Fort Lauderdale Drunk Driver Accident Lawyer
Getting in a car accident can be life-changing, traumatic, and injurious. When you are struck by a drunk driver, you may feel extreme anger for that person and for how irresponsibly that they acted in driving while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or both. This is understandable, and nobody would fault you for your anger. However, the team at Friedland & Associates wants to help you get through this difficult time in your life while seeking financial damages to help ensure your economic stability through this trying period of your life.
Contact us today to speak with our team about your accident during a free consultation, and navigate this process with the help of an experienced car accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale. During your free consultation, you will be able to learn more about your legal rights in this situation, the process of negotiation with an insurance company, what a civil lawsuit looks like for your case, and an overview of what we believe you are entitled to. We want you to be confident in our representation, so that while we are fighting for your compensation, you are able to focus on recovering and getting your life back on track.
What To Do After Being Hit By a Drunk Driver
After an accident with a drunk driver, it is important that you immediately call 911 to ensure that there are law enforcement officials who can confirm your suspicions by a field sobriety test, breathalyzer, or blood sample. Once there is a legal record of their DUI being a major factor in your accident, the fault will be established and we will be able to move forward with your case.
After you contact 911, make sure that you receive the medical attention that you need. There is no reason to refuse medical attention; for one, you need to be certain that your injuries are treated properly, but secondly, it is important that you establish a medical record as soon as possible. If you do not have a clear medical record of your injuries after the accident, the defending insurance company may claim that they can not determine where your injuries came from, and therefore they should not be required to pay for them.
After you have been released from medical care, or as soon as you are able to, contact Friedland & Associates to begin the process of building your case.
How Much Can I Collect After Being Hit By a Drunk Driver
There is no set amount for all accidents involving drunk drivers, because each accident and the following civil case is different because of a multitude of factors. For one, if the driver is uninsured or underinsured, we may be forced to file suit directly against them — the amount you are awarded may not equal the amount you receive if they are unable to pay. In addition, the extent of your injuries will play a large role in the amount that you collect. Attorneys generally divide damages into two sections:
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the parts of your accident that cost money. This means that we will be seeking reimbursement for expenses that have occurred, or income that has been lost. This includes things like medical bills, recovery costs, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, and anything else that you have been billed, invoiced, or lost money on. In addition to lost wages, we will seek to recover any PTO that you were required to use in order to cover time away from work.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages go beyond the pure economic impact that an accident has, and instead addresses the physical and emotional tolls that the accident takes on the victim. We will work to clearly illustrate your pain and suffering, depression, and emotional turmoil that you have experienced since your accident, and seek fair and reasonable compensation for these factors.
Contact Us Today
The time to act is now, no matter if you are still in the recovery process or not. Even if you believe that your medical treatment, time missed from work, and other impacts of the accident are still ongoing, we will be able to factor this into your overall case. The sooner we begin working on your case, the sooner you will be able to move forward with your life with fair compensation and financial confidence.
