I Was Hit by a Drunk Driver: What Happens Next?

Every year, drunken drivers on Florida’s roads cause damage and heartache. Unfortunately, many of those impaired drivers avoid arrest and cause serious injury when they are liable for a car accident.

Statistics show that drunk driving is on the rise across the Tampa Bay area. But these troublesome figures fail to illustrate the trauma of the injured victims who suffer from pain, lost wages, and body disfigurement due to an accident that was no fault of their own.

Read more to learn how the personal injury attorneys at Mickey Keenan, P.A., handle drunken-driving accidents.

How Do You Prove Driving While Intoxicated?

Most car accidents are caused by negligence, meaning that the driver did not operate the vehicle with sufficient care. Getting behind the wheel of an automobile while under the influence of alcohol (or other substances) is negligence and is generally easy to prove based on breathalyzer or toxicology evidence.

Further, witness testimony of observing the driver drinking alcohol before getting behind the wheel can be helpful in a drunken driver car accident case.

When defending the victim in a drunken-driving accident, we must prove that the impaired driver caused the injuries. The victim or their doctor can testify that the accident led to certain injuries, lost wages, etc.

Who’s to Blame? Was the Driver Who Hit Me Negligent?

What Compensation is Available?

Drunken drivers must be held accountable for all losses to the victim, including medical care, lost wages, and property damage.These are the ways that a personal injury settlement may be used:

Medical Care

Any treatment you received as a victim of a drunk-driving accident warrants compensation, including the following:

Ambulance transport to the hospital
Doctor’s appointments and transportation there and back
Surgery and-or hospital stays
Prescription drugs
Crutches, wheelchairs, or braces
Rehabilitation
Mental health therapy or counseling

Keep track of bills and receipts to help prove how much your medical treatments cost. If you need continuing care such as at-home help due to paralysis, you also can request compensation for future care.

At Mickey Keenan Law, we dedicate ourselves to each client. We know this is a difficult time, and we are here to help you get the compensation you deserve for injuries suffered in a drunken driving accident.

Lost Wages

An accident with a drunk driver can cause serious injuries that can leave you unable to work for weeks or months. Keep your pay stubs or other proof of income to establish your loss of wages.

You might be unable to return to your job if your injuries are particularly serious and cause partial or full disability. In this case, you also will qualify for lost future earnings.

Property Damage

Your vehicle may have been wrecked or totaled during the accident with the drunken driver. If so, you can receive compensation to repair the damage or replace the auto. Keep repair estimates or other proof that shows the damage to your vehicle.

Hit by another driver? Never say these things at the accident scene…

Non-Economic Losses

A serious injury sustained in a car accident will cost you more than money — it can dramatically reduce the quality of your life, which cannot be measured.

After an accident with a drunken driver, you may also receive compensation for:

Pain and suffering — Restitution may be awarded for bodily injuries.
Mental anguish — Emotional distress, often in the form of anger, anxiety, depression, or irritability, also is a consideration.
Disability — An injury that results in disability warrants compensation for denying you the full use of your body
Disfigurement — Wounds that leave scars in visible areas such as the face can result in emotional distress.

Calculating non-economic losses requires hiring an experienced personal injury attorney to help prove your case and guide you throughout the process. Typically, the greater your physical injuries, the more you can receive in compensation due to non-economic losses.

The Importance of Hiring an Attorney

Many drivers do not carry adequate insurance to cover the damages sustained in a more severe car accident making it more difficult to receive compensation.

Further, insurance companies are less than eager to compensate someone for damages due to a drunken-driving accident. There is a lot of money at stake, and insurers often play hardball to try to minimize or reject claims. Rather than fighting the insurance company on your own, you should hire an experienced attorney who will make a compelling case for compensation.

Our veteran personal injury attorneys at Mickey Keenan Law will fight for your rights through every step of the lawsuit and work to get you the compensation that you deserve. Call today for a free case evaluation, (813) 871-1300.

Your Family Is Our Family

If you or your loved one is injured in an accident with a negligent driver, call our expert personal injury attorneys today. Hold the drunk driver accountable for all damages and get the car crash settlement you deserve. At Mickey Keenan Law, we know these cases inside and out and are ready to help.

Your family is our family. Contact us for a case consultation, (813) 871-1300!