Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious offense that puts the lives of everyone on the road in danger. Injuries or damages sustained in a Fort Myers drunk driving accident deserve to be compensated, and that means you will need a qualified Fort Myers car accident lawyer to represent your case.
In 2019, that there were almost 5,000 car accidents caused by drunk drivers, which resulted in up to 3,000 injuries and 400 deaths, according to a report by The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV). If you are looking for the best legal advice in town, then you have come to the right place.
At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of combined experience when it comes to helping clients who have been injured in drunk driving accidents in Fort Myers and all over the State of Florida. Our law firm understands the complexities of drunk driving accidents, and we will help you to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
If you call us now to set up a free consultation, a car accident lawyer will discuss the facts of your case and answer all of the questions that you have in the aftermath of a Fort Myers drunk driving accident. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week so that you can call us when you are ready to talk.
Contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today, and a Fort Myers personal injury lawyer will recover the compensation that you deserve following a drunk driving accident in Fort Myers.
What to Do After a Drunk Driving Accident in Fort Myers, FL.
It can be challenging to focus on what you should do after a Fort Myers drunk driving accident, especially if you suffered an injury. All types of accidents can be scary. However, it is important that you keep a level head and do your best to protect your personal safety. Our law firm highly recommends that you follow these steps:
- Stay at the scene – You are required to stay at the scene of an accident, even if you were not at fault. However, you can move to safety near the location of the crash in order to prevent injury or damage to your motor vehicle.
- Check for injuries – Your number one priority should always be your safety following a drunk driving accident. If there is a serious or life-threatening injury, then you should call an ambulance straight away. It is also worth checking on the people in the other motor vehicle. However, you should proceed with caution. If you see that the other driver is aggressive or you feel like it is a risk to approach them, then you should stay in your motor vehicle and quickly call the police to the scene of the accident.
- Call the police – It is mandatory that you pick up your phone and call the police to the scene of the accident. A police officer will be able to assess the situation and conduct an alcohol or drug test on the other driver. They will also file a report of the accident, which will help you to build a personal injury claim later.
- Collect evidence – It is always worth collecting your own evidence while you are still at the location of the crash. Evidence can include taking pictures of the road, the location, damage, injuries, and much more. If someone witnessed the accident happen, then you should get their name and contact information.
- Go to the doctor – It is important that you go to the doctor, even if you think that you escaped the accident without an injury. A medical professional will be able to analyze your state and determine whether you have sustained a serious injury or not.
- Hire a Fort Myers drunk driving accident lawyer – A drunk driving accident can result in a number of different damages, and you could be entitled to receive compensation. Call The Law Place to speak to a Fort Myers drunk driving accident lawyer now. Our phone lines are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Common Types of Drunk Driving Accidents in Fort Myers, FL.
Drivers who operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol often have poor judgment, confusion, and a lack of awareness which can all contribute to causing a car accident in Fort Myers. A drunk driver is unpredictable on the road, and you should remain alert and look for the signs of dangerous driving. The most common types of drunk driving accidents tend to include:
- Rear-end collision- A driver who consumes alcohol often has a delayed response time which makes it challenging for them to stop in the middle of traffic.
- Head-on collision – A driver who consumes alcohol can swerve into the opposite lane on the road, which makes it hard for other road users to react in time.
- T-Bone collision – A driver who consumes alcohol can fail to stop at a red light or a stop sign, which can result in a T-bone collision (also known as a side-impact collision) where one motor vehicle crashes into another motor vehicle from the side.
- Wrong-way collision – A driver who consumes alcohol can enter a freeway off-ramp or turn the wrong way on a one-way street.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. Drunk Driving Accident Injuries in Fort Myers, FL.
The types of injuries that are sustained in drunk driving accidents depend on a number of factors, including the speed of the motor vehicles, the size of the motor vehicles, whether the people were wearing their seatbelts, weather conditions, road conditions, and much more. The personal injury lawyers at The Law Place will assist you in recovering compensation for the type of injuries that you sustained, your medical bills, and any health care that you might require following the accident.
Our law firm has helped hundreds of clients to win the compensation that they desire for injuries such as:
- Neck injuries.
- Back injuries.
- Spinal injuries.
- Bone fractures.
- Skull fractures.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
If you were hurt in a Fort Myers drunk driving accident, then you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. We understand that it can be difficult to get back on your feet after a car accident, and we want to help you to overcome the challenges. A drunk driving accident lawyer from The Law Place will provide you with the support and guidance that you need during this difficult time.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Drunk Driving Accident in Fort Myers, FL?
It is obvious that the driver who was caught driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be held responsible for a car accident, but there might be other parties involved that could be held partially responsible for the injuries and damages that you suffered in the aftermath of a drunk driving accident in Fort Myers.
