Drunk driving is illegal in Florida because of the tremendous risk it presents on the roads. Unfortunately, motorists still drive impaired every single day. In fact, as many as a third of all fatal accidents in Florida in recent years involved drivers who were intoxicated behind the wheel.
If you or someone you love was harmed by a drunk driver, you have legal rights. Diaco Law can help you explore your options for recovering full and fair compensation for the damage that the impaired driver caused you to endure.
Give us a call today to schedule your free consultation with a Tampa drunk driving accident lawyer to learn more.
Who is Legally Liable for a Drunk Driving Accident?
When a drunk driving crash happens, the intoxicated driver is the most obvious person to blame for the accident. Impaired driving affects your judgment, reflexes, and mental acuity, and it significantly increases your risk of being involved in a vehicle collision.
It’s also illegal, as Florida Code section 316.1934 makes it clear that it is unlawful for:
“Any person who is under the influence of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances, when affected to the extent that the person’s normal faculties are impaired or to the extent that the person is deprived of full possession of normal faculties, to drive or be in actual physical control of any motor vehicle within this state.”
A driver can be classified as a drunk driver with a BAC of .08, although both underage and commercial drivers are subject to lower BAC limits. Drivers who exhibit signs of impairment are also in violation of DUI laws, even if their BAC isn’t above these thresholds.
When a violation of drunk driving laws is the direct cause of a crash, the driver is assumed to be negligent and thus liable for losses. This makes proving a DUI claim easier than other types of cases where you must specifically demonstrate the motorist was unreasonably careless to get compensated.
Other Potential Defendants in a Drunk Driving Claim
Impaired drivers may not be the only ones liable for your losses in a drunk driving crash.
Florida has a “dram shop” law that makes those who serve alcohol liable for resulting impaired driving crashes if they provide drinks to someone who is under the legal age or who they know is habitually addicted to alcoholic beverages.
If an employee is drunk on the job, it is also possible that their employer may be held liable for a collision the impaired worker causes, as staff members are considered agents of the companies they work for.
How Can a Tampa Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Help You?
At Diaco Law, we will work with you to determine exactly which defendants could potentially be to blame for your losses so we can maximize your chances of getting full coverage for your damages.
Our legal team also has the necessary experience to help you prove your case and maximize your chances of prevailing in court. You should turn to Diaco Law because:
- We have the knowledge and expertise needed to help you prove impaired driving by gathering police reports, consulting with experts to interpret toxicology reports, and gathering both witness testimony and evidence from the collision scene
- We have negotiated many settlements and helped many clients to prevail in court due to our ability to make persuasive arguments regarding why an impaired driver should be held liable for the full extent of damages caused
- We treat every case with the compassion that it deserves, so we have many past clients who have been very satisfied with the supportive representation we offer in the aftermath of an impaired driving accident.
Don’t let a drunk driver get away with harming you or your loved ones without providing full and fair compensation. Call us today at (813) 221-7978 or contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Tampa drunk driving accident lawyer at Diaco Law who can fight for you.