203 N. St. Clair Abrams Avenue, Tavares, Florida 32778-3259
Call for a free consultation
Consultations Via Skype Upon Request
352.508.1485
Call for a free consultation
Consultations Via Skype Upon Request
352.508.1485

Dedicated Lawyers Fight For Drunk Driving Accident Victims in Clermont, Inverness and Tavares

Powerful attorneys maximize compensation for DUI injuries in Central Florida

Drunk driving never seems to go away. Despite strict law enforcement, heightened penalties, social awareness campaigns and wider transportation alternatives, alcohol- and drug-related vehicle accidents continue to wreak havoc on victims. At Largey Law Firm, our attorneys have a combined 27 years of experience working diligently in the Florida courts to hold drunk drivers accountable for the medical bills, lost wages and personal losses that result from their irresponsible and illegal behavior.

Drunk driving accident statistics in Florida

For the years 2015 through 2017, there were 15,870 alcohol-related crashes reported in Florida, according to Florida Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles. Those accidents resulted in 6,004 injuries and 1343 deaths. In Citrus and Lake counties, the statistics were equally alarming:

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics (2017) Citrus County Lake County
Alcohol Confirmed Crashes 79 23
Alcohol Confirmed Injuries 48 21
Alcohol Confirmed Fatalities 17 21

Injuries when both alcohol and drugs were involved in crashes totaled 561 statewide, 17 in Lake County and nine in Citrus County.

Filing a claim against a drunk driver

In Florida, recovering money damages from an intoxicated driver who caused you injury can be complicated and frustrating. Every Florida driver is required to carry a minimum $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, which pays your medical expenses and lost wages up to that limit no matter who is at fault.

However, a serious car accident will easily result in damages beyond the PIP coverage. Your recourse then is to sue the drunk driver, who may not carry sufficient liability insurance to cover your injuries. In that event, you can claim against the uninsured/underinsured coverage line of your own insurance policy. Our attorneys will pursue all possible sources of recovery, including a lawsuit against the drunk driver and collection methods that include wage garnishment and property attachment.

A defendant often will attempt to use Florida’s pure comparative negligence law to reduce liability for the accident. It provides that an accident victim who is partly at fault for a crash can recover only a percentage of the damages award. For example, if a court awards $100,000 in damages but determines that the victim was 25 percent at fault for the accident, the award is reduced to $75,000. Our attorneys are skilled at thoroughly investigating drunk driving accidents and using expert testimony to establish that he or she bears the fullest extent of responsibility.

Under Florida’s the statute of limitations, you must file a personal injury lawsuit within four years of a motor vehicle accident.

When is an alcohol server liable for a DUI injury?

Florida’s dram shop law generally prohibits filing a claim against an establishment that serves alcohol to an adult who then causes an accident. An exception is made where the bar, restaurant or other purveyor knew of a patron’s history of alcohol abuse but served him anyway. This makes Florida’s law more lenient than many states that make “visible intoxication” the standard for a bar cutting a patron off.

Even under Florida law, it is arguable whether or not the patron’s history of abusive drinking should have been evident to the establishment. That is why it is essential to have a knowledgeable personal injury attorney on your side when you pursue a DUI injury claim, since the bar’s potential liability can result in a far greater damages recovery. Our law firm will gather evidence and thoroughly investigate all aspects of the driver’s history, his relationship with the establishment and the events leading up to the accident to build a powerful case in your behalf. An establishment is also liable for serving alcohol to a minor who then causes an accident.

Why hire a DUI injury lawyer

Drunk driving accidents have life-altering repercussions. If you or someone you love has been injured by a drunk driver in Central Florida, talk to the accident lawyers at Largey Law.  Call us at 352.508.1485 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation at one of our office locations in Tavares, Inverness or Clermont. Se habla español.

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