Miami Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Drunk driving accidents in Miami are responsible for causing severe injuries, traffic fatalities, and substantial property damages. If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a drunk driving accident, you’ll want to speak to an experienced attorney right away. Call Englander Peebles at (954) 500-4878 to have a trusted Miami drunk driving accident lawyer review your case. We are committed to helping drunk driving accident injury victims get the compensation they deserve.
Why Choose Englander Peebles Miami Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers?
Englander Peebles is a smaller firm committed to providing personal legal representation while instilling confidence and building trust with our clients. We recognize that drunk driving is a particularly heinous criminal offense and are passionate about assisting victims suffering injuries and actual damages following a collision. Our dedicated attorneys have recovered millions for our Miami clients who sustained injuries from drunk driving accidents, commercial truck collisions, rideshare accidents (Uber/Lyft), motorcycle accidents, slip and falls and residential and commercial premises liability cases.
Free Consultations
Englander Peebles provides free consultations for potential clients seeking legal advice concerning their Miami drunk driving accident. During our initial meeting, we will review case details, address any questions you have about the claims and legal processes, and explore viable options before formulating a plan to recover compensation. Anything you share with our team during your consultation will remain confidential. After meeting with us to discuss your case, it will be your decision to retain our services.
Customized Legal Strategies
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula for recovering compensation for injuries after a Miami drunk driving accident. Our attorneys firmly believe in creating customized legal strategies after discovering the circumstances of your case. We will determine your case’s strengths and weaknesses and formulate a tailored strategy for the best possible outcome.
Contingency Fee Arrangements
Englander Peebles recognizes the physical, emotional, and financial strain that comes with drunk driving accidents. We refuse to impose additional burdens on the shoulders or wallets of injury victims who need support in seeking compensation for their injuries and damages. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are zero upfront or out-of-pocket costs to hire a legal professional to represent your interests. We only get paid if you do, so we are strongly motivated to win your drunk driving accident case.
You don’t have to face your Miami drunk driving accident alone. Call Englander Peebles at (954) 500-4878 to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Miami drunk driving accident lawyer. We are here to listen and develop a customized legal strategy after discovering the specifics of your case. Our law office is conveniently located in Washington Square:
How Much Is a Drunk Driving Accident Worth?
As the victim or surviving family member of a Miami drunk driving accident, you can be entitled to substantial compensation for your injuries or losses. You deserve to be fully compensated for your physical pain and emotional suffering, and the drunk driver should be held accountable for their gross negligence. We will evaluate the special and general damages in your injury claim, otherwise known as your actual damages.
Special Damages
Your economic or financial losses are called special damages. Our attorneys thoroughly investigate all areas where you may experience monetary loss. Depending on the severity of your injuries, medical treatments, and income losses, the special damages we may calculate are as follows:
- Healthcare Expenses: Medical costs typically represent a significant part of economic loss. Our attorneys pursue reimbursement for hospital stays, surgeries, doctor visits, rehabilitation services, massages, medical assistive devices, and prescription medications. Insurance deductibles and copays can also be recovered.
- Long-Term Medical Care: When injuries require ongoing or long-term medical care, Englander Peebles trusts your treating physicians and a life care planner in our professional network to determine needs and associated costs.
- Professional Damages: All income losses resulting from your drunk driving accident will be taken into account. Depending on the severity of your injuries and the specifics of your job, we may recover lost income, tips, commissions, overtime pay, and bonuses. The loss of benefits, including healthcare, retirement, and pension plans, will also be included in your settlement.
- Diminished Earning Capacity: England Peebles collaborates with vocational rehabilitation specialists when severe injuries prevent you from returning to work in the same capacity or altogether to determine your diminished earning capacity. Your inability to continue working in your profession, need to take a lower-paying job, or inability to work again are all considered when determining these damages.
- Property Damages: We can recover economic losses for damaged or destroyed property in your Miami drunk driving accident. Property damages generally entail vehicle repairs or the actual cash value of your totaled vehicle. They also cover damage to homes, businesses, fencing, and landscaping. Lost property compensates for replacing valuables like jewelry, phones, portable electronic devices, sunglasses, clothing, car seats, and groceries.
- Household Services: When injuries create the need for help with household services, they will be calculated as economic damages in your settlement. These services encompass housekeeping, laundry, cooking, and personal care needs, such as assistance with dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting.
- Transportation Needs: If a drunk driving accident leaves you without a vehicle, our firm will calculate the transportation costs you sustained. These include rental cars, taxis, Uber and Lyft rideshare services, and public transportation.
Please bring copies of all financial losses to our initial consultation. This will help us better understand the case damages and how to proceed with your claim. We can prove special damages with invoices or estimates for repairs, medical billing statements, and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses. A lost income statement from your employer, pay stubs, and tax returns help verify income losses.
