When an impaired driver gets behind the wheel, they pose a severe risk to others on the roadway. You could be entitled to compensation if you sustained injuries in an accident caused by someone guilty of driving under the influence (DUI).
An experienced Stuart DUI accident victim lawyer from our team at SKG can help you recover the money you need and deserve. Contact us today by completing our online contact form or calling us and scheduling a free consultation with a member of our legal team.
Our Stuart car accident lawyers are ready to help you get back on your feet after an accident.
How Can a DUI Accident Victim Attorney Help You Recover Compensation?
Hiring an experienced attorney to help with your DUI accident case will free you up to focus on healing from any injuries you sustained. When you hire a lawyer, they will take over every aspect of your case and give you the best chance of recovering compensation from the liable party.
Whether you are pursuing a personal injury lawsuit or attempting to recover compensation through an insurance claim, your attorney will complete all of the required steps of the process and ensure that all the necessary paperwork is filed correctly and on time.
Some of the steps you can expect your attorney to take on your behalf include:
Finding the Liable Party
Personal injury attorneys in Stuart focus on identifying the liable party after drunk driving accidents. Another driver may hold responsibility for your accident if they owed you a duty of care, violated their duty, and directly caused your accident, injuries, and financial losses.
Investigating Your Accident
We take the time to thoroughly investigate the causes of your accident as we take legal action on your behalf. We look into the dangerous actions of the drunk driver who caused your accident. Depending on your circumstances, we may:
- Visit the scene of the drunk driving accident
- Speak to any eyewitnesses
- Look for photos or video evidence recording the accident
- Get a copy of your police accident report
- Access the results of blood alcohol content (BAC) testing performed by police officers
- Work with DUI accident experts
We use the evidence we gather to build a claim to bring you fair financial compensation to cover the losses you sustained due to the dangerous actions of a drunk driver.
Calculating the Value of Your Claim
We help clients seek fair compensation after DUI accidents by tracking all the losses caused by the accident. We collect documents that can support your personal injury claim, like medical records and invoices from repair shops.
Handling Insurance Companies
We deal with the insurance company on your behalf after an accident caused by a drunk driver. We’ll take care of legal communications, file all required paperwork, and handle settlement negotiations, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
Your attorney will provide regular updates throughout the process, including any settlement offers presented by the opposition. They will advise you of your legal rights and obligations and how best to proceed.
More people choose The Schiller Kessler Group because they know that we’re a cut above other personal injury law firms.
Can You Sue Someone After a DUI Accident?
Florida is among a minority of states that operate under a no-fault insurance law.
This law means all drivers must carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. After a car accident, you must file a claim with your insurer for the payment of your medical bills. However, you can also potentially pursue damages from the party responsible for causing your accident.
Florida may only allow you to seek financial compensation through a lawsuit in cases involving permanent injuries. You can discuss this option and other methods to resolve your case with your personal injury lawyer.
No matter what time of day it is, you can contact The Schiller Kessler Group to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
What Damages Can You Claim After Suffering an Injury in a DUI Case?
If you sustain severe injuries in a DUI accident, you can likely pursue a wide range of damages from the liable party. When determining what damages apply, it is essential to remember that every accident case is unique, and applicable damages vary from case to case.
Fortunately, an experienced attorney can help you determine the exact damages that apply. Some common compensatory damages claimed in DUI accident cases include the following:
Medical Expenses
Accidents caused by drunk drivers can leave you with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), broken bones, spinal cord injury, or other catastrophic injuries. Your DUI accident attorney can help you seek monetary compensation to cover your:
- Emergency medical treatment and ambulance ride
- Time spent in the hospital
- Medical tests necessary to diagnose your condition
- Medical procedures, including surgeries
- Medications, physical therapy, and rehabilitation
We understand the expenses associated with receiving necessary medical care for injuries caused by someone else’s reckless actions. We’ll help you seek maximum compensation for your medical bills.
Lost Income
The injuries from an auto accident may prevent you from working. In this situation, your attorney can help you seek funds to cover your lost pay, bonuses, and raises.
If you suffer a permanent disability that prevents you from returning to work, you may get additional damages for your decreased earning capacity. You can find out more with our DUI accident lawyers.
Property Damage
Drunk driving accident victims may have a chance to secure funds to cover vehicle repairs and other losses associated with damaged property. For example, your drunk driving accident attorney may help you get funds to pay for a damaged phone.
