Although it is common knowledge that it is illegal to operate a vehicle while intoxicated, drunk driving accidents occur regularly throughout South Florida. Drunk driving accidents frequently cause life-shattering injuries, which are made even more devastating by the knowledge that drunk driving accidents are entirely preventable. If you were harmed by a drunk driver, you should meet with a knowledgeable Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer to discuss your case and the claims that you may be able to assert to recover damages. Joseph I. Lipsky can develop a compelling case on your behalf to help you seek the full amount of compensation that you may be owed from the parties responsible for your harm. Mr. Lipsky is committed to the cause of drunk driving prevention and to holding drivers accountable when their conduct injures others.
According to the CDC, one in three deaths arising out of a car accident are alcohol-related, and thousands of people are killed in drunk driving crashes in Florida each year. There are numerous strategies that the state legislature, law enforcement, and the Department of Motor Vehicles employ to reduce the rate of drunk driving in Florida. For example, under Florida law, anyone who drives while under the influence of alcohol or with a BAC of 0.08% or higher can be convicted of DUI. In some situations in which a driver is convicted of DUI, they will be required to install an ignition interlock device in their car to prevent them from driving while intoxicated in the future. People who drive while intoxicated may not only face criminal penalties but also face the civil penalty of the loss of their driver’s license.
Additionally, the police often employ sobriety checkpoints throughout South Florida as a means of drunk driving prevention. Sobriety checkpoints allow the police to identify and hold accountable anyone driving while under the influence of alcohol, and the knowledge that the police are conducting checkpoints throughout the area may also prevent people from driving in an impaired state. Lastly, campaigns in the media and throughout schools can increase awareness of the consequences of drunk driving to help prevent future occurrences.
If you were injured in a drunk driving accident in Fort Lauderdale or the surrounding areas, you can pursue damages from the driver who caused the accident. If there is evidence of the driver’s impairment, such as a police report or a conviction of DUI, it is easier to prove that the driver was negligent and owes you compensation. In other words, this evidence of intoxication can allow you to establish that the driver breached the duty of care imposed on all drivers to refrain from driving while intoxicated and that the breach caused the accident and your subsequent harm.
In addition to seeking compensation from the driver, your attorney also may be able to pursue compensation from the bar or restaurant that served the driver alcohol. To recover damages from a commercial entity that sells alcohol, you must prove that the seller consciously served alcohol to a person who is habitually addicted to consuming alcohol and that you were injured as a result of that person’s intoxication.
Most car accidents are preventable, and drunk driving accidents are especially preventable. If you were injured in an accident involving a drunk driver, it is crucial to meet with a diligent South Florida attorney regarding your injuries and your potential options for recovering compensation. Joseph I. Lipsky will tirelessly pursue the full amount of compensation that you may be able to recover for your harm. Mr. Lipsky assists people harmed in drunk driving accidents in lawsuits in Fort Lauderdale and elsewhere in Orange, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties, which includes Orlando, West Palm Beach, Miami, and Key West. Our offices are located in Miami, Plantation, West Palm Beach, and Delray Beach. We can be reached at 1-888-352-5298 or through the form online to schedule a free and confidential meeting to discuss your claims.