Stuart Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
According to USA Today, 17.4 percent of Floridians drink excessively. This means that they drink four or more drinks at one occasion for women (five or more drinks for men) or that they drink eight or more drinks throughout the week (15 for men). This does not include the person who rarely drinks, yet decides to party for the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve without a plan for how to get home after drinking. Unfortunately, it only takes one poor decision to get behind the wheel while impaired for lives to be permanently changed.
If someone has crashed into you or a loved one while driving drunk you need to hold them liable for the injuries you sustained. A Stuart drunk driving accident lawyer can guide you through the legal process and help you get the best compensation possible. An experienced Stuart drunk driving accident lawyer understands how devastating these crashes can be and will work to ensure the impaired driver is held fully accountable. When you work with a dedicated attorney, you are not just filing paperwork, you are building a case designed to reflect the true impact the crash has had on your life.
Drunk driving crashes often involve high speeds, reckless behavior, and delayed reaction times. Impaired drivers may run red lights, drift across lanes, or fail to brake before impact. These factors frequently result in severe injuries rather than minor collisions. A Stuart drunk driving accident lawyer will carefully examine police reports, breath or blood alcohol test results, and witness statements to strengthen your claim. Having a knowledgeable attorney on your side can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case.
The Outcome of Drunk Driving Crashes
WUSF Public Radio reported that Florida saw 814 deaths as a result of drunk drivers in 2018. While the number is a slight decrease from the 841 deaths in 2017, it is evident that drunk driving remains a problem within our state. Despite public awareness campaigns and strict DUI laws, impaired driving continues to put innocent drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians at risk.
Those who do survive a drunk driving crash may initially feel fortunate to have simply survived the scene instead of being part of such tragic statistics, but anyone who suffers injuries in a car crash will still experience financial and emotional burdens. Survivors of a drunk driving crash are often left dealing with long hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, and months away from work. A Stuart drunk driving accident lawyer understands that recovery is not just physical, it is financial and emotional as well.
Survivors of a drunk driving crash are faced with costs such as:
- Medical treatment;
- Anticipated medical costs into the future;
- Lost wages from missing work due to injuries;
- Psychological distress; and
- Property damage.
In many cases, the full impact of a drunk driving crash is not immediately known. Some injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal damage, may require lifelong care. An experienced Stuart drunk driving accident lawyer will work with medical professionals and financial experts to properly calculate both current and future damages. Your attorney’s goal is to pursue compensation that truly reflects the long-term consequences of the crash.
Insurance Claims
Victims in a crash should not have to bear the responsibility for paying such expenses. That is why it is crucial you submit insurance claims. If you are a Florida resident you are required to have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which should cover at least a portion of your medical expenses. However, PIP benefits are limited and often do not fully address the seriousness of injuries sustained in drunk driving accidents.
Beyond that, it will be necessary to seek compensation from the drunk driver’s insurance policy. A Stuart drunk driving accident lawyer can evaluate the available insurance coverage and determine whether additional claims may be pursued. In some cases, there may be other liable parties, such as a bar or restaurant that overserved the driver under certain circumstances. An experienced attorney will explore every possible avenue of recovery.
A qualified drunk driving attorney can guide you through all of the steps including proving the at-fault party, collecting medical bills and evidence of damages sustained, and how to properly submit a claim. Your Stuart drunk driving accident lawyer will also handle communication with insurance adjusters so that you do not have to face aggressive tactics or misleading statements on your own. Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts, especially in high-value injury cases.
Insurance companies will often try to avoid paying and may even offer an initial settlement that is less money than you deserve in attempts to resolve the case quickly. It is important to accurately assess what your case is worth so that you do not settle for an offer too quickly and fail to receive the financial compensation you will need to cover you into the future. A skilled Stuart drunk driving accident lawyer and experienced attorney will negotiate firmly on your behalf and, if necessary, take your case to court to pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
Contact Us At Sholtes Law Today
Drunk driving crashes are entirely preventable, which can be infuriating for victims whose lives are turned inside out as a result of someone else’s reckless decision to drink and get behind the wheel. We understand the struggles you face in your recovery and want to help you avoid the additional stress of the legal case. Let the qualified Stuart drunk driving accident attorneys at Sholtes Law, PLLC advocate on your behalf. Call us at 855-534-2509 or contact us to set up a free consultation today.
