Tampa Car Accident DUI Lawyer
We all understand the dangers of drunk driving. Statewide, thousands of people are seriously injured–even killed–in car accident DUIs each year. In Hillsborough County alone there was an annual average of 439 car accidents between 2020 and 2022 caused by alcohol use, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
If a drunk driver has killed a member of your family or seriously injured you, it is critical that you assert your legal right to take action. The Tampa car accident DUI lawyer at Anderson & Anderson can represent you in dealing with the drunk driver’s insurance company and filing a personal injury lawsuit to ensure you receive full and just compensation for your losses. Your family should not have to suffer anymore than they already have due to someone else’s grossly irresponsible decision to get on the road after drinking.
Civil vs. Criminal Liability in Tampa DUI Car Accidents
Drunk driving is not a mere traffic violation. It is a serious criminal offense in Florida punishable by prison time in many cases. But it is important to understand that civil and criminal liability are separate matters under Florida law. In practical terms, this means that you can still pursue a personal injury claim following a car accident even if the drunk driver is never criminally charged or convicted of DUI. On the other hand, a criminal conviction often makes it much easier to prove a drunk driver’s negligence in a subsequent civil lawsuit.
Tampa DUI car accident victims must also contend, however, with Florida’s no-fault insurance rules. Following any car accident, state law requires you to first look to your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to pay for a portion of your medical bills and lost income following an accident. Only if you can show that you suffered a serious injury–or someone was killed–does the law permit you to go beyond your no-fault insurance and pursue a personal injury claim against a drunk driver.
If you meet the legal threshold, the potential damages are significant. Unlike PIP benefits, a personal injury claim allows you to seek the full amount of damages from a drunk driver. This can include:
- Economic Damages: Your direct, out-of-pocket financial losses caused by the drunk driver, such as your medical bills, rehabilitation costs, loss of income, and diminished future earning capacity.
- Non-Economic Damages: Your pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other difficult-to-quantify losses.
- Punitive Damages: Florida law permits a personal injury plaintiff to seek punitive damages as a way of punishing and deterring acts of gross recklessness such as drunk driving.
Contact Anderson & Anderson Today
Drunk driving accidents often leave the survivors with catastrophic injuries that far exceed what PIP benefits were meant to cover. So if you have been involved in such a wreck it is critical that you speak with a qualified Tampa car accident DUI lawyer as soon as possible. Call Anderson & Anderson today at 813-251-0072 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation.
