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A Car Accident Lawyer in Miami Helping Victims Obtain Justice

Sometimes car accidents are unavoidable. Road conditions aren’t always ideal, unexpected hazards arise, and even cars and their parts can malfunction. Accidents aren’t always the fault of another driver. However, when someone deliberately decides to drink and drive, it’s a much different story. They know that it’s a bad decision, and they know its potential consequences. Florida doesn’t take drinking and driving lightly, and neither should you. If you or a loved one were injured in a drunk driving accident, you have rights. An experienced Miami drunk driving car accident lawyer can help you navigate your way through this challenging period of life. 

Drunk Driving: A Criminal Offense

First and foremost, drunk driving is illegal. It is clearly addressed in Florida’s laws. Drivers behind the wheel with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08 or higher are driving under the influence by legal definition. In fact, drivers with a lesser BAC who are experiencing a significant impairment the keeps them from driving safely can also be cited. A first conviction can come with a fine of between $500-$2000 and six months in jail. Suppose it wasn’t the driver’s first offense, or their BAC was even higher than 0.15. In that case, additional penalties will apply, such as community service and license suspension.

While those who drink and drive should face legal consequences, they, unfortunately, do not help their victims. Whether there is a criminal case pending or not, a seasoned Miami drunk driving car accident attorney can help you pursue justice and compensation for your injuries. Keep in mind that although criminal cases are kept entirely separate from personal injury civil cases, the outcome of a criminal case can sometimes influence the outcome of the civil case.

While you don’t need to worry about the deadlines and timeframes associated with drunk driving criminal charges, you should be aware of the Florida personal injury statute of limitations. This deadline gives those injured in an accident four years from the date of their injury to file a legal case. If they don’t do so within that time frame, they lose their rights to do so at all.

Drunk Driving by the Numbers

Even though Floridians know how dangerous drunk driving can be and that it’s against the law, many still get behind the wheel after having too many drinks. Those who aren’t convinced should consider these sobering statistics:

  • Someone is injured by a drunk driver every two minutes.
  • Thirty people die every day or one person every 48 minutes in America due to drunk driving.
  • In 2017, 220 children aged 14 and under were fatally injured by a drunk driver. Sadly, over half of them were passengers in the car with the drunk driver.
  • Approximately one-third of all drivers charged with drunk driving are repeat offenders.
  • There were 10,874 fatalities caused by drunk drivers in 2017. Of those, 61 percent of the deaths were the drunk drivers themselves, 28 percent were motor vehicle occupants, and 11 percent were non-occupants, including pedestrians and cyclists. Individuals not inside drunk driver’s cars accounted for over one-quarter of all deaths.
  • Every day around 300,000 drunk drivers are on the road; only 2,800 of those drivers are stopped by law enforcement.
  • The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that the yearly cost of U.S. alcohol-related crashes exceeds $44 billion.
  • Other estimates put the price tag as high as $132 billion per year.

Types of Drunk Driving Crashes

Impaired driving can cause many different types of crashes. While all have the potential to cause severe and fatal injuries, some are more likely to than others. 

  • Rear-end crash: Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or other substances typically have a delayed response time, making it difficult, if not impossible, to stop in time. This can be compounded if the driver is already following too closely. 
  • Head-on collision: Drunk drivers have an increased tendency to swerve into the opposite lane of traffic. This happens with very little if any warning to other drivers and causes a potentially fatal head-on collision. Head-on collisions are one of the worst types of drunk driving accidents, often causing severe or life-threatening injuries.
  • T-bone crash: A T-bone crash occurs when one vehicle hits another vehicle on one of its sides side. They are sometimes called broadside or side-impact crashes. Many times they happen when one driver fails to stop at a red light or stop sign. T-bone accidents are also some of the most treacherous and deadly accidents.
  • Wrong-way crash: A wrong-way crash happens after a driver turns the wrong way on a one-way street or enters a freeway offramp. Wrong-way crashes on the freeway are nearly always deadly to at least one person involved.
  • Sideswipe collision: Although not typically as dangerous or deadly as other types of accidents, sideswipe collisions can cause severe property damage. They usually happen when two vehicles are traveling side by side in the same direction, and one swerves into the lane of the other. This is easy for impaired drivers to do since their spatial awareness is impacted, and they may not be exactly sure where their vehicle is in relation to other vehicles. 

No matter what type of accident a drunk driver caused you to be involved in, you have rights and options that a Miami drunk driving car accident lawyer can help you protect. Your attorney can investigate the factors involved in your accident and hold the liable party accountable for the damages you incurred.

Were You Injured by a Drunk Driver? Call an Experienced Miami Drunk Driving Car Accident Lawyer Today

At the Iscoe Law Firm, we’ve seen firsthand the devastating and traumatic results of the decision to drink and drive. If you are experiencing the aftermath of such an accident, we are here for you. We offer complimentary case consultations with a Miami drunk driving car accident lawyer to everyone suffering injuries after a wreck with an impaired driver. To schedule your personalized, confidential consultation, contact us at 800-800-6500 or online today.

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