Lakeland DUI Accident Lawyer

A contributing factor in approximately one-third of all fatal car accidents, drunk driving is an entirely preventable danger. Unfortunately, drivers continue to get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol and other substances. If you or a loved one have been injured in a drunk driving accident, a Lakeland car accident attorney can help you move forward.

Rebuilding after a drunk driving accident can seem impossible, particularly when the insurance company tries to delay payment or undervalue your claim. Instead of accepting an unfair settlement or paying out of pocket, hire a Lakeland DUI accident attorney from Dismuke Law, and get the fair compensation you deserve.

How a DUI Accident Lawyer in Lakeland, FL, Can Help You

Recovering from a serious collision can be incredibly expensive and emotionally devastating. Our DUI accident lawyers understand what you’re going through, so they’re willing to commit their time and effort to make your case as successful as possible.

Here’s what our team will do to build a strong claim and secure the damages you’re owed:

Investigate the Crash

The first thing our auto accident attorneys can do upon learning about your case is investigated your drunk driving crash claims. This step specifically helps us with the claim-filing process, as it allows us to gather evidence to establish an at-fault driver liable for your losses.

When investigating the accident scene, our team can specifically analyze police reports, medical reports, and witness statements to better understand what circumstances led to your accident. We can bring forward the results of a field sobriety test and even call in accident reconstruction experts to better understand how reckless driving may have contributed to your losses.

It’s also our job to request video footage of your crash from nearby storefronts, bystanders, and stoplights. We can begin constructing your claim once we have this evidence on hand.

With this need for data in mind, it’s important for you to request a medical examination to discover what injuries a drunk driver crash may have left behind. We can work with your medical professionals to integrate evidence of your bodily harm into our complaint.

Establish Liability

The evidence that your lawyer finds from their investigation will allow them to establish who is responsible for your losses. Drunk driving cases can have multiple liable parties, so your attorney will do their best to hold all responsible parties accountable for their wrongdoing.

The first party that your lawyer will assign liability to will likely be the driver who decided to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. However, your attorney may also hold a bar or restaurant owner responsible for overserving the driver.

If the driver was working during the time of the accident and their employer knew that they were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your lawyer may also attempt to hold the employer responsible for your losses.

Negotiate With Insurers

Since Florida is a no-fault state, your drunk driving accident lawyer can file an insurance claim with your own personal injury protection (PIP) policy. Under ideal circumstances, the insurance claim can help you recover your lost income. However, it’s unlikely that an insurer will offer you a fair drunk driving settlement right off the bat. 

If you want the maximum compensation possible for your case, you need to negotiate with an insurance provider. Specifically, our attorneys can arrange consultations with insurance adjusters to reach settlement offers that cover medical costs, property damage, and any aid needed to restore your previous quality of life.

The negotiating process can be difficult, as insurers are often keen to downplay the severity of the accident and reduce the amount of money they have to pay. Fortunately, our attorneys are experienced negotiators. We prioritize the rights of clients and can ensure that the claims process is not only lucrative but straightforward and civil.

Fight for Your Compensation in Court

Unfortunately, some insurance companies refuse to compensate honest car accident victims. If we cannot secure an ample insurance settlement on your behalf, we’ll file a personal injury claim against the liable party.

Our DUI accident attorneys have a great deal of experience litigating court cases in Lakeland, FL. They can present sufficient proof of liability alongside your losses. In turn, they can fight to prove that a negligent driver needs to provide you with monetary damages addressing your emotional distress and post-accident financial burden.

You can contact our drunk driving attorneys in Lakeland to discuss your right to a drunk driving accident injury claim today.

Damages Available to DUI Accident Victims in Lakeland

Whether it’s through insurance negotiations or a civil lawsuit, a drunk driving accident attorney can fight for the economic and non-economic damages you’re entitled to. They can identify all the damages you’re eligible to receive and calculate how much you’re owed for each one.

Depending on the financial losses you’ve taken, the emotional impact the accident and your injuries have had on you, and a number of other factors, you may receive several or more of the following damages:

• Medical expenses
• Ongoing medical treatment or therapy
• Medical supplies and medication
• Assistive devices and home modifications
• Vehicle damage
• Lost earnings
• Loss of potential or future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Diminished quality of life

We can calculate the possible value of your monetary damages by assessing the impact these aforementioned losses have had on your financial future. Specifically, we can calculate the value of your economic damages by assessing the bills generated by your automobile accident. We can then modify that sum by using state-approved multipliers to stand in for your non-economic losses.

Punitive Damages

In some cases, a Lakeland DUI accident attorney may add punitive damages to your claim. Punitive damages are usually used as a punishment for defendants who have committed acts of gross negligence.

Such damages can also act as a reminder to others that driving under the influence is not tolerated in Florida. If your attorney finds that the at-fault driver acted with extreme and blatant disregard for the safety of yourself and others, they’ll add these damages to your claim.

Find a Lakeland Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Near Me by calling our office or contacting us through our website.

Common DUI Accident Injuries

Over the years, our team has provided much-needed legal services to the wrongfully injured. Throughout their long careers, our attorneys have helped DUI accident victims recover from a number of devastating and life-altering injuries.

You can rely on an experienced DUI accident attorney in Lakeland, FL, to get you the compensation you need to recuperate from and cope with any of the following conditions:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Concussion
• Complete or partial paralysis
• Spinal cord injuries
• Back and neck injury
• Broken bones
• Internal injuries
• Amputations
• Facial injury and disfigurement
• Whiplash

If you think you’re contending with any of these conditions or another serious injury, let our team know. We can procure your accident report and any additional medical records that might help establish your position in civil court. In turn, you may have more opportunities to fight for the financial support you need to contend with your physical injuries.

Click to contact our Lakeland Car Accident Lawyers today.

Our Attorneys Can Take Legal Action After a Fatal DUI Car Accident

If your loved one or spouse has died from injuries sustained in a DUI car crash, we extend our deepest condolences to you and your family. Times like these can be incredibly tragic and frustrating, so filing a claim is probably the last thing you want to deal with.

Taking action against the party who caused this tragedy can get you the damages you need to grieve comfortably. A drunk driving accident attorney from our firm will handle the entirety of your wrongful death claim.

These claims can allow you to demand that a liable party provide you with the funds needed to address funeral expenses, loss of consortium, and loss of income after a loved one’s passing. What’s more, our attorneys’ experience in the field allows us to take on the full burden of your claim so as not to worsen your emotional distress. You can trust us to handle a fatal DUI car accident claim with due care.

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Deadline for DUI Lawsuits in Lakeland, FL

If you’re pursuing compensation for losses suffered in a DUI collision, you should be familiar with Florida’s deadline for car accident lawsuits. According to Florida statutes § 95.11, you have two years from the date you were injured to file a civil suit.

Acting fast after a DUI crash is important, as you’ll be barred from pursuing compensation for your injuries if you fail to file a lawsuit before the legal deadline. Our Lakeland DUI accident lawyers can help you meet the filing due date for your suit.

If your case’s two-year mark has passed, you might still have a chance at receiving compensation. A lawyer from our firm can advise you on the exceptions to Florida’s statute and help you take advantage of them.

Talk to an Experienced Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer

Dismuke Law isn’t like other DUI accident law firms. Our team of experienced attorneys takes an aggressive approach to litigating drunk driving claims. Your Lakeland DUI accident lawyer will go above and beyond to obtain the damages you need to cover your losses and treat your injuries.

We offer a free initial consultation to answer your questions and get you the information you need to make the right choices about your case. We also work on contingency, meaning we only recover attorney fees if we secure a settlement or award on your behalf. Contact us today for the no-risk representation you deserve.