SARASOTA DRUNK DRIVING ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

In the context of fighting for the rights of individuals injured or killed in a car accident, a DUI lawyer is a type of attorney with the knowledge and experience required to handle cases involving drunk driving accidents. In other words, these attorneys help hold the responsible party accountable for their actions that led to the accident, such as drinking and driving. 

In addition to defending against criminal charges related to driving under the influence, a DUI personal injury lawyer can help you seek compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses resulting from a DUI accident.

The key tasks that a DUI personal injury lawyer may handle include:

Investigating the accident: A Sarasota DUI lawyer can investigate the circumstances of the accident to determine liability and identify any evidence that can support your claim for compensation.

Evaluating damages: Your lawyer can also evaluate the extent of your injuries, damages, and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related costs.

Negotiating with insurance companies: A DUI personal injury lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company representing the at-fault driver to seek a fair settlement that covers your damages and losses.

Representing you in court: If necessary, your attorney can represent you in court and argue your case before a judge or jury to seek maximum compensation.

Handling paperwork and deadlines: A Sarasota DUI lawyer can handle all the paperwork and legal deadlines associated with your case, ensuring that everything is filed correctly and on time.

Providing legal advice and support: Your lawyer can provide you with legal advice on your rights, options, and strategies for seeking compensation for your injuries, as well as support and guidance throughout the legal process.

One of the things a Morgan & Morgan Sarasota DUI lawyer may look at is if you have been injured by a drunk driver who was overserved alcohol at a bar in Sarasota—and just how much the driver had to drink. Once that's been determined, we'll find out where they obtained the alcohol and whether they visited one bar or multiple locations.

Our DUI lawyer in Sarasota will also investigate the timing and location of the over-serving to determine whether the establishment was negligent in its duty to serve alcohol responsibly. For example, did they operate after hours?

Such cases are not uncommon, given that Sarasota passed a new law allowing bars to sell alcohol Monday through Sunday, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. While that could mean a major boost for the local economy, the lives and well-being of the locals are far much greater.

Additionally, the lawyer may look into the bar's track record of over-serving alcohol and selling to minors and whether they are even allowed to sell alcohol in the first place. You may be surprised to discover that some of these establishments operate illegally, yet they still cause the locals so much pain thanks to their recklessness.

By examining these elements, our DUI victim lawyer can help you pursue compensation for your injuries and hold the negligent parties accountable for their actions.

We must mention that car accident cases are never similar, even those involving drunk driving. For this reason, the information the lawyer needs varies from case to case. That said, based on our previous handling of these types of cases, our attorneys will generally need the following information during the initial consultation in order to build a strong case on your behalf.

First, we will need a detailed account of the accident itself. What happened? What is the first thing you saw? What is the last thing you remember? These are just some questions that will likely emerge during the consultation with our attorneys.
 
We'll also want to know if there were any eyewitness statements, police reports, and any other evidence that could be useful in such a case. Remember to tell your lawyer everything you can remember, and do not hide any facts.

At Morgan & Morgan, we can fight for you and be on your side. In a case as complex as this, the last thing we want is to bump into surprises later on. We can prepare in advance and create a legal strategy with your best interests at heart. Without the truth, we won't be able to do this.

Information about your injuries and medical treatment, including any ongoing care you may need or potential future medical expenses, is also important. And if you lost wages or incurred any other financial losses, such as property damage, due to the accident, tell us about it. We may be able to help you recover these losses by filing a claim or lawsuit.
 
Finally, in the unfortunate event that your loved one died in the accident, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim on their behalf. To build the strongest case possible, we will need information about your loved one's life, including their work history, hobbies, and family relationships.

The bottom line is that the more information you can provide us during the initial consultation, the stronger your case will likely be. We will use that information to maximize your claim and fight for the best possible outcome.

Sarasota follows Florida's no-fault system when it comes to car accidents. In this city, each driver's insurance provider covers their insured's medical expenses and other losses, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. This means that you will need to file a claim with your own insurance company, not the other driver's carrier.

To file a successful claim under this system, you must have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage as part of your auto insurance policy. PIP coverage will pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other expenses up to the limits of your policy, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. In Sarasota and throughout Florida, the coverage limit for PIP insurance is $10,000.

Unfortunately, PIP coverage does not cover all expenses from a car accident.

Suppose your injuries are severe enough to meet certain criteria under Florida law. In that case, you may be able to step outside the no-fault system and pursue a lawsuit against the other driver for additional damages. This may be an option if you have suffered permanent injuries, significant scarring or disfigurement, or other serious injuries that meet the legal threshold.

There's always a possibility that the other party may refuse to settle the case out of court, even if the accident happened due to drunk driving. Although it's unlikely that they would want to take such a case to court, especially given that drunk driving is a serious offense, each case is different. For example, let's say there's a dispute over whether the other driver was actually drunk when the accident occurred.

Was it a case of hearsay, or is there concrete evidence to show they were drunk? If such questions raise serious doubt about the accident, the insurance company will likely want to take the war to court.

In that case, the right DUI attorney comes prepared for all scenarios because they know how insurance companies operate when facing such claims. They should be able to argue the facts before a judge or jury and convince them that you are entitled to compensation.

It is never advisable to negotiate with insurance companies for a settlement or anything for that matter without an attorney. Doing this is actually good news for insurance companies. Here's why.

You may not have the legal experience and expertise to handle such a case. For this reason, you'll likely say or do something that could jeopardize your claim.

Insurance carriers also know that they could easily manipulate you into accepting a lowball offer if you do not have an attorney. They know you need money to settle your medical expenses and other expenses, especially if you cannot work due to the injuries you sustained.

These companies know that your desperation grows stronger with each passing day. Sooner or later, they know you'll begin to show some cracks in your patience. Then, shortly after, you'll lower your guard.

On the contrary, an experienced attorney can protect you from insurance companies that only want to take advantage of your vulnerabilities and do not genuinely care about your well-being, even if you lost a loved one. Because attorneys understand the law and how it protects you in such cases, it is unlikely that they will do anything to jeopardize your claim or even settle for less (unless it is your best offer).

Life in the Circus City can be fun for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Most of us do. There's so much to see and do in this part of Florida that you'll never run out of options. Unfortunately, with the vibrant nightlife, beautiful weather, and, above all, lenient alcohol laws, Sarasota is always making headlines when it comes to drunk driving cases.

In April 2023, a hit-and-run drunk driver killed two people on I-75. In November 2022, the local police department released a photo of a radar gun readout showing an unidentified driver who had been arrested for driving at 102 mph in a 45 mph zone.

These are just some incidents that made headlines over the past year or so. What about those that didn't? Who will tell their story and, importantly, fight for their rights?

That's where Morgan & Morgan comes in to offer the legal representation you and your loved ones need in such difficult times. Our Sarasota DUI lawyers know how frequent these cases have become in this beautiful part of Florida. And if we do not fight back and hold these drivers accountable, the situation will only get worse.

We also know how complex these cases can be, but we're always prepared for every possible scenario. That's why we're America's largest injury firm. Preparation is key, and unlike many injury firms, we cannot run out of resources when we need them most.

Insurance companies know who we are. They know they'll see us in court if they don't cooperate. They also know that we won't back down from fighting for our client's rights, whether it's a case of whiplash, spinal cord injuries, or even something as complex as wrongful death.

If you're a victim of an accident caused by a drunk driver, we can help. Fill out this form for a free case evaluation, and we'll get in touch to discuss your options.