If you suffered injuries when a drunk driver hit you in St. Petersburg, FL or anywhere in Pinellas County, you may be able to take action against the at-fault driver by contacting our St. Petersburg car accident lawyer. It may be possible to file an insurance claim or lawsuit to hold the drunk driver accountable for your accident-related injuries, property damage, expenses, and more.
You may be able to recover damages with help from a St. Petersburg drunk driving accident lawyer from Distasio Law Firm. We understand Florida car insurance and accident law and may be able to manage all aspects of your case while you work toward recovering from your injuries. For a free consultation with a knowledgeable auto wreck attorney, call Distasio Law Firm.
Understanding Civil Cases Based on Drunk Driving
When many people think of drunk driving cases, they think of the criminal case the police and prosecutors will build against the driver. When a drunk driver causes an injury accident in Florida, they may face conviction of a first-degree misdemeanor under Florida Statute § 316.193.
However, a criminal conviction will not help you get compensation to pay medical bills and compensate you for your injuries. This requires you to file an insurance company claim or pursue a case in civil court. A car accident case in civil court may allow you to recover for your losses if you can prove:
- The other driver had a responsibility to drive safely and follow traffic laws
- They failed to do so, violating laws or creating a dangerous situation
- Their actions caused the accident and your injuries
- You suffered financial losses as a result
When a St. Petersburg drunk driving crash lawyer from Distasio Law Firm represents you, we can do so on a contingency-fee basis where you do not pay in advance for us to begin investigating your case and pursuing compensation on your behalf with a personal injury case. In this type of arrangement, you will only pay us for our legal services at the conclusion of your case, and only if we recover compensation for you.
It is important to note that we do not have to actually prove the other driver was drunk to be successful in this type of case. However, if we can prove the other driver was drunk, we may be able to pursue punitive damages to punish the other driver for their reckless conduct.
A criminal conviction is also not necessary to prove your case. The conviction may strengthen our case, but a lack of conviction will not break it. You may still qualify for compensation by demonstrating the other driver’s negligence and liability in another way.
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We Focus on Client Service and Legal Representation So You Can Focus on Healing
When you work with a drunk driving accident attorney in St. Petersburg from Distasio Law Firm, you will always come first. You will have access to an attorney who knows your name and understands the ins and outs of your case. We are committed to ensuring that you feel confident in our handling of your case so that you can focus on what really matters—healing your physical and emotional scars, reducing your stress, and spending time with loved ones.
Especially when it comes to drunk drivers, we believe it is important that people who take reckless and dangerous risks behind the wheel be held accountable. When working on your case, we can document how and why your accident occurred, and the role the at-fault driver’s intoxication may have played.
Distasio Law Firm may be able to go to work on your case today. Call to get started with a free consultation.
Recoverable Damages in a St. Petersburg Drunk Driving Accident
An attorney from Distasio Law Firm may be able to use evidence uncovered in an investigation into your accident to support your allegations the drunk driver caused your injuries, and hold that driver accountable. This could result in recovering damages that include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future lost wages or other pay
- Reduced earning capacity
- Repair or replacement of your vehicle
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Under Florida Statute § 768.21, our diligent attorneys may be able to pursue wrongful death damages and hold a drunk driver responsible for causing the death of a family member in a St. Petersburg car accident. Florida’s wrongful death statutes are complex, but our team knows how to navigate them.
Florida Statute of Limitations Apply in Drunk Driving Accident Cases
There is a statute of limitations for how long you have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Florida, even if the injuries occur as a result of a drunk driver. Under Florida Statute § 95.11, the general statute of limits for personal injury lawsuits is two years. For wrongful death lawsuits, it is just two years.
Other factors in your case could affect these deadlines. If you wait too long to take legal action, you could lose your right to take your civil case to court and hold the drunk driver accountable.
Distasio Law Firm can explain what specific deadlines pertain to your case when you call for a free consultation. Since we do not need a criminal conviction to recover damages in a drunk driving accident case, there is no reason to wait on the criminal courts. Reach out to us today.
A St. Petersburg Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Could Help You Seek Justice
If you were injured by a drunk driver in St. Petersburg, you may be able to hold them accountable and seek damages to cover your costs. A St. Petersburg drunk driving accident lawyer from Distasio Law Firm may be able to pursue these damages on your behalf.
Call Distasio Law Firm today to get started with a free case evaluation and consultation with a member of our team for you accident in St. Petersburg.