Non-Economic Losses
Our team can also help you seek compensation for a wide variety of non-economic damages. These losses cover things like your emotional distress, mental anguish, pain, and suffering. You may receive funds for loss of companionship or loss of consortium.
How Much Compensation Do You Get After a DUI Accident?
The funds available after a DUI accident can vary based on the severity of your injuries and the full extent of your losses.
Our team will track all the financial stress caused by the collision. We strive to bring you a fair settlement that allows you to move forward after a collision.
Can You Get Funds for Punitive Damages After a DUI Accident?
A drunk driving accident lawyer may help you recover punitive damages after an accident caused by an intoxicated driver. While only available in a small percentage of car accident cases overall, the court commonly awards punitive damages in these types of accidents.
The court reserves punitive damages for situations where the liable party acted in a criminally negligent manner or to cause harm. Your lawyer will likely be able to successfully argue that the intoxication of the at-fault driver meets the criminal negligence qualifier.
Why Choose Us After a DUI Accident in Stuart?
You can count on our experienced legal team to help you through each step of the legal process after a DUI wreck. We have nearly three decades of experience to draw on when providing legal representation to clients in your situation.
We provide you with a risk-free initial consultation to discuss your claim. If we take on your case, we’ll work relentlessly to find the negligent party so we can hold the drunk driver accountable for their dangerous actions.
You can learn more about your law firm’s history of success by reviewing our case results. We’re ready to help after a drunk driving crash, and we’ll maintain open communication throughout the legal process.
What Do We Charge to Handle DUI Cases?
When you hire a DUI accident lawyer from our firm, you will never have to worry about being unable to afford their services. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only collect a fee if we win compensation on your behalf. We don’t charge an hourly rate or a fee to retain our legal services.
Instead, the only payment we receive comes in the form of a fixed percentage of the money we recover on your behalf. This fee is paid at the end of your case and comes directly out of the settlement or court-ordered payout you recover. You will never pay a single cent out of your own pocket.
With this payment structure, all accident victims can afford to secure the services of an experienced attorney, regardless of their financial situation.
Can a Lawyer Help After a Deadly DUI Accident in Stuart?
You can turn to our law firm for assistance after a wrongful death caused by a drunk driver. We’ll provide your family with compassionate care throughout this challenging time, locating the responsible party to hold them accountable for their negligent actions.
You may seek damages through an insurance claim or a wrongful death lawsuit in some situations. Your family may receive funds to ease the financial burden of your loved one’s medical expenses and burial costs, for example.
We understand that a wrongful death claim cannot bring back your loved one. However, it can hold the at-fault party accountable for their actions and help you secure a sense of closure after a deadly accident. Find out more by reaching out to us for help.
Can We Help with Accidents Caused by a Driver Under the Influence of Prescription or Illegal Drugs?
Many drivers think about impairment by alcohol when considering DUI accidents. However, drivers operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs may also end up causing:
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Side-impact collisions
In these situations, our personal injury law firm can step in to help you secure funds to cover the financial costs of the accident. You may qualify for compensation if another driver caused an accident after using prescription or illegal drugs.
We provide aggressive representation if you’re dealing with this legal matter and can take charge today.
How Long Do You Have to File a DUI Accident Claim?
When attempting to recover damages through a lawsuit after suffering damages in a DUI accident, you must pay attention to the applicable statute of limitations.
In 2023, Florida modified the personal injury laws, including the statute of limitations. These changes included cutting the time that accident victims had to file a lawsuit in half from four to two years.
Our law firm can track the deadlines associated with your claim and file all paperwork on time.
Will a Driver Face Jail Time for Your DUI Accident?
Our team at SKG can help you file a civil claim for compensation after a DUI accident in Stuart. These legal claims cannot result in incarceration.
However, individuals who drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs may also face criminal charges. If the criminal court system convicts the driver, they may face time in jail or prison, as well as restrictions on their driving privileges.
The results of a criminal trial do not directly impact civil legal proceedings, though they may represent another way to hold drunk drivers accountable for their dangerous choices.
Get a Free Consultation From an Experienced Stuart DUI Accident Victim Lawyer Today
At SKG, we have a proven track record of securing favorable results for our clients. A Stuart DUI accident victim lawyer can work diligently to ensure you recover the compensation you need and deserve.
Contact us today by calling or completing our online contact form to schedule a free case review with a member of our legal team.
Injured? Call The Aggressive Attorneys Today