General Damages
Your non-economic or intangible losses are referred to as general damages. These are intended to compensate you for how the drunk driving accident and injuries have affected your life. Depending on the nature of your injuries, general damages that our team may secure compensation for include:
- Acute pain symptoms and chronic pain conditions
- Emotional distress and mental anguish (fear, anger, frustration, hopelessness)
- Psychological trauma (anxiety, depression, PTSD)
- Sleep disturbances (insomnia, nightmares)
- Cognitive issues
- Development of driving phobia
- Development of opioid use disorder from prescribed pain management
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Decreased quality of life
- Permanent impairment (hearing or vision losses) or disability
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium (loss of companionship, intimacy, affection, love)
- Loss of household services
- Worsening of previous injury or medical condition
- Lost years due to shortened life expectancy
General damages are more challenging to quantify and require proper and consistent documentation of their symptoms. Our firm will establish your non-economic losses with detailed medical records reviewed by medical professionals, expert witness testimony, and a post-accident journal, where you will record your symptoms of pain and suffering.
Wrongful Death Damages
If you’re grieving the loss of a spouse or loved one from a Miami drunk driving accident, you may have the right to file a wrongful death claim. A surviving family member named the executor or personal representative of the decedent’s estate may recover compensation for their loved one’s final medical expenses, income losses, and pain and suffering. Other wrongful death damages include the loss of financial support, consortium, parental guidance, household services, and inheritance.
Punitive Damages
When drunk driving accidents go to court, juries may decide to award punitive damages to injury victims. Insurers do not pay these damages. Instead, they punish the defendant and dissuade others from committing their offense. Punitive damages are additional compensation not calculated by attorneys and can only be awarded by juries when circumstances are egregious.
Where Do Drunk Driving Accidents Occur in Miami?
Drunk driving accidents in Miami are a major problem due to the large population, thriving tourism, and heavy traffic. The most prevalent locations for drunk driving accidents in Miami are around Miami Beach and South Beach, mainly because of the abundance of nightclubs and bars. Miami drunk driving accidents frequently occur on I-95, State Road 112, the Palmetto Expressway, State Road A1A, and Florida’s Turnpike.
Injuries Commonly Sustained in Miami Drunk Driving Accidents
Depending on the circumstances surrounding a collision, injuries from a drunk driving accident can vary from mild to moderate, severe, and even fatal. Despite being illegal in all 50 states, recent drunk driving data indicate that one American is killed every 39 seconds in a drunk driving accident. When injuries result in damages or wrongful death, we can fight for your right to recover compensation for the associated costs and daily impact. Common injuries sustained in Miami drunk driving accidents include the following:
- Whiplash and neck injuries
- Broken bones or fractures
- Burn injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Internal injuries (organ damage or internal bleeding)
- Severe emotional trauma
Ensuring comprehensive medical documentation is imperative for securing financial settlements for drunk driving accident claims. Englander Peebles collaborates with medical professionals in our resource network to review your medical records to ensure accuracy. They will identify potential concerns requiring additional testing, imaging, and documentation.
Englander Peebles Will Fight for Fair Compensation
Englander Peebles realizes the importance of recovering a fair settlement for your drunk driving accident and injuries. We’ll refuse to settle for anything less than reasonable compensation. Insurance companies are known for significantly undervaluing claims and sending lowball first offers, but we are prepared for these predictable tactics. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators who confidently adhere to the demands outlined in our letter to liable parties. If insurers refuse to pay you what you deserve, we are prepared to file civil lawsuits and litigate your case. We will fight to recover what’s yours.
What to Do After a Miami Drunk Driving Accident
After suffering injuries in a drunk driving accident in Miami, you should take several steps to protect your health and legal rights. Start by journaling a personal account of your drunk driving accident while the details are still fresh. Important information can fade from memory quickly, so don’t delay documenting them. Other actions you should take after a Miami drunk driving accident include the following:
- Document Pain and Suffering: Keep a dated and detailed notebook or journal documenting your pain and suffering. These damages are more challenging to quantify, and your journal is viable evidence for the need to compensate. Record your injury symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, and pain. You’ll want to clarify pain levels on a scale of one to ten. Include entries outlining sleep disturbances, emotional distress, functional limitations, and psychological trauma.
- Complete Medical Treatments: Undergo all prescribed medical treatments, surgical procedures, and rehabilitation services. Florida statutes allow two years from the date of the drunk driving accident to file. Delaying medical treatment may mean absorbing future healthcare costs. Also, gaps in treatment can cause an insurer to downplay the severity of your injuries or force an early settlement, assuming your injuries are recovered.
- Stop Posting to Social Media: You should refrain from posting, especially concerning your drunk driving accident, claim, or lawsuit. Keep all social media accounts private and reject friend requests from people you don’t know. Insurance companies frequently hire private investigators to monitor social media accounts for posts they may use to deny liability or settle claims for significantly less.
Drunk driving accident victims should also avoid talking to the insurance companies of at-fault motorists and other parties. They usually call quickly after a collision to reach you before you’ve had a chance to obtain legal counsel. Communications with insurers can have disastrous results, often leading to denied claims. At Englander Peebles, we handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies so that you don’t have to.
Contact an Experienced Miami Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
If you suffered injuries or are grieving the tragic loss of a loved one, you deserve a compassionate and experienced attorney. Contact Englander Peebles at (954) 500-4878 to schedule a free consultation with a trusted Miami drunk driving accident lawyer. Our experienced Miami personal injury attorneys will answer any questions you may have and provide legal advice on recovering financial compensation for your injuries and actual damages.
Englander Peebles – Miami Office
111 NW 183rd Street, Suite 107
Miami, FL 33169
P: 954-539-8960