Orlando Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Compassionate Legal Support for Florida Drunk Driving Victims
Those who choose to drive after consuming alcohol can be held liable when they cause an accident due to their intoxication. If you or a loved one were hurt in such an accident, turn to our skilled drunk driving accident lawyers in Orlando who can lobby for you to recover the compensation needed to get back on your feet after suffering a serious accident.
You want to know you are in capable hands when you are in dire financial straits after suffering a serious injury. At Legally Pink Law you have access to our highly supportive and professional team of Orlando personal injury attorneys who have successfully handled countless cases, recovering millions of dollars in settlements. Secure dynamic representation for yourself when you are the victim of another’s negligence.
Get started on your free consultation - contact us today by calling (888) 979-4941.
How Our Orlando Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Can Help You
Drunk driving accidents in Florida often end in severe injuries and even death and an attorney should be retained to handle the legal ramifications of your accident while you focus on recovering.
An attorney can fully investigate your accident, including:
- Police reports
- Police car video of the scene of the accident
- Witness statements
- Your account of the accident
- Your medical records
- Blood and urine test results if available
- Photographs taken of the scene
Your claim will attempt to prove the other driver was at fault for the accident as they were intoxicated and should therefore be responsible for your losses. If no breathalyzer test was taken, your attorney will need to obtain other evidence of intoxication.
Recommended Reading:
Speak with our drunk driving accident attorneys in Orlando during a free consultation — (888) 979-4941!
How Many Deaths Each Year Are Related to Drunk Driving?
Unfortunately, each year more than 10,000 people are killed in drunk driving accidents. Meaning that each day about 30 loved ones are lost due to drunk driving in the United States alone.
Losing a loved one to a drunk driving accident can drastically change your life- it not only means the loss of potential monetary earnings, it also means that you (and perhaps your children) will now be forced to cope without the company, care, and guidance of your loved one.
Drunk driving can destroy lives, but our attorneys are here to help you get back on your feet following the death of a loved one. You can learn more about filing a wrongful death lawsuit by visiting our Wrongful Death page.
Have Questions? GET ANSWERS
-
What types of damages can I claim?
In all cases, there are two general categories of damages – economic damages and non-economic damages. You can be compensated for both past and future economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are things such as wage loss, mileage expense to go to doctor appointments, prescription costs, co-pays on insurance, over-the-counter medications, diminution in value to your car, etc. The other category is non-economic damages, which may include things such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, etc.
The non-economic damages are often greater than the economic damages if the injuries are significant enough. Consult with an attorney for a full explanation of these types of damages.
-
Are there deadlines for filing claims?
Yes. Under Florida law, there are very specific, detailed deadlines to file claims. If you do not meet these deadlines, you may be forever barred from bringing your claim forward.
These time restrictions are known as statutes of limitations, and they vary depending on the type of claim you are bringing. It is critical that you consult with an attorney as soon as possible after your incident so you can receive good legal advice on the time limits for filing a personal injury claim.
-
How can I recover lost wages?
Wage loss is paid out under your Personal Injury Protection benefit, which happens to be mandatory coverage for auto insurance in the State of Florida. There are exceptions, such as when you elected to have your wage loss reimbursement excluded on your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefit when you obtained your policy.
Normally, people who have their wage loss benefits excluded are those who are not employed for some reason or another. You can also elect to have a standard PIP (which covers wage loss at 60%) or extended PIP (which covers wage loss at 80%).
You will need to provide proof of income in the form of a paycheck stub, income tax return, or some other verifiable means. The remaining percentage of your wage loss not covered by your PIP insurance will become part of your claim against the defendant driver.
When cases do not involve PIP coverage, the wage loss becomes part of the demand to the at-fault party. In most cases, proof of lost income is rather simple if the injured person receives a paycheck. For our clients who are self-employed, we work very closely with them to help them assemble the necessary documentation to prove the wage loss claim. Tax returns can be helpful in instances where clients are self-employed.
-
How can I recover my out-of-pocket expenses?
Out-of-pocket expenses are always made part of your claim and are part of your economic damages that we seek to recover from the at-fault party. When your claim is presented to the at-fault party, we include your out-of-pocket expenses as part of the demand package.
If your case does not settle in what we call the "pre-suit phase," then your case will proceed to court where we will ask a jury for your out-of-pocket expenses as part of your economic damages on the verdict form.
-
Will my insurance premiums increase if I report an accident to my insurance company?
Your insurance premiums should not go up if you are not at fault for the accident. It will be part of your insurance record, but if you are not at fault, your premiums should not increase.
In most situations, your own insurance company will go after the insurance company that insures the at-fault party to recover the costs it may have paid to you for things such as car repairs or additional medical expenses.
