Thousands of traffic crashes in Florida in 2020 involved alcohol, resulting in many injuries and 746 fatalities. If you or a loved one suffered serious bodily injury due to a driver who was intoxicated, then you need to retain a knowledgeable Boca Raton car accident attorney.
An attorney can help you seek the financial compensation you need to recover from your injuries and pay your medical bills. The attorneys at Demand the Limits Personal Injury Attorneys can help you hold an intoxicated driver liable for their actions and your personal injuries.
What To Do After Being Injured By A Drunk Driver in Florida
If you were injured in an automobile accident, you may not know at first if the driver who caused the accident was intoxicated or not. You still should take the following actions if you suspect that you were injured by a drunk driver.
Check For Injuries
It is important to check your body for injuries immediately after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. If you have any pain or sense that you are injured, then call 911 as soon as possible. The police will show up, as well, and they can assess whether the driver needs to be arrested for DUI.
Let emergency medical personnel evaluate you and take an ambulance ride if needed. If not, it is still important to get a medical evaluation so you can get any injuries diagnosed and begin treatment right away.
Collect Relevant Documents
You may be too injured to try and take photographs at the scene of the motor vehicle accident. If you cannot document the scene or property damage, then you need to at least obtain a copy of the police report written by the responding officer. Healthcare providers will begin sending you detailed invoices and bills for the medical treatment you receive. You need to make sure that you make copies of these and keep them in a safe place.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol in The State of Florida
Section 316.193 of the Florida Statutes states that it is a criminal offense for anyone to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more. The law also punishes an offense called “DUI causing serious bodily injury.” This offense is more serious and is categorized as a third-degree felony, which may be punished by a lengthy prison sentence.
The penalties for DUI are strict, but they cannot help an injured accident victim. Even though a driver might be convicted of an offense, an injured victim still needs to file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against the driver to recover.
Contact a Boca Raton Car Accident Attorney
You should contact Demand the Limits Personal Injury Attorneys to help you with the personal injury claims you need to file against the drunk driver who injured you. If you wait too long to file your claim, then necessary pieces of evidence may not be as easily recoverable. It is imperative that you consult an experienced car accident attorney so you can begin gathering the evidence that will establish a foundation for proving your legal claims.
