Despite the facts and statistics that demonstrate how fatal drunk driving can be, drivers push the limit and continue to drive after one too many drinks. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) notes that in 2018, there were 5,106 alcohol confirmed car crashes that resulted in 372 deaths and 2,984 injuries. Reports from the CDC are even more frightening, revealing that one in three traffic deaths in the United States involved a drunk driver. Thousands of innocent lives are taken each year from the careless actions of other drivers, and the heartbreaking aftereffects ripple to the families and friends of those whose lives are taken.
If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, you deserve to be compensated for the pain and loss that you’ve experienced after the crash. The question that remains is how much can you expect to recover? You’ll likely be compensated for your medical bills and lost wages, but what else?
Each drunk driving accident is indeed different, depending on the facts surrounding the case. But there are specifics that Orlando drunk driving accident lawyers and judges analyze in each settlement that can help determine how much you can expect. Let’s go into detail on settlements for drunk driving cases, and review the damages that can be applied to settlements for drunk driving accidents.
If you’ve been in a car accident that resulted from a driver’s negligent actions, then you’re owed compensation for your injuries. If that driver was under the influence of alcohol, then it’s likely that the settlement or judgment will be higher than a case where the driver was not intoxicated. Each settlement amount varies, however, depending on the facts surrounding the case.
In Florida, there have been personal injury settlements from car accidents caused by a drunk driver as low as $10,000 and some as high as $500,000. The settlement amount varies depending on several factors, including:
Most times, courts rule that the drunk driver is entirely at fault for causing a car accident. However, if the drunk driver files a personal injury claim because the other driver failed to use a turning signal or had a missing taillight – the drunk driver may collect a small amount in damages. That’s because Florida is a comparative negligence state. The settlement amount will also account for how much coverage the drunk driver’s insurance policy covers and how much he or she can realistically pay in damages.
Contacting an experienced personal injury attorney after your accident will shed some light on exact amounts that you might expect and can answer further questions about what happens next in your settlement for a drunk driving claim.
In a personal injury case resulting from a drunk driving accident, there are two types of damages that victims can receive: damages for economic loss and damages for non-economic loss.
Compensation for economic loss is meant to pay back the victim for direct financial losses incurred from the accident. Examples of damages for economic loss include:
This type of compensation is usually the simplest to calculate, as hospital bills and salary amounts are easily measured.
Compensation for non-economic loss is paid to the victim for losses they acquired beyond their medical bills and lost wages. They’re meant to make up for the mental, physical, and emotional anguish that victims must suffer because of the accident. Examples of damages for non-economic loss include:
Some personal injury settlements include the injured victim’s family members for loss of companionship or consortium. These amounts are subjective and often more difficult to calculate.
After being hurt in a drunk driving accident, contact an Orlando drunk driving accident lawyer to help. Many factors go into a settlement for drunk driving accidents. Umansky and his team of personal injury attorneys can review the details of the accident and give you a greater understanding of what you can expect in your settlement for compensation. The attorneys at The Umansky Law Firm have more than 100 years of combined experience that they use when fighting for the compensation you deserve. To get started on your free consultation, fill out an online contact form, or call anytime to speak directly with an attorney.
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