DUI car accidents in Melbourne, FL, not only leave victims seriously injured or killed, but they also leave family and friends caring for injured loved ones or grieving the loss of a family member.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Melbourne, Florida, call the Melbourne DUI accident attorneys at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law. We can assess your case and help you file an appropriate claim so you can be compensated for your injuries. Our Melbourne car accident lawyer can protect your rights and hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries. Contact us online or call us at (321) 334-3929 for more help.
How Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law Can Help After a DUI Accident in Melbourne
The Melbourne personal injury lawyers at Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law have over 100 years of combined experience successfully litigating DUI and other car accident cases. We have recovered tens of millions of dollars for car accident victims like you.
If you have been injured in a car accident, a Melbourne car accident lawyer can:
- Offer a free consultation;
- Assess your case;
- Determine fault;
- Value your injuries and damages;
- File the appropriate claim for recovery;
- Negotiate with the insurance companies; and either
- Settle your case for the maximum recovery; or
- Litigate your claim at trial and obtain for you the maximum compensation you deserve.
Call us for a free consultation with a Melbourne car accident lawyer and learn more about how we can help with your case.
How Common Are DUI Car Accidents in Melbourne, Florida?
Twenty percent of adults in Brevard County admit to “binge drinking,” which means they drink to the point that their blood-alcohol concentration reaches 0.08 grams or more. This satisfies the statutory definition of being legally impaired in Florida. Binge drinking can cause impaired decision-making that so often leads to intoxicated driving.
According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Preliminary Report for 2024, in the first half of 2024 in Brevard County alone, there were:
- 3,976 car crashes;
- 39 fatal crashes;
- 40 fatalities;
- 2,009 total injury crashes; and
- 3,009 injuries.
If you or a loved one have encountered someone driving under the influence in Brevard County and were injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
What Is My DUI Car Accident Case Worth?
The value of your DUI car accident case is based on the damages you suffered. Every DUI car accident case is valued differently because every DUI car accident involves different injuries.
Our experienced DUI car accident attorneys can evaluate your damages and discuss what your car accident case is worth based on the nature and extent of your injuries and other damages.
What Kind of Damages Are Available to Accident Victims in Melbourne?
An injured party may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages are those costs and expenses resulting from the accident for which you can demonstrate a definitive value.
The types of economic damages that are commonly recoverable after a car accident include, but are not limited to, the costs for:
- Car repairs;
- Lost personal property;
- Ambulance services;
- Emergency room treatment;
- Hospital stays;
- Medical treatment and procedures;
- Prescription medications;
- Rehabilitation and therapy;
- Past lost wages and future lost income; and
- Funeral expenses
Non-economic damages are valued less precisely because they are more difficult to measure and can vary so greatly for each victim.
Non-economic damages that are commonly recovered after a car accident include:
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering; and
- Loss of quality of life.
Damages are often established using bills, receipts, invoices, repair estimates, or pay stubs.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Car Accident Lawyer?
Most car accident attorneys don’t charge you a thing unless they settle your case or win a jury award that compensates you for your damages. Our fees are “contingent fees,” which means that you pay nothing unless we win financial compensation for you.
Can I Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed For a DUI Car Accident in Florida?
Yes. This is called a modified comparative negligence approach.
The way comparative negligence works in Florida is that an accident victim may recover the percentage of their total damages equal to the percentage amount that they were not at fault for the accident. This remains true as long as they were not more than 50% at fault. If they were more than 50% at fault, then they recover no damages.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a DUI Car Accident in Florida?
Proving negligence in Florida requires showing:
- The other driver had a duty to satisfy a certain standard of care;
- The other driver breached or violated that duty;
- You were injured as a result of the other driver’s breach; and
- You suffered actual economic or non-economic damages as a result of the accident
In a DUI car accident case, evidence used to prove negligence might include:
- Police reports;
- Eyewitness testimony;
- Testimony from others who may have seen the other party consuming alcohol near the time of the accident;
- Pictures of the other party consuming alcohol before the accident; and
- Pictures of the vehicles, road conditions, and traffic signals
Your DUI car accident attorney will consult with you to determine fault in your case and will begin collecting the detailed evidence necessary to prove the other party’s fault.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a DUI Car Accident in Florida?
In Florida, you have only two years to file your claim for damages after a car accident. Collecting the necessary evidence to prove negligence and value your injuries and other damages takes time. It is important that you consult with your personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to be sure you can file your personal injury claim on time.
Contact Our Melbourne Car Crash Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one have been involved in a DUI car accident in Melbourne, FL, you may be facing serious injuries, accumulating medical bills, or the loss of a family member. At Norden Leacox Accident & Injury Law, there are caring and compassionate attorneys who can help. Call our Melbourne DUI accident attorneys today for a free consultation.