Pursuing Legal Claims Against Drunk Drivers
Drunk driving is an extremely reckless decision. Drunk drivers often cause serious and fatal accidents. In Florida, people who drive drunk and cause motor vehicle wrecks can be held accountable in civil as well as criminal proceedings.
At Gross & Schuster — with offices in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Crestview — we pursue personal injury and wrongful death claims against drunk drivers. Contact us for a free consultation. You will pay no attorneys' fees unless you recover damages.
Seeking Punitive Damages for Reckless Behavior
Under Florida law, if you can prove that the person who caused a car wreck was driving drunk at the time of the accident, it is possible to get punitive damages — designed to punish reckless behavior — in addition to standard economic and non-economic damages.
Attorney Terence Gross is a former DUI defense lawyer and understands what it takes to prove that someone was driving drunk. We work closely with the state's attorney's offices to obtain tapes, breath test results and other evidence in drunk-driving accident cases.
Understanding the Relationship Between Lawsuits and Criminal Charges
Florida has a high conviction rate for people accused of DUI, but sometimes, the evidence is not there to convict someone of a crime. Personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, however, are governed by different legal standards than criminal prosecutions.
Even if the person who hit you was not convicted of the crime of drunk driving, it may still be possible for you to obtain punitive damages for your injuries after a drunk-driving accident. Don't hesitate to contact us to discuss the details of your case with an experienced trial lawyer.
