Should I get a lawyer after being hit by a drunk driver?

If you have been hit by a drunk driver and sustained any injury significant enough to impact your life, you should consult an attorney about your rights. Unsafe vehicle operation while impaired by alcohol is negligent conduct that entitles injured victims to pursue financial compensation for their losses. Hiring a lawyer means having a dedicated advocate handling every aspect of your claim with the same professional level of skill that has achieved maximum results for numerous clients. We free you up to focus on getting better while putting you on the path to receiving compensation that addresses the full extent of your losses.

Who can be held liable for a drunk driving accident in Florida?

The person most directly at fault for a drunk driving accident is the motorist who knowingly chose to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. This person is typically named as the defendant in a drunk driving accident claim, and compensation is usually sought through their auto insurance coverage. In certain instances, another party may also bear liability for the accident. For example, if the drunk driver was operating a commercial vehicle in the course of their work when the accident occurred, you may have a claim against their employer, to be paid by a commercial auto insurance policy. In very limited circumstances, it may be possible to hold a bar or alcohol-serving establishment liable for your injuries under a type of law known as “dram shop law.” While some states extend dram shop laws to any establishment that serves a visibly drunk patron, Florida’s dram shop laws are more restrictive, applying only when the drunk driver was served despite being either underage or “habitually addicted” to alcohol. Your lawyer can determine exactly who can be held liable for your injuries based on the specific facts of your situation.

Do I need to file a drunk driving injury claim or lawsuit if the driver who hit me is facing criminal charges?

The drunk driver who harmed you committed a crime. While they should face the consequences of their actions in the criminal justice system, doing so does not erase the need to take civil legal action against them. Generally, a civil claim or lawsuit is what allows you, as the victim of the accident, to pursue financial compensation that can make you as whole as possible, addressing losses like your medical costs, missed wages, and pain and suffering.

How much can I sue a drunk driver for?

The value of your drunk driving accident claim depends on the extent of your damages. The more severe your injuries—and the more extensive your medical needs, wage loss, and impact on your life—the greater your potential financial recovery. This means it’s important to identify all legally recoverable damages, accurately project any future impacts of your injuries on your health and ability to work, and provide full documentation of your losses. Our firm pursues maximum compensation for victims injured in drunk driving accidents, having secured millions of dollars for the clients we serve. We will thoroughly analyze your situation and pursue an outcome that reflects all of the legally recognizable losses you sustained.

Florida Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer | Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Santa Rosa County, FL

Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL: Aggressively Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable

Drivers impaired by alcohol have reduced reaction times, decreased concentration, a greater likelihood of falling asleep behind the wheel—and the potential to cause serious harm to everyone else on the road. When a motorist has made the selfish decision to drive under the influence of alcohol and you suffered the consequences of their actions, you need a Florida drunk driving accident lawyer at Dan Stewart Law Firm to help you find the path forward.

Right now, it can feel like your life has been flipped upside-down, permanently altered by the unacceptable actions of the drunk driver. Although nothing can erase the consequences of a drunk driving accident, our firm has a long history of helping victims and families move forward through strategic legal action. Through the civil legal system, we can pursue accountability and justice, along with financial resources to address medical costs, income loss, and the numerous non-economic ways this accident has affected you.

As a drunk driving accident attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, Dan Stewart Law Firm recognizes how severely what you’ve been through can impact every aspect of your life. We make getting the legal guidance you need as convenient as possible, with a free consultation, representation without upfront fees, and home and hospital visits facilitated by “The 4U mobile,” our dedicated RV complete with all facilities needed to meet in person to discuss your case. Contact us today for the compassionate, comprehensive legal support your family needs to get through this ordeal.

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Our Commitment to Victims of Drunk Driving Accidents in Northwest Florida

We take claims involving drunk driving accidents seriously because we know how deeply unfair these circumstances are.

The at-fault driver didn’t simply misjudge their stopping distance or have a momentary lapse in attention. They chose to get behind the wheel when they knew (or should have known) that they were unfit to drive safely, and that simply operating their vehicle around others while impaired would place everyone around them at risk.

Our passion for pursuing justice and accountability for victims of drunk driving accidents inspired our firm to contribute to fighting back against impaired driving in our community. Not only was attorney Dan Stewart instrumental in founding the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in 1992, but he continues to support the organization by serving in a leadership role within the chapter.

Our team carries this dedication into every drunk driving accident claim we handle for our clients, advocating aggressively for them in settlement negotiations or in the courtroom. We pursue full accountability as well as compensation for our clients.

Justice for Drunk Driving Accident Victims Through the Civil Legal System

While driving under the influence (DUI) is a crime in Florida, it’s the civil legal system, rather than the criminal legal system, through which victims can obtain the most meaningful recourse.

