Do I Need a Personal Injury Lawyer if I Was Hit by a Drunk Driver?

While you recognize exactly how dangerous it is to drive under the influence of alcohol – and you know better than to do so – plenty of other drivers out there refuse to follow your lead. Drunk drivers are some of the most dangerous drivers on our roads, and if one of them leaves you or someone you love injured in a car accident, you need the professional legal counsel of an experienced Florida drunk driving accident attorney in your corner. 

Drunk Drivers Are Out There

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) shares several dire statistics that outline the dangers of drunk driving, including:

• On average, 28 people are fatally injured every day in accidents caused by drunk drivers in the United States
• This translates to one drunk-driving-related death every 52 minutes.
• 2019 saw the fewest deaths related to drunk driving since 1982 (when NHTSA began reporting data), but the total number still reached 10,142. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bolsters these statistics with the fact that the annual cost associated with accidents caused by drunk drivers in the United States is $44 billion every year. NHTSA reminds drivers that drunk driving accidents are 100 percent preventable. 

Alcohol Impairs Driving Ability

NHTSA shares that alcohol impairs drivers by reducing their brain functioning – impairing their cognitive ability (including reasoning) and their overall muscle coordination. Any one of these alone can severely limit a driver’s ability to drive safely. As a driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) rises, so too do the negative effects associated with drunk driving. 

Your Damages

If a drunk driver leaves you injured, the damages (or losses) that you experience can be immense, and because obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is likely critical to your ability to fully recover from the injuries you sustain, working closely with a dedicated drunk driving accident attorney is always in your best interest. There are three primary categories of damage that you are likely to face (in addition to property damage to your vehicle). 

Your Medical Costs

The medical expenses you experience as a result of being injured by a drunk driver can be extensive, and they may extend well into your future. Those injuries that are closely associated with secondary health concerns can lead to even more considerable costs. While your medical expenses will be unique to your injuries and situation, some of the most common medical costs associated with accidents caused by drunk drivers include:

• Emergency care and transportation
• Surgery and follow-up care
• Care from doctors and specialists
• Pain management
• Medical treatments, procedures, and tests 
• Occupational and physical therapy
• Rehabilitation
• Prescription medications
• Adaptive physical devices
• Home health care

Your Lost Earnings

The journey toward regaining your health and well-being after being injured in a car accident that was caused by a drunk driver is almost certain to be both long and arduous, and in the meantime, you’re very likely to experience a decrease in earnings. If your ability to perform your job and/or to continue developing your career is affected, your associated losses can be even more considerable. Taking a career hit can also be emotionally challenging – due to the sense of self many of us associate with the careers we carve out for ourselves over time. 

Your Pain and Suffering

While your medical expenses and lost earnings come with verifiable price tags, your physical and emotional pain and suffering do not, but this does not make it any less real or any easier to overcome. In fact, ensuring that your pain and suffering are well established in your car accident claim will likely play an important role in your ability to obtain your most complete recovery.  

Why You Need a Dedicated Florida Drunk Driving Accident Attorney on Your Side

You will seek compensation for the damages you incur via the drunk driver’s car insurance provider, but the path forward could be rocky. The fact is that the insurance company is a for-profit operation that is thoroughly invested in keeping its profits as high as possible and its settlements as low as possible. In its efforts, it has tricks up its sleeve (that your accomplished drunk driving accident attorney knows how to effectively counter), including:

• Prolonging and/or complicating the claims process
• Offering early, lowball settlements
• Denying claims from the outset
• Casting doubt on claimants’ stated damages
• Attempting to implicate claimants as sharing fault in the accidents in question

Your drunk driving accident attorney brings all of the following to the table:

• Building your strongest claim, which incorporates all the relevant data and provides a clear narrative 
• Skillfully negotiating with the insurance company for just compensation that covers your damages in their entirety
• Preparing to slap the insurance company with a personal injury claim in the event it refuses to negotiate in good faith 
• Ensuring that you understand the strengths and challenges inherent to your drunk driving claim, keeping you apprised of your best options, and keeping you abreast of your claim’s progress throughout the legal process 

While you are not required to hire a drunk driving accident attorney, you owe it to yourself, your claim, and your future to do so.  

Seek the Legal Guidance of an Experienced Florida Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

If a drunk driver leaves you or someone you love injured in a car accident, you are facing challenges ahead, but the trusted drunk driving accident attorneys at Iscoe Law Firm – proudly serving Miami, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Fort Lauderdale, and Broward County – have the legal skill, experience, and resources to help. We are committed to working closely with you every step of the way – in zealous pursuit of your claim’s most advantageous resolution. When you need us, we’re there – ready to take your call 24 hours a day and 365 days a year – so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 800-800-6500 today.