There's no doubt about it: drunk driving is extremely negligent driving. When drivers who have been drinking or doing drugs get behind the wheel, they are literally risking their lives and the lives of innocent motorists and pedestrians on the road. Instead of being responsible and taking a cab or calling a friend, these drivers take part in a behavior that they know is highly risky and highly likely to lead to a serious traffic collision in Miami or their community.
If you have been injured or hit by a drunk driver, you can seek compensation under Florida law for your medical bills, lost wages, and more. To discuss whether you have a claim and in order to start seeking compensation in your case, do not hesitate to contact Flaxman Law Group at any time for a free, no obligation case review.
Who Is Liable For The DUI Accident?Of course, the obvious person who is liable or responsible in a drunk driving case is the drunk driver who decided to get behind the wheel of the vehicle. However, you may wonder whether there may be other liable parties in the case. For example, if a bar or restaurant continued to serve a drunk driver after clearly seeing that they were inebriated, would they be held partly liable? If the drunk driver was at a house party and no attempt was made to prevent him or from driving drunk, could the hosts of the event be liable? In Florida, someone serving alcohol is generally not held liable in situations where a driver is involved in a DUI crash. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, under Florida Statute § 768.125, a person may be held partly liable for a DUI collision if they serve alcohol to a minor or if they “knowingly serve a person habitually addicted to the use of any or all alcoholic beverages.”
In some cases, it is also important to keep in mind that finding the at-fault DUI driver may be difficult. Drivers who have previous DWI/DUI convictions will sometimes leave the scene of an accident. If you have been injured in a hit and run collision in Miami or another city, you may not be able to pursue the at-fault driver and their insurance company. In this case, you may wish to work with a personal injury attorney to find any other liable parties or in order to explore the option of pursuing your own insurance company for compensation.
Do You Really Need Legal Advice After a DUI Accident?Even if it is clear that a drunk driver was liable for the accident and responsible for your injuries, is important to keep in mind that it is still important to prove this in court. Even if you feel you have a strong case, it is important to consult with a personal injury attorney and get legal advice to ensure that you can build a strong case that increases your chances of getting fair compensation.
The attorneys at Flaxman Law Group have more than 60 years of trial experience negotiating traffic crash cases, drunk driving cases, personal injury cases and other legal claims. Our phones at 866-352-9626 are staffed around the clock and you can also always reach us via our website to schedule your free appointment.