Florida has no-fault insurance laws, but this does not mean you cannot hold a drunk driver liable if you suffer serious injuries. While all car crash victims must first turn to their own personal injury protection (PIP) policy for coverage after a drunk driving accident, those who meet the serious injury threshold can also file a claim based on the drunk driver’s auto liability policy. Our Miami drunk driving accident lawyers can help.
At the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine, our Miami car accident lawyers can review your case, explain your legal options, and help you hold the drunk driver accountable to the furthest extent the law allows. We offer free case evaluations so that you can learn about your options.
Recoverable Damages After a Drunk Driving Accident with Serious Injuries
Suppose your medical records and other documentation of your injuries clearly show you suffered serious injuries in the crash. In that case, you can file a third-party liability claim based on the drunk driver’s auto liability policy. This type of claim allows you to try to recover a wide range of compensation for damages not available under your PIP coverage.
While your PIP coverage provides you with medical care and a limited amount of lost wages up to your policy limit, you can hold the at-fault driver accountable for the remaining economic and non-economic damages you suffered. These may include:
- All of your medical bills and related costs
- Ongoing or future care costs
- In-home nursing care
- Prescription drugs, including pain management
- Adaptive equipment and mobility aids
- Lost wages and future lost income
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Related out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
In addition, if our injury lawyers take your case to court, the judge may award you with punitive damages. Punitive damages are unique to drunk driving cases and other instances where the driver acted in a purposefully careless way. Unlike the other damages you can recover, punitive damages do not pay back the money you lost because of the accident. Instead, they punish the driver for their heinous actions.
You May Be Eligible for Other Forms of Compensation
If a drunk driver caused you to suffer extensive injuries, property damage, and pain and suffering, there may be additional ways for you to collect compensation beyond filing an insurance claim or civil suit. First, the judge in the criminal case may award you restitution.
As the victim of a crime, you may also qualify for compensation under Florida’s Crimes Compensation Act, per Florida Statutes § 960. You may be eligible for this payout even if you do not meet the serious injury threshold. This can provide important assistance for those who suffered moderate injuries that were not completely covered by their PIP policy. We can help you determine if you qualify under the rules of this statute.
Time Limits on Filing a Florida Drunk Driving Accident Claim
The Florida statute of limitations gives you four years from the date of an accident to take legal action against the liable party who caused your injuries. This means you have four years following your crash to file a lawsuit against the drunk driver, per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a).
Technically, this deadline only applies to filing a lawsuit, but we also need to pay attention to the ticking clock when we pursue an insurance claim. If we do not reach a settlement in time and this deadline passes, we will lose most of our leverage for a fair settlement. The insurance company knows we cannot take their policyholder to court, so it will be much less likely to cooperate with our negotiations.
How Our Team Can Help You with a Car Accident Claim or Lawsuit
You don’t have to be alone with your case. One of our Miami personal injury lawyers can handle the entire process of your drunk driving accident case for you. We can:
- Investigate the accident
- Gather strong evidence to prove negligence on the part of the drunk driver
- Prove the extent of your injuries and losses
- Determine your policy coverages
- Handle the negotiation with an insurance company for you
- Take your case to trial, if need be
- Advocate for your best interests every step of the way
Throughout the process of your claim or lawsuit, we will be by your side and keep you in the loop. If we receive any settlement offers, we will keep you updated and help you make decisions about when to accept.
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will Go the Extra Mile
At some injury law firms, you may end up feeling like your case is just a number. We take pride in offering responsive legal care to our clients. This means that:
- You will get your lawyer’s phone number.
- We will get your questions answered promptly.
- If you need help with the daily details after an accident, we can help schedule your medical and car repair appointments.
We will work hard to make the process of your case feel smooth.
Testimonials
Our past clients can tell you more about our services. Others have commented of their experiences with our team:
- “The Law [Offices] of Anidjar & Levine went above and beyond all expectations in providing me with top notch service and follow through in successfully settling my case for me, and negotiating my medical bills. Their entire staff were very hands on in providing me with updates…” – Adam S.
- “Prompt and courteous answers to questions. Great communication from everyone involved with your case. Phenomenal case results. A completely and thoroughly enjoyable legal experience from beginning to conclusion of my case. Thank you so much.” – Jos I.
We Understand Miami Drunk Driving Accidents
With a vibrant tourist economy and a reputation for nightlife, drunk driving accidents in Miami are all too common. We have seen how negligent drivers in Miami can cause serious damage on roadways like I-95, Florida’s Turnpike, and across Miami-Dade County.
The numbers reveal the full story. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), there were more than 65,000 crashes in Miami-Dade county in 2019 alone. Of those cases, there were 341 confirmed cases involving alcohol use among the driver.
With our connections to South Florida and the greater Florida region, we know how to investigate these accidents thoroughly and build compelling evidence. We will use our experience with Miami drunk driving cases to seek the best results for you.
Negligence and Liability in a Miami Drunk Driving Car Accident
Drunk drivers face criminal charges after a crash, and this can work to our advantage. The police will investigate to prove their case, and this may make it much easier to prove the driver acted negligently. While a criminal conviction does not mean an automatic win in an insurance claim or civil suit, it certainly helps.
Before we can file a third-party liability claim or personal injury lawsuit against the drunk driver, we need to prove you suffered a serious, life-altering injury. Per Florida Statutes § 627.737, the definition of serious injury includes any injury that leads to:
- Death
- A significant impairment affecting an important body part
- Permanent injuries
- Significant scarring or disfigurement
Proving the Elements of Negligence
Once we feel certain you meet these qualifications, we will investigate your accident and work to prove our case against the drunk driver. Winning a third-party auto insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit will require us to prove the four elements of negligence. These are:
- The driver had an obligation to drive carefully and responsibly.
- The driver failed to uphold this obligation by driving while intoxicated.
- Their intoxication led to the accident and your injuries.
- You suffered major physical and financial damages.
These accidents tend to produce a wealth of evidence we can use to demonstrate negligence, including a police report, video of the driver’s arrest, and the evidence presented in their criminal case. We can also enlist the help of accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to help us build a strong case for compensation.
Learn How Our Legal Team Can Help with Your Miami Case
The Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine will work aggressively to get you the payout you deserve after a crash with a drunk driver. We can usually settle these cases out of court, but we will not hesitate to litigate your drunk driving accident case if that is what it takes to recover the money you deserve.
Call us today at 1-800-747-3733 for a free consultation, and let us get to work on your case.
We Can Help.
