DUI Accidents in St. Petersburg: Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

DUI accidents in St. Petersburg occur far too often. If you suffered injuries or lost a close family member due to an impaired driver, you likely qualify to obtain compensation for your injuries and losses.

An experienced St. Petersburg drunk driving accident lawyer from Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys can help. Our Attorneys have over 25 years of collective legal experience serving clients injured in DUI crashes. We know how to fight for the financial compensation you need to get you through this difficult time. For more information about DUI accidents as well as how our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers can assist, please contact us today for a free case evaluation.

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How Can a St. Petersburg DUI Accident Lawyer Help?

How Can Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys Help After a DUI Accident in St. Petersburg, FL?

Drunk driving accidents are not to be taken lightly. The DUI accident lawyers at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys have provided quality legal assistance to injured clients for decades. You can trust us to put that extensive experience to work for you.

It’s difficult to focus on getting healthy when your thoughts are preoccupied with money worries. How are you going to cover everything? Accidents change your life in a wide range of ways, especially if you or a loved one sustains life threatening injuries. You never know when things will return to normal. Fortunately, that’s where our car accident lawyers can assist. We’ll take care of the legal matters so you can focus on your recovery. When you contact us to handle your personal injury claim, our St. Petersburg DUI accident attorneys will:

Investigate the DUI accident.
Examine crash reports, medical records, and other relevant documentation.
Consult with drunk driving experts.
Handle all discussions and negotiations involving the drunk driver with the ability to take your case to court if necessary.

Our goal is to ensure that you receive a just settlement that compensates you in full for your injuries and losses. Insurance firms, on the other hand, have different ideas. They would rather settle your lawsuit for substantially less than you deserve. Having one of our DUI accident lawyers on your side can make all the difference.

How Common are DUI Accidents in Florida?

In a recent year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that “About 31% of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers (with BACs of .08 g/dL or higher).” Even though driving under the influence is illegal everywhere, someone dies in a drunk driving crash every 39 minutes.

According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), 4,662 drunk driving accidents occurred throughout the state in the most recent year of reporting. Of those, 2,681 people suffered injuries, and 183 people died. Drivers impaired by drugs caused 323 wrecks that injured 221 and killed 202. Drivers who were both drunk and high caused 191 crashes that injured 146 and killed 145.

Types of DUI Accidents in St. Petersburg

Driving under the influence of alcohol, as well as certain illegal and prescription drugs, diminishes one’s capacity to operate a car safely. An impaired driver’s reaction times and decision-making ability aren’t as sharp. Additionally, they tend to take more risks, such as speeding or reckless driving, significantly increasing the risk of someone under the influence causing serious injury.

Consider:

T-bone and sideswipe crashes: Impaired judgment can cause drivers to misjudge distances and enter intersections or change lanes recklessly.
Rear-end collisions: Drunken drivers often have slower reaction times, leading to rear-ending the vehicle in front.
Motorcycle, Bicycle, and pedestrian accidents: Drunk drivers pose a particular danger to vulnerable road users like motorcyclists and pedestrians.

If you’ve been involved in a DUI accident in St. Petersburg and sustained severe injuries, remember that you have legal options.

Injuries Common in DUI Accidents

Because they are not paying full attention, inebriated drivers do not have the response time of sober drivers. The result is serious accidents in which victims suffer bodily injury such as:

Lacerations and cuts
Bone fractures or breaks
Burns
Sprains and rips in the muscles
Injuries to the head, neck and chest
Spinal cord injury
Traumatic brain injuries
Disfigurement and scarring
Internal bleeding as well as organ damage
Paralysis and other impairments
Whiplash and other soft-tissue injuries

At Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys, our St. Petersburg DUI accident lawyers are prepared to offer tenacious, excellent legal representation. You can trust us to fight hard for the money you need so you can the fullest recovery possible.

What Kinds of Damages Can You Recover in a DUI Accident?

Following a DUI accident, victims face not only the physical and emotional trauma of the event but also the burden of unexpected expenses. The legal concept of “damages” allows them to seek compensation for these losses, both financial and non-financial, caused by the drunk driver’s negligence. Here’s a breakdown of the different types of damages recoverable in a DUI accident:

Economic Damages

These are tangible, out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the accident. They can be easily documented and calculated:

Current and future medical expenses: This covers all costs associated with medical treatment, including doctor visits, hospitalization, surgery, therapy, medication, and rehabilitation. Future medical needs resulting from permanent injuries are also considered.
Income loss: This compensates for lost wages due to missed workdays, reduced work hours, or complete inability to work as a result of the accident. It can also account for future lost earning potential if your injuries impact your long-term work capacity.
Property damage: This covers repairs or replacement of your vehicle or other personal belongings damaged in the accident.
Other out-of-pocket expenses: This may include transportation costs to and from medical appointments, childcare costs due to your injuries, or home modifications required for your recovery.

