Plantation, FL Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Standing Up For Victims
If you were hit by a drunk driver and injured, we can hold them accountable
Many people in Plantation, Broward County, and throughout Florida like to go out and have drinks with friends. But too many get behind the wheel after they’ve been drinking, and the result is a car accident that leaves people seriously hurt. And holding these drunk drivers accountable for the damages they’ve caused can be a complicated process.
If you or a loved one was injured in a drunk driving crash, the car accident lawyers at Feingold Posner Draizin can help. We know the impact that injuries from an accident can have on your life. We can guide you through the legal process and overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of recovering the compensation you deserve.
Understanding your rights after an accident with a drunk driver
As a victim of a drunk driving accident, you should know that if the driver is found guilty and the court orders restitution, it’s unlikely to cover all of your accident-related losses. In order to recover full and fair financial compensation for the damages you suffered, you will need to take legal action.
While a civil case and a criminal prosecution are distinct legal proceedings, the outcome of a drunk driver’s criminal case can have an impact on the resolution of your civil claim. If a drunk driver is guilty in criminal court, it can make it nearly impossible for the driver to avoid civil liability for any accident that they caused. But there is still a problem.
Insurance companies typically don’t cooperate with crash victims
You would think that insurance companies are quick to settle cases involving policyholders who cause drunk driving accidents. After all, the issue of liability is presumably clear, and no company wants to associate itself with defending drunk drivers.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Insurance companies will deny claims whenever they can and, when they cannot deny liability, will do everything possible to settle cases for as little as possible. As a result, it’s in your best interest to retain an attorney to represent you as soon as you can after a drunk driving accident.
A lawyer who regularly represents accident victims and is familiar with dealing with insurance companies will be able to protect your rights during the claims process.
Some of the ways that insurance companies try to minimize their payouts include:
- Making a low initial settlement offer
- Telling you that your case is not worth that much
- Misrepresenting your legal rights
- Making overbroad requests for your medical records
- Pressuring you to provide a recorded statement, during which they will ask you questions designed to get you to say something that will hurt your case
- Making an offer before you have had a chance to fully evaluate your losses or talk to an attorney
When dealing with an insurance company after an accident, the people on the other end of the phone may seem very friendly and have your best interests in mind. Don’t be fooled. Their priority is minimizing liability for their employer, the insurance company. This is why you need an experienced Plantation drunk driving accident lawyer.
Our attorneys know how to fight back
We used to represent insurance companies in personal injury claims. We know how they approach these claims and what tactics and strategies they’ll use to try to limit your compensation. More importantly, we know what it takes to win. Our firm focuses on building strong cases that insurance companies can’t ignore.
If the police came to the scene and suspected that the driver was drunk, they should have been administered a field sobriety test or taken a blood test at the station after an arrest. These can serve as evidence in your case.
We may also use evidence of how the driver looked and acted at the scene of the accident, told through witness testimony. If their appearance was that of a drunk person, it could be evidence that they were negligent. They may have smelled of alcohol and slurred their words, and that is often admissible if someone witnessed it.
We’ll also carefully review accident reports and medical records and search for other evidence, such as any existing video of the accident.
Types of damages you can recover from a drunk driving accident
One of the most important parts of a drunk driving accident claim is determining the value of your losses. Damages will vary depending on the type of injuries you suffered and the severity of your condition. They might include:
- Medical expenses – You should not be responsible for paying a penny for the treatment you need for injuries due to a drunk driver. Your claim should include the costs of emergency care you received, emergency transportation, diagnostic testing, surgeries, hospital or ICU admission, specialists and follow-up appointments, medical equipment, medication, rehabilitative therapy, and any other related medical expenses.
- Lost wages – Many traumatic injuries have physical or cognitive effects that prevent you from working. In addition, as part of your treatment plan, your doctor might order that you take some time from work to ensure that you rest and do not risk further injuries.
- Future financial losses – For those with severe injuries, the effects of the injuries can last far longer than an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. This means that your claim will need to account for the losses your injury will create in the future.
- Pain and suffering – Some injury-related losses affect your life in intangible but still very real ways. Injury victims can experience ongoing pain from their injuries, mental trauma from dealing with an injury or due to the trauma of the crash itself, and other effects.
It’s important to know how much to demand from the insurance company, as you can be sure they will not offer any more than is requested. Our attorneys will determine the total damages you suffered and take an aggressive stance in settlement negotiations.
Schedule a free consultation with our law firm today
One of the most common questions people have before hiring a lawyer is, “How much will it cost?” Money is not and should not be an issue for any personal injury case. People who have been hurt in an accident are facing financial struggles and are not able to pay costly legal bills to pursue their case.
The good news is that you do not have to do that. In fact, you do not have to invest anything because you pay nothing upfront to your lawyer, and you do not pay hourly bills. You only need to pay us if we get results; your fee comes from the compensation we recover for you. If you don’t get paid, we don’t either.
Learn more about how we can help. If you were injured in a Plantation drunk driving accident, contact us to schedule a free consultation.