made a DUI arrest, tested the driver for alcohol, or gathered evidence that becomes important to an injury claim.
Our Boca Raton drunk driving accident lawyer can work to find that evidence and pursue damages for the harm the driver caused. We also can help you get medical care or connect you with resources quickly. Our firm will deal with the insurers, document your losses, and keep the claim moving while you focus on your recovery.
Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered more than $250 million for clients. We bring 40 years of combined experience to injury cases and have served South Florida since 2013. Call our office for a free consultation to learn how a Boca Raton car accident lawyer from our firm will help you.
How Our Boca Raton Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys Build Your Claim
A drunk driving accident may lead to a criminal case against the driver and a separate injury claim. The criminal case focuses on whether the driver broke the law. Your injury case focuses on the harm the crash caused you and the damages you may be able to recover.
Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers will handle the injury claim for you. Our work may include:
- Investigating how the accident happened.
- Getting the police report and available crash evidence.
- Looking for evidence of alcohol or drug impairment.
- Speaking with witnesses.
- Reviewing insurance coverage.
- Documenting your injuries and financial losses.
- Negotiating with the insurance company for the appropriate settlement.
- Filing a lawsuit when needed.
- Fighting for your recovery at trial.
You should not have to wait days for an answer when you have a question about your health, bills, or claim. Our Boca Raton personal injury lawyers communicate with clients throughout the case, and we call people back.
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What Makes a Drunk Driving Injury Claim Different?
Drunk driving cases often involve evidence that does not appear in an ordinary car accident claim. Police officers may have performed field sobriety tests or obtained breath, blood, or urine test results.
There may also be body camera footage, statements from witnesses, bar or restaurant receipts, or other evidence related to the driver’s activities before the collision.
How a DUI Case May Affect Your Injury Claim
An arrest or charge of driving under the influence (DUI) can be useful evidence, but an injured person does not have to manage the criminal case to pursue an injury claim. We will gather the evidence that applies to the civil case and determine how it supports your claim for damages.
Florida law may also allow punitive damages in certain cases involving an intoxicated defendant. These damages serve a different purpose from damages meant to repay an injured person for medical costs, lost income, and other losses.
Whether they may be sought depends on the facts and legal requirements of your case.
Serious Injuries Caused by Drunk Driving Crashes in Boca Raton
Alcohol and drugs can affect judgment, reaction time, coordination, and a driver’s ability to respond to traffic conditions. An impaired driver may speed, drift into another lane, run a red light, follow another vehicle too closely, or drive the wrong way.
The resulting collision may cause injuries such as:
- Broken or crushed bones
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Severe cuts or scarring
- Burns
- Nerve damage
- Amputation
- Permanent physical limitations
Help After a Catastrophic Injury
A severe injury can create costs that continue long after an insurance company wants to close the claim. Our drunk driver injury lawyers in Boca Raton will look beyond your current bills and document the care and financial support you may need in the years ahead.
Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers may review medical opinions, future treatment needs, rehabilitation costs, lost earning ability, and other long-term effects. We help you find medical care and useful resources early in the case rather than leaving you to figure out everything by yourself.
Call us today to discuss your injuries during a free consultation.
Recoverable Damages After a Boca Drunk Driving Accident
An injury claim should account for what the collision has cost you. That includes financial losses as well as the physical and personal effects of a serious injury.
Depending on the case, recoverable damages may include:
- Emergency care and other medical expenses
- Ongoing health care needs
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Income missed during recovery
- Loss of future earning capacity
- Vehicle repairs or replacement
- Physical pain
- Mental and emotional harm
- Permanent limitations or impairment
- Lasting scars or changes in appearance
- Reduced ability to enjoy usual activities
We will gather records and other information to show how your injury has affected your life. A review of the evidence gives us a clearer picture of what should be included in a settlement demand or lawsuit.
When a Drunk Driving Crash Takes a Loved One
Losing a family member because another person chose to drive impaired is a painful loss that no legal case can make right. If your family is facing this situation, we are deeply sorry. If you want to hold the liable party responsible, Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers will handle the legal work with care and give you clear information about what comes next.
Our Boca Raton wrongful death lawyers will look into the collision and determine which damages we can pursue under Florida law. The state allows certain damages for eligible survivors and the estate, with the damages available depending in part on the person’s relationship to the family member who died.
We know families need room to grieve rather than spend their time going back and forth with insurance companies. Our team will handle those communications and keep your family informed throughout the process.
Call or text 800-602-5000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
Florida PIP Has a 14-Day Treatment Requirement
Florida’s no-fault insurance system may provide Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits for medical expenses and part of your lost income after a crash. To qualify for medical benefits, you generally need to receive initial medical care within 14 days of the accident.
That short window is one reason to address your medical needs promptly. Missing that 14-day window may affect your ability to receive PIP medical benefits. This deadline is separate from the time limit for filing a lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash.
Florida’s Deadlines for Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuits
State law limits how long you have to file a lawsuit after a drunk driving accident in Boca Raton.
In most negligence cases, the deadline is two years from the date of the crash under Florida Statute § 95.11(5)(a).
A wrongful death lawsuit generally must also be filed within two years of the person’s death. Certain facts can affect how a deadline applies, so it is worth having a Boca Raton DUI injury attorney from our team review the date early.
Tell Our Boca Raton Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers About the Collision
After a drunk driving crash, you deserve straight answers and a legal team that treats your case like it matters. Blakeley Car Accident & Personal Injury Lawyers is local, so you can speak with a lawyer who is actually here in South Florida.
We will return your call and work to resolve your claim efficiently without cutting corners. Our firm has become known as South Florida’s most well-known Personal Injury Lawyer because we stand strong for the people who trust us with their cases.
Every case is a commitment, and we are ready to fight for you. Call our office today for a free consultation about a drunk driving accident in Boca Raton. We do not charge you any upfront fees to handle your case, and you pay us only if we recover damages for you.