Even if the driver who struck you is convicted of a DUI offense, that outcome won’t directly address the hardships this accident has imposed on your life. However, through a claim or lawsuit, you can recover financial compensation that covers your losses, including:

Medical bills and rehabilitation costs
Ongoing care needs and projected future medical costs
Income you’ve lost due to temporary disability
Loss of earning capacity if you’re facing long-term disability
Non-economic losses you have experienced, like pain and suffering
Wrongful death compensation for bereaved families who have had a loved one taken from them in a crash with a drunk driver

To hold the drunk driver accountable, we need to establish their negligence and document your damages. Our firm will work diligently to show all of the ways the at-fault driver breached a duty of care owed to you, not only by getting behind the wheel impaired to begin with but also through every failure that contributed to the accident.

We also substantiate your damages through medical records, wage loss records, and detailed accounts of the ways the accident has affected your life and your family.

What to Expect When Working With a Drunk Driving Accident Attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL

Over the course of the claims process, you will encounter paperwork, documentation requirements, deadlines, and potentially the need for litigation. There will be negotiations with the insurer, legal proceedings, and preparations for a potential trial.

Without professional legal guidance, you’re at a disadvantage, trying to overcome the tactics insurers use to reduce claim payouts without extensive knowledge of legal procedures. The day-to-day tasks of managing the claim can distract you from your physical recovery, while developing a fully formed strategy for securing maximum compensation on your own may be out of the question.

By retaining Dan Stewart Law Firm as your Florida drunk driving accident lawyer, you have the support you need to make the most of the claims process. We handle the investigation of the accident, the gathering of evidence, and the identification of all potential defendants and sources of insurance coverage. We take on the burden of managing claims paperwork and insurance company interactions, documenting all of your damages, and developing a legal strategy personalized to your situation.

With us handling your case, you can rest assured that your claim for compensation is as strong as possible without the stress of the legal process interfering with your physical recovery.

How Dan Stewart Law Firm Can Help

Despite all the challenges you’re going through right now, our firm is here to help by providing full-service support for every stage of the legal process. Our commitment to you begins as early as your initial consultation. If you choose our firm as your accident attorney, we’re prepared to take your case as far as necessary and to be your unwavering advocate.

Types of Drunk Driving Accident Cases Our Firm Handles

Our team is prepared to represent victims and families impacted by drunk driving accidents of all kinds, including:

Car accidents
Truck accidents
Motorcycle accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Bicycle accidents
Multiple vehicle accidents
Wrongful death claims arising out of fatal tragedies

We serve drunk driving accident victims throughout Northwest Florida, representing them regardless of the time of day their collision occurred, the type of road they were on, or the type of crash that injured them.

The Initial Consultation Experience at Dan Stewart Law Firm

The first step to receiving the help you need for a drunk driving accident claim is a consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. Our firm provides free initial consultations, offering in-depth reviews of the facts of your case, your legal rights, and the process of holding drunk drivers legally and financially accountable for your losses.

Making sure you get all of your questions answered matters to us, which is why we provide you not only a written information package for your reference but also attorney Dan Stewart’s cell number.

Why Choose Dan Stewart Law Firm as Your Florida Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer?

Throughout the region, clients choose Dan Stewart Law Firm as their Florida drunk driving accident lawyer based on our dedication to victims and families affected by impaired driving, our extensive legal experience, and the immediate help we offer for urgent legal issues.

Commitment to Our Clients and Our Community

For our firm, drunk driving accident cases are personal. Attorney Dan Stewart was a crucial contributor to the founding of the local chapter of MADD in 1992 and continues to hold a leadership role in the chapter to this day. These contributions, as well as our community involvement in other forms, demonstrate our commitment to the safety of the community in Northwest Florida and to our clients whose lives have been disrupted because of a drunk driver.

A Record of Experience and Results

Our firm has served individuals and families affected by drunk driving accidents for more than 40 years, fighting for justice, accountability, and full financial compensation. Since we opened our doors in 1981, we have assisted more than 20,000 clients, ensuring injured victims and bereaved families didn’t have to face the legal process alone. We’ve recovered compensation in excess of $100 million for the clients we have served, a record that demonstrates our commitment to getting our clients results.

Compassionate, Immediate Assistance for Victims of Drunk Drivers

In the aftermath of a drunk driving accident, you need help and support right away. Our team recognizes the urgency of these life-altering events, and we’re committed to providing immediate response and care for injured victims and their families. By providing answers to time-sensitive questions and compassionate support on a 24/7 basis, we give our clients peace of mind and make the legal process less stressful.

Contact a Florida Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer at Dan Stewart Law Firm Today for a Free Case Review

You need someone on your side who treats your claim not as just another case number, but as your one opportunity to recover the full compensation you’re entitled to. With a history of supporting victims and families impacted by drunk drivers and working to put an end to intoxicated driving on our community’s roads, our firm has a proven reputation for fighting for our clients’ best interests.

For help from a drunk driving accident attorney in Santa Rosa County, FL, contact Dan Stewart Law Firm online or call 850-972-8002 today.

Florida Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer