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Tampa Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
Holding intoxicated drivers responsible for the injuries and deaths they cause in Florida
It should be common knowledge – drinking and driving don’t mix. Drivers who drive while intoxicated should be held liable for the accidents and deaths they cause. At MattLaw, we have 35 years of experience sending a message to defendants that irresponsible driving has consequences. Our Tampa drunk driving lawyers file personal injury and wrongful death claims against drunk drivers and anyone else who may be responsible for your accident. Our lawyers have secured more than $250 million in recoveries for our clients. Call us now to protect your future.
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How we can help you
- How common are drunk driving accidents?
- Why is drinking and driving dangerous and deadly?
- What Florida laws govern drunk driving in Florida?
- Does a criminal DUI charge affect my civil case?
- Is anyone liable other than the drunk driver?
- How much is a victim’s or a family’s claim against the drunk driver worth?
- Do you have a Tampa drunk driving lawyer near me?
How common are drunk driving accidents?
According to Olympic Behavioral Health, located in Lantana, FL., drunk driving was a factor in 38,000 accidents in Florida in 2021. Florida’s rate of drunk driving fatalities is more than the national average. “As of 2024, about 5.09 drunk drivers out of 100,000 licensed drivers are involved in fatal DUI accidents.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that, on average, one person dies in a drunk driving accident every 39 minutes.
Drunk driving is preventable. Drivers can prevent DUI accidents by arranging for a sober driver (such as by calling Uber or Lyft), going home by public transportation, walking home, or staying at a hotel or a friend’s home (providing they get to the hotel/home without driving).
Why is drinking and driving dangerous and deadly?
According to the NHTSA, alcohol affects a person’s central nervous system. The alcohol level of a person is measured “by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood.” The measurement is the person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC). In all states, including Florida, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of 0.08 grams of alcohol per deciliter or higher. Utah has a 0.05 BAC limit. Typically, a breath or blood test is used to measure a driver’s BAC level.
While 0.08 is the legal limit, lower levels of alcohol in a driver’s system can also kill. “In 2022, there were 2,337 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where a driver had a BAC of 0.01 to 0.07 g/dL.”
The effects of driving at the 0.02 level include a “decline in visual functions (rapid tracking of a moving target), decline in ability to perform two tasks at the same time (divided attention).” At the 0.08 level, the effects of alcohol include “concentration, short-term memory loss, speed control, reduced information processing capability (e.g., signal detection, visual search), impaired perception.”
What Florida laws govern drunk driving in Florida?
Drivers in Florida can be charged with a DUI if they have a BAC level of 0.08 or higher or if there is proof of “impairment of normal faculties.” The criminal penalties may include imprisonment, fines, loss of driving privileges, and other consequences.
At MattLaw, we file personal injury claims and wrongful death claims against intoxicated drivers. There is no requirement that the police charge the driver with a DUI. There is no requirement that the driver be found guilty of a DUI. Our Tampa drunk driving accident lawyers can file a car accident claim whether there are criminal charges or not.
Does a criminal DUI charge affect my civil case?
At MattLaw, we coordinate your civil case with the prosecution if there are criminal charges. Normally, the criminal case will proceed first. We can work with the prosecution to use the evidence they have that the driver was intoxicated (such as the results of a breath test) or, where possible, the conviction of the drunk driver. It normally flows that if a driver pleads guilty to a DUI or is found guilty by a judge or jury, the driver will also be liable in your civil case.
If there are no criminal charges, we can still work to prove that a drunk driver caused your accident through the testimony of the police officer, the way the accident happened, and any witnesses. In most drunk driving accident cases, the driver also committed other negligent acts such as speeding, crossing lanes of travel, weaving in and out of traffic, driving through red lights, or driving too fast for weather or traffic conditions.
Is anyone liable other than the drunk driver?
Our Tampa drunk driving lawyers may also file claims against the following defendants, depending on how the accident happened and what steps could have been taken to prevent the drunk driver from getting behind the wheel:
- The owner of the car. Owners (such as parents) may be liable if their child drinks and drives, causing an accident due to their intoxication.
- A seller/provider of alcohol. Florida permits personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against someone who sells or furnishes alcohol to a person (if their intoxication is the cause of the car accident) who:
- Is not of legal drinking age, or
- Is “habitually addicted to the use of any or all alcoholic beverages.” Habitually addicted is a much stronger standard than the standard in many other states, which is “visibly intoxicated.”
How much is a victim’s or a family’s claim against the drunk driver worth?
At MattLaw, we demand compensation for all of your damages. These include your medical bills (of every nature), lost income and benefits, physical pain and emotional suffering, property damage, scarring and disfigurement, and all other financial and personal damages.
If your loved one dies due to a drunk driving accident, we can file a wrongful death claim against the drunk driver. Wrongful death damages include compensation for the family’s funeral and burial costs, the loss of financial support, and the loss of personal comfort and guidance your loved one would have provided. We also file survival actions on behalf of the decedent’s estate for the damages between the date of the accident and the date of their death.
In both personal injury and wrongful death cases, our Tampa drunk driving lawyers seek punitive damages because drinking and driving is unconscionable.
Insurance issues
One of the concerns in drunk driving cases is that the driver may not have insurance or may not have enough insurance to pay you the damages.
If there isn’t any insurance or there isn’t enough insurance to compensate you in full, our car accident lawyers will file an uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) claim through your own liability policy.
With a drunk driver, we can seek punitive damages against the driver. Punitive damages won’t be paid by the insurance company in most cases, but it does apply a lot of pressure to make a fair settlement.
Do you have a Tampa drunk driving lawyer near me?
Yes. We meet clients at 304 S Plant Avenue in Tampa, Florida. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, we can arrange to see you at your home or a healthcare facility. We also speak with clients by phone and through online video platforms such as Zoom and FaceTime.
We understand how upset and angry you are. Drunk driving accidents are inexcusable. We’re prepared to fight for all the compensation you deserve.
Talk with our Tampa drunk driving accident lawyers now
Drunk drivers must be held accountable to compensate victims and families of deceased loved ones. Strong settlements and verdicts also send a message to the driver that they should never drink and drive again. At MattLaw, we have 35 years of experience holding negligent drivers accountable for the injuries and deaths they cause. We coordinate your civil claim with any criminal charges. Phone us now or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We represent car accident victims on a contingency fee basis, which means we only receive compensation if you do.