The main parties who can be held liable for your injuries and other related losses include:
- Drunk driver – The driver who decided to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol will hold the majority of the responsibility for a drunk driving accident. The drunk driver will face a DUI conviction, and they will have to spend time in jail along with paying fines. Furthermore, they might have to compensate the person that they injured for the losses that they suffered as a result of their negligence.
- Public establishment – If a bar, restaurant, or other public establishment knew that a customer had an alcohol problem, but they still continued to serve the customer, then they could be held liable for the injuries and other losses of the person who was injured in the drunk driving accident. Florida Statute 768.125, also known as ‘dram shop law,’ states that a bar, restaurant, or another public establishment that serves alcohol is responsible for the customers who leave their establishment and operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
- Social hosts – A person who throws a private party or social gathering that involves serving alcohol to their guests can be penalized in the event that one of their guests leaves the party while under the influence of alcohol and causes a car accident.
- Employers – Every employer is responsible for the actions of their employees during the length of their employment. For instance, an employee who consumes alcohol and collides with another motor vehicle in the middle of work means that an employer can be held liable to compensate the person who was injured in the drunk driving accident.
- Negligent entrustment – The owner of a motor vehicle can be held liable for the injuries of the person involved in a drunk driving accident in the event that they let someone else operate their motor vehicle who was drinking alcohol or seemed to be intoxicated.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers. Recognizing a Drunk Driver in Fort Myers, FL.
If you see someone on the road who you think might be intoxicated, then you should not hesitate to call the police in Fort Myers. Your phone call might help to save someone else’s life. However, it is not always easy to tell whether someone has been drinking, but you can look for the following signs:
- Swerving – A drunk driver finds it hard to stay in their own lane. If you notice a driver who is recklessly moving in and out of their own lane, then they might be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Ignoring traffic laws – A drunk driver might struggle to see or read common traffic signs, or they might decide to ignore the signs altogether. The most common traffic infractions include failing to signal, running red lights or stop signs, driving the wrong way, speeding, or much more.
- Driving too slowly or too fast – A drunk driver usually knows the amount of drinks that they have had, and they will decide to drive slowly in an effort to be more careful. In other cases, they might drive faster to arrive at their destination more quickly. However, most drunk drivers might not even be able to accurately measure their speed.
- Following too closely – A drunk driver usually lacks depth perception, which makes it harder for them to judge how close they are to a motor vehicle. A delayed response time can also make it longer for them to slow down.
- Wide turns – A drunk driver often has problems with depth perception, diminished peripheral vision, and poor judgment that can lead to high speed or wide turns.
Compensation Available for a Drunk Driving Accident in Fort Myers, FL.
A drunk driving accident can result in a number of different damages, which means that you most likely have a serious financial burden on your shoulders. It can be hard to recover from injuries or damages sustained in a car accident, and you should seek legal advice from a personal injury lawyer in order to help you secure the compensation that you deserve in Fort Myers.
Our law firm will assist you in recovering compensation for economic and non-economic damages that include:
Economic Damages
- Medical bills – The costs to visit the doctor, hospitalization, physical therapy, rehabilitation, prescription medication, and much more.
- Loss of income – The costs of your lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and changes to your usual income.
- Property damage – The costs to repair or replace your motor vehicle or other property damage.
Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering – A reduced quality of life since the drunk driving accident that includes physical pain, mental anguish, or emotional trauma.
- Wrongful death – Losing a loved one means that you can file a wrongful death claim that will cover the costs of funeral expenses, pain and suffering, medical bills, property damage, and much more.
Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driving Accidents in Fort Myers, FL.
The statute of limitations is different in every state, and they set the guidelines for the amount of time that you have to file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim after an accident.
You have up to four years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim according to the statute of limitations in the State of Florida.
You will have up to two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file a wrongful death claim according to the statute of limitations in the State of Florida.
If you pass the time limit, then your case will be dismissed by the court, and you will not be able to recover compensation later.
Florida Statue 95.11 explains the statute of limitations in more detail.
Contact The Law Place Today in Fort Myers, FL.
If you were injured in a car accident as a result of a drunk driver in Fort Myers, then you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other related losses. You should seek legal advice from a personal injury lawyer who will help you to decide the best move to make following a car accident.
At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of collective experience and knowledge in filing personal injury claims on behalf of people who have been hurt in drunk driving accidents in Fort Myers and throughout the State of Florida. Our law firm has successfully managed hundreds of drunk driving accidents over the years, and we know that we can win your case too.
Pick up your phone to speak to a personal injury lawyer now. We will investigate your accident, gather facts and information, speak to eyewitnesses, negotiate with insurance companies, calculate the extent of your damages and fight for the maximum amount of compensation that you are owed.
Contact The Law Place on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation today, and a car accident lawyer will recover the compensation that you deserve following a drunk driving accident in Fort Myers.
