Miami Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys
We Help Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents Throughout the State of Florida
Despite a decades-long campaign to reduce the number of people who drive under the influence of alcohol, there are still far too many drunk driving accidents in the U.S. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on average, someone dies in a drunk driving accident every 39 minutes. In the State of Florida, an average of two people are killed and another 100 are injured each day in alcohol-related crashes.
If you were injured in a drunk driving accident in Miami or anywhere else in Florida, or you lost a loved one because of a drunk driver, you may be experiencing many new life-altering challenges. The car accident attorneys at Boyers Law Group have witnessed first-hand the devastation a drunk driving accident can cause to a victim and the victim’s family and are dedicated to helping you get through this difficult time.
While the criminal justice system may pursue criminal charges against the drunk driver responsible for the accident, the system cannot fully compensate an injured victim or surviving family members for the physical, emotional, and financial impact of a drunk driving accident. Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver is the best way to hold the negligent driver responsible and ensure that you are compensated fairly for you pain, suffering and losses.
The experienced Miami drunk driving accident attorneys at Boyers Law Group are committed to helping drunk driving accident victims and family members dealing with the loss of a loved one. Please call us at 305-512-7600 or submit the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website to get expert advice from an experienced Miami drunk driving accident attorney.
What Are Some Common Drunk Driving Accident Injuries?
Serious injuries can occur in any car accident; however, they are even more likely to happen in a drunk driving accident. Drunk drivers tend to drive more recklessly and often fail to take evasive maneuvers to lessen the severity of an accident. Consequently, the victim of a drunk driving accident may suffer serious, even life-threatening, injuries such as:
- Head injuries. Head injuries are common motor vehicle collision injuries. When a drunk driver is involved, a victim may suffer a more severe injury, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI). If not treated quickly and effectively, TBI can lead to severe brain damage or death.
- Neck injuries. The powerful impact of a drunk driving accident can cause neck injuries, including whiplash, herniated discs and soft tissue injury.
- Spinal cord injuries. The human spine is an amazingly flexible system; however, the force of a collision can cause severe spinal cord injuries, including partial or complete paralysis if the spinal cord is severed.
- Internal organ damage. Although internal injuries are common in a drunk driving accident, they may not present obvious symptoms in the minutes or even hours after the accident, making them among the most dangerous car accident injuries.
- Fractures. Anything from the impact of an airbag deploying to the force of another vehicle colliding with your vehicle can cause bones to fracture.
- Burn injuries. Speed is a common factor in drunk driving accidents, increasing the severity of collisions. Sometimes, the powerful impact causes one or both vehicles to ignite in flames, resulting in serious burn injuries.
- Severe emotional trauma. Surviving a drunk driving accident leaves many victims with lasting emotional trauma, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
If you or a loved one has experienced any of these or other injuries because of a drunk driver, the compassionate, experienced Boyers Law Group attorneys want to hear what happened and help you on the road to recovery. We have over 25 years of experience helping accident victims throughout Florida get compensated fairly for their injuries and welcome the opportunity to put our expertise to work helping you get the full amount you deserve for all you have suffered.
Is a Drunk Driver Legally Responsible for Injuries Caused in an Accident?
For an injured victim to be entitled to compensation for any car accident, you must prove that another party’s negligence caused or contributed to the collision. Under Florida law, a claim of negligence requires you to prove four elements:
- That the defendant owed you a duty of care
- That the defendant breached the duty of care
- That the breach of duty of care caused the accident
- That the accident caused damages (injuries)
As for the first element, courts have long held that all drivers owe a duty of care to others with whom they share public roadways. Likewise, driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs has also decidedly been viewed as a breach of that duty of care. As such, when a drunk driver causes or contributes to an accident, the drunk driver can be found negligent and held legally liable for economic (e.g., medical expenses and lost income) and non-economic damages (e.g., pain and suffering) sustained by victims involved in the collision.
What Compensation Am I Entitled to in a Miami Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit?
If you were injured in a Miami drunk driving accident, you could be entitled to both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages are intended to compensate you for the out-of-pocket and easily quantifiable injuries you have suffered and may suffer in the future because of the driver’s negligence. These damages may include things such as:
- Medical expenses. This includes things such as your doctor, hospital and diagnostic test bills, as well as the cost of specialized equipment and medications related to your injuries.
- Lost wages. Income you’ve lost because you could not work or were unable to work in the same capacity as before the accident injury, as well as anticipated wages lost in the future may be included.
- Rehabilitation and therapy. Expenses related to occupational, speech, and physical therapy, as well as psychological counseling may also be included.
Non-economic damages compensate you for the subjective, less easily quantifiable injuries sustained in an accident, including things such as:
- Mental anguish
- Diminished capacity to enjoy life
- Physical pain and suffering
- Scarring, disability and disfigurement
- Your family’s loss of your companionship, guidance and assistance
- Other damages recoverable under Florida law
If you are the surviving parent or child of someone who was fatally injured in a drunk driving accident, you may also be entitled to compensation as a claimant in a Florida wrongful death lawsuit. Compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit may include things such as the value of lost income from the decedent that you would have received had the decedent lived, as well as the value of the loss of support and services, and the loss of companionship, guidance, and protection provided by the decedent.
Why You Need an Experienced Miami Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
As the victim or surviving family member of a Miami drunk driving accident, you may be entitled to substantial compensation for your injuries or loss. Not only do you deserve to be fully compensated for your physical and emotional suffering, but the party responsible for the accident should be held accountable for negligence. An experienced Miami drunk driving accident attorney can help you achieve both important goals.
At Boyers Law Group, our Miami drunk driving accident lawyers have the skills, experience, resources, and commitment needed to make sure the drunk driver responsible for the collision is held accountable and you are fully and fairly compensated for all your injuries or loss. We feel a deep sense of responsibility to each client because we know that if you come to us for help, you have been seriously injured or suffered an unimaginable loss. You deserve answers to your questions as well as the maximum compensation allowable under the law.
Please call us at 305-512-7600 or submit the “Tell Us What Happened” form on our website to get started on your Miami drunk driving accident case.