Gainesville DUI Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt by a drunk driver, you deserve to be compensated for your losses. A Gainesville DUI accident lawyer at Allen Law Firm, P.A. will fight to maximize your financial recovery so that the person who caused your crash is held fully accountable.
Don’t let a drunk driver off the hook. Contact our law offices or call us today at (877) 255-3652 to speak with an experienced attorney who can fight to hold them financially responsible for the crash. Your consultation is 100% free.
Why Should I Call Allen Law Firm, P.A. After a DUI Accident in Gainesville?
Drunk driving is never acceptable. When an alcohol-impaired driver gets behind the wheel, they lose their ability to react quickly and prevent accidents. Drunk drivers are also more likely to be distracted or lose control of their vehicles. All of these statements are backed by scientific evidence.
Despite the clear dangers of drunk driving, it isn’t always easy to recover compensation if you were hurt in a DUI accident.
Even if the drunk driver is punished by the police and courts, that doesn’t put money in your pocket. You have to stand up for your rights in order to get the compensation you deserve to cover your losses.
Your case could be delayed while the drunk driver faces criminal charges. The insurance companies will also do everything they can to delay or deny your settlement. That’s where an experienced Gainesville personal injury lawyer can help level the playing field.
If you need help after a DUI accident in Gainesville, all you have to do is call Allen Law Firm, P.A., and schedule a free consultation. When you hire our accident attorneys, we will:
- Investigate to recover all evidence related to the crash
- Analyze police reports, breath test results, chemical testing reports, eyewitness statements, and more
- Work with relevant specialists, including accident reconstruction experts, former law enforcement officials, medical experts, psychologists, and more
- Handle issues that might arise if law enforcement brings criminal charges against the drunk driver
- Limit the fallout if the drunk driver tries to blame you for the accident
- Argue for your right to compensation before a judge and jury if necessary
Our attorneys have decades of experience helping accident victims recover fair compensation in North Florida. We’re also passionate about keeping our community safe. When you choose us, you can rest assured that we’ll work tirelessly to get every dollar you deserve.
We know things are stressful right now–but it’s important to act quickly to preserve evidence. Give us a call today to learn more.
How Common Are Drunk Driving Accidents in North Florida?
We all know how dangerous it is to get behind the wheel while drunk. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 29 people die in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol every single day. That means alcohol causes a fatal car accident every 50 minutes in the U.S.
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration publishes traffic safety facts every year. According to NHTSA research for 2018, 10,511 Americans died in DUI accidents in a single year.
Although a blood alcohol content (BAC) reading of 0.08% or higher is considered “drunk driving” under Florida law, NHTSA data found that in 67% of fatal crashes, the driver’s BAC was at least 0.15%. That’s more than twice the legal limit.
Understanding How Alcohol Impacts Driving Abilities
Alcohol affects the body in more ways than one. Drunk driving is also a form of distracted driving. NHTSA studies show that driving under the influence causes:
- Loss of muscle control
- Decline in visual function
- Delayed response time in an emergency
- Impaired perception
- Diminished judgment abilities
- Self-control and reasoning skills are impaired
In other words, drunk driving puts everyone on the road at risk. That’s why it’s illegal in all 50 states. When you or a loved one are hurt because someone breaks the law, you deserve full compensation.
We Handle All Types of DUI Accident Injury Cases in Gainesville, FL
A drunk driver can cause significant damage. While some DUI accident victims walk away with a few scratches, others might suffer life-altering injuries. At Allen Law Firm, P.A., our personal injury attorneys in Gainesville fight to get money for all of your crash-related injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Spinal cord damage
- Whiplash injuries
- Back injuries
- Chest injuries
- Traumatic amputations
- Organ damage
- Burns
- Broken bones
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
- and other personal injury cases
Drunk drivers deserve to be held accountable for their actions on all levels.
If a crash with an alcohol-impaired driver has put your life on hold, don’t hesitate to call our law firm to schedule a free consultation today.
Will My Rights Change if the Drunk Driver is Facing Criminal Charges?
