Drunk driving is a choice that puts lives at risk. When someone drives while impaired by alcohol, they can endanger your life and the lives of other drivers and pedestrians. If another driver’s irresponsible decision causes an injury, you should not have to handle the physical, emotional or financial impact alone.
Florida law allows you to seek compensation from the at-fault driver and hold them responsible for their actions.
Your options after being injured
Florida treats drunk driving crashes differently than standard car accidents. State law may even hold bars and restaurants responsible under specific legal and liability rules. This is applicable if they willfully serve alcohol to minors or knowingly serve someone with drinking problems. The intoxicated driver’s actions can affect the legal options available to you after a collision.
When seeking compensation, keep these key options in mind:
- Eligibility for punitive damages: If you suffer injuries in an impaired driving crash, you may request punitive damages. A court may order the drunk driver to pay these extra damages because of their recklessness.
- Compensation beyond Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits: If you suffer serious injuries, you may pursue damages beyond what your basic insurance covers. You can recover compensation for remaining medical bills, future healthcare costs and lost wages.
- Separate civil claims: Filing criminal charges against an intoxicated driver is different from filing a civil claim. You can still file a separate civil claim to seek payment for your injuries and losses.
To support your accident claim, you should collect evidence such as police reports, witness statements, photographs from the scene and medical records. You may need to file an insurance claim through Florida’s no-fault system. You can file a claim against the negligent driver’s insurance if you suffer serious injuries in the crash.
Protecting your rights
Every driver on the road must drive safely. Driving under the influence violates this responsibility and puts you and others at risk. You shouldn’t have to pay for another driver’s careless actions. Fortunately, Florida law makes it possible for you to hold the at-fault driver accountable and receive compensation for your losses from the crash.