Did you know that in Florida, one-fourth of car accidents are caused by drunk drivers? Nearly every day, a Floridian is killed by a preventable drunk driving accident. Although responsible drivers can take a number of steps to protect themselves and others on the road, there are no guaranteed precautions to save you from someone who drinks and gets behind the wheel. 

Drunk driving accidents leave in their wake a great physical, psychological, and emotional toll on survivors. Your injuries can be physical, but also emotional and many accident victims struggle with flashbacks and suffer from a fear of riding in or driving in a car. 

Individuals who have been hurt by a drunk driver are encouraged to seek legal guidance from a Fort Myers car accident lawyer to help them recover losses after the accident. Below, we discuss the rights of survivors and the importance of hiring a competent attorney to ensure that you are properly taken care of under the law. 

An Accident Attorney Can Save You Time and Money

A common mistake that victims of drunk driving accidents make is to file a civil lawsuit without using the experience of a Fort Myers car accident lawyer. Attorneys can speed up the legal proceedings and dramatically increase the probability of winning a case and receiving compensation. Accident attorneys, including Randall L. Spivey at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., work on a contingency basis. There are no costs or attorney fees until the client receives a monetary award. 

A Note About Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers

In the state of Florida, the law requires drivers to possess personal injury protection and property damage liability insurance. Despite these laws, many drivers are either underinsured or completely uninsured. In fact, Florida is a state with one of the highest rates of uninsured drivers. Still, even if the drunk driver is uninsured, an accident attorney can fight for your compensation if you carry your own uninsured motorist insurance coverage. Fort Myers car accident lawyer Randall Spivey always advises clients to carry adequate coverage in your own insurance policy of uninsured motorist coverage in the event that an accident with an uninsured motorist occurs.  

All Drunk Driving Victims Have a Right to Compensation

Under Florida law, victims of drunk driving accidents can seek punitive damages, which consists of additional compensation beyond their medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering damages. Punitive damages are designed to deter future reckless behavior and are typically awarded in cases where intentional misconduct and gross negligence have been established. Florida courts have often found the act of driving while intoxicated to be sufficiently reckless enough to award the victim substantial punitive damages in addition to their other awards. 

Contact a Fort Myers Car Accident Lawyer at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. Today

If you're the victim of a drunk driving accident, you have the right to be compensated for your injuries.

To discuss your rights and options under the law, speak with Fort Myers Car Accident Lawyer Randall L. Spivey at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. as soon as possible. Contact us online for a free initial consultation.

Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one percent (1%) of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839 or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com  Visit Spivey Law.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County at 239.793.7748.  

 Contact us online for a free initial consultation.