In Florida, the criminal and civil justice systems are separate. You can file a personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver even if they’re facing DUI charges. The defendant’s drunk driving lawyers might convince the judge to make you wait to file civil charges until the disciplinary hearings are finished. That can sometimes work to your advantage.
To recover damages after a car accident in Florida, you have to show that someone else was negligent. That can be a complicated undertaking even in the simplest car accident case.
When someone breaks the law, the results in a criminal case can be used to establish negligence. Evidence that the driver was over the legal limit can be used to prove the driver was negligent. Lawyers call this legal theory “negligence per se.”
However, you can still sue for damages even if a strong criminal defense lawyer helps the drunk driver win on criminal charges. At Allen Law Firm, P.A., our team knows how to handle these complications. Our lawyers will do everything we can to prove that the other driver caused your accident to get the fair compensation you need.
Our Lawyers Will Seek Damages From Every Responsible Party
The drunk driver might not always have enough insurance coverage to provide compensation for all of your losses. In these cases, we may be able to hold additional parties responsible. That might include a bar or restaurant where the drunk driver consumed alcohol.
The Florida “dram shop law” imposes financial responsibility on bars and restaurants only if:
- The drunk driver was under 21
- The person who sold the alcohol new that the drunk driver was habitually addicted to alcohol
Sometimes, the drunk driver is only partly responsible for an accident. Other factors may have contributed to the accident. Fortunately, Florida’s modified comparative fault law lets you recover compensation from multiple parties. Responsible parties might include:
- Another at-fault driver in a multi-vehicle crash
- Employers of negligent drivers
- Government agencies
- Manufacturers of defective vehicle parts
- Truck drivers
- And more
Pursuing your injury claim against every responsible party greatly increases the chances that you’ll recover the maximum compensation possible.
Statute of Limitations in Gainesville DUI Accident Cases
DUI accident victims only have a limited period of time to file a lawsuit per a law called the statute of limitations. Florida recently changed its statute of limitations for personal injury cases. If your DUI accident happened on or earlier than 3/23/2023, you’ll have four years to file your lawsuit. If your accident took place after that date, two years is your deadline instead.
However, exceptions sometimes apply to the statute of limitations. Contact a Gainesville DUI accident attorney to confirm the correct deadline for your case.
Damages Available For Victims of DUI Accidents in Gainesville
Filing a personal injury lawsuit against a drunk driver can give you the right to compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages and salary
- Future medical expenses
- Lost future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium and financial support in fatal accident cases
Don’t let your guard down even if you think you have a slam dunk case. It’s true that drunk driving is negligent driving. Drunk drivers deserve to be held accountable. That doesn’t mean the insurance company will make things easy for you. They’ll do everything possible to limit your compensation award even if you’re the victim.
Our personal injury attorneys at Allen Law Firm, P.A. know how to fight back. We’ve been handling insurance claims for decades. We even keep experienced former insurance adjusters on our staff to help out in cases like this. We’ll use the full weight of our resources to your advantage.
Are Punitive Damages Available For Victims of DUI Accidents?
Courts rarely award punitive damages in negligence cases because these types of damages are only meant to punish the defendant.
Despite this, victims in DUI accident cases might also be entitled to punitive damages. Judges and juries often feel that drunk drivers deserve this type of punishment in addition to DUI charges. However, it’s important to note that Florida has a cap on punitive damages – $500,000 or three times the compensatory award, whichever is greater.
Rest assured, our lawyers will advocate to get the full amount you deserve after an accident.
Call a Trusted Gainesville Car Wreck Lawyer at Allen Law Firm, P.A. For Help Today
If you or a loved one were injured because someone else drove while intoxicated, you have the right to fair compensation for your losses. Our attorneys at Allen Law Firm, P.A. have a reputation for getting results for our injured clients in Gainesville.
When you’re looking for legal advice you can trust, call our offices to schedule a free consultation with a Gainesville DUI accident lawyer today. We represent clients in Gainesville, Florida and across Alachua County.