Non-Economic Damages

These are harder to quantify as they represent intangible losses and suffering endured by the victim:

Pain and suffering: This compensates for the physical and emotional pain experienced due to the accident and its ongoing consequences.
Mental anguish: This addresses the emotional distress, anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that may develop following the accident.
Loss of enjoyment of life: This recognizes how the accident has impacted your ability to participate in activities you previously enjoyed due to your physical or emotional limitations.
Loss of consortium: This compensates a spouse for the loss of companionship, intimacy, and support due to the accident’s impact on the injured person’s physical or emotional capacity.

Punitive Damages

In cases involving DUI accidents, where the drunk driver’s actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the safety of others, the court may award punitive damages. These are not meant to compensate the victim but to punish the driver and deter similar behavior from others.

Every case is unique, though, and the specific types and amounts of damages recoverable will vary depending on the severity of the injuries as well as the long-term impact on your life.

Understanding Florida’s Auto Insurance Laws

Florida operates under a no-fault system for auto accidents. As such, Florida requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. This type of insurance covers a percentage of certain damages (such as medical expenses and lost wages), regardless of who caused the accident.

Minimum PIP coverage: All drivers must have at least $10,000 in PIP coverage.
Property Damage Liability (PDL) coverage: This minimum $10,000 coverage helps pay for repairs or replacement of your vehicle if you’re involved in an accident.

Recovering Damages from a Drunk Driver:

PIP claim: If you’re injured by a drunk driver, you can file a PIP claim to recover your initial financial losses.
PDL claim: This can be used to repair or replace your damaged vehicle.
Third-party claim or lawsuit (for serious injuries): If your injuries meet the legal definition of “serious” in Florida, you can file a claim against the drunk driver’s insurance or even sue them directly to recover the full extent of your losses, including pain and suffering. If an intoxicated driver caused a crash that killed a close family member, you may also qualify to bring a wrongful death claim against them.

Steps to Take After a DUI Accident

A DUI accident can leave you shaken and unsure of what to do next. Taking the right steps can help protect your health, your rights, and your ability to seek compensation.

Call 911: Report the crash immediately to the St. Petersburg police department, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, or the Florida Highway Patrol, depending on where the accident occurred. Law enforcement will respond, assess the situation, and document the scene. If the other driver was under the influence, the police report could serve as critical evidence in your case.
Seek Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, injuries can take time to appear. A medical evaluation ensures your well-being and creates a record that links your injuries to the crash.
Gather Evidence: If it’s safe, take photos of the vehicles, road conditions, and any visible injuries. Get contact information from witnesses, as their statements may help prove what happened.
Avoid Speaking to Insurance Adjusters: Insurance companies may try to minimize payouts. Be cautious with what you say and never accept a quick settlement without understanding the full extent of your damages.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer: Our St. Petersburg car accident lawyers can guide you through the legal process, understand your rights, and help you navigate the complexities of filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the negligent driver. legal process, understand your rights, and help you navigate the complexities of filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit against the negligent driver.

Why You Must Act Quickly

If a drunk driver caused an accident that hurt you or a loved one, you have only two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you miss the deadline, you risk losing your right to seek compensation. If a government entity was involved, you likely have even less time. Not only must you ensure your lawyer files your claim on time, the sooner you act, the sooner your attorney can start investigating your case. Critical evidence can become lost or destroyed, and witness details may become cloudy.

Florida’s Dram Shop Law

In some cases, your attorney may also be able to hold a bar or restaurant liable for serving the person who caused the wreck. Although Florida’s law limits liability for establishments that serve alcohol, your attorney could hold them responsible if they:

Served alcohol to someone under the legal drinking age (21 in Florida).
Served a “habitually addicted” person or someone who was clearly intoxicated.

Building a strong case takes time. Don’t wait until close to the deadline to contact an attorney. The sooner you seek legal guidance, the better your chances of securing a favorable outcome.

Call our St. Pete Car Accident Law Firm at Lopez Accident Injury Attorneys Today

If you suffered injuries caused by a drunk driver, contact our St. Petersburg, Florida law offices to arrange a free consultation with one of our skilled car accident lawyers. We’ll go over your case with you, as well as discuss your legal options.

Additionally, because we work on a contingency fee basis, you owe no attorney’s fees unless we secure a financial award on your behalf.