Florida Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Fighting for Justice After Drunk Driving Accidents
Drunk driving accidents are among the most preventable yet devastating occurrences on Florida's roads. Despite the well-documented dangers of driving under the influence, thousands of drivers continue to recklessly endanger the lives of others. For victims and their families, the physical, emotional, and financial aftermath of these crashes can feel overwhelming. At Kemp Law, we are dedicated to helping you rebuild your life.
With years of experience and a proven track record, our Florida drunk driving accident attorneys serve clients in New Port Richey, Tampa Bay, and across the state. We know what it takes to stand up to the responsible parties and their insurers, ensuring you secure the justice and compensation you deserve.
Schedule a free consultation today by calling (727) 788-6792 or contacting us online. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
The Consequences of Drunk Driving
Drunk driving remains one of the leading causes of serious car accidents. According to Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), impaired driving is responsible for 5,106 alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes in 2018. Of these 5,106 accidents, there were 810 deaths and thousands of serious injuries. These senseless accidents devastate families, causing fatalities, disabling injuries, and emotional trauma that lasts a lifetime.
The Effects of Alcohol on Driving
Alcohol severely diminishes a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely by:
- Slowing Reaction Times: Drunk drivers may be unable to respond quickly to sudden changes in traffic.
- Reducing Coordination: Impaired motor skills make activities like steering and braking dangerous.
- Impeding Judgment: Alcohol clouds decision-making, increasing the likelihood of reckless behaviors such as speeding.
Common Drunk Driving Accidents:
- Head-on collisions, often due to drivers veering into oncoming lanes.
- Rear-end crashes caused by impaired drivers failing to brake in time.
- Hit-and-run accidents, where intoxicated drivers flee the scene to avoid consequences.
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you deserve accountability and justice. Kemp Law is prepared to fight aggressively on your behalf.
Why Drunk Driving Cases Are Complex
Drunk driving cases may appear straightforward, but they often involve legal complexities that only an experienced attorney can effectively handle. At Kemp Law, we have the expertise to overcome these challenges and maximize your compensation.
Common Challenges in Drunk Driving Cases:
- Proving Liability: While evidence such as police reports and breathalyzer results strengthens cases, proving fault requires a comprehensive investigation.
- Pursuing Additional Claims: Florida’s dram shop laws allow claims against establishments that serve alcohol to minors or known habitual drinkers. Identifying these liable third parties can significantly impact case outcomes.
- Handling Insurance Companies: Insurers often attempt to downplay the severity of your injuries or offer lowball settlements.
Our attorneys at Kemp Law are experts in navigating such obstacles, ensuring no detail is overlooked.
Compensation for Drunk Driving Accident Victims
After a drunk driving accident, victims and their families often face immense financial, physical, and emotional hardships. At Kemp Law, we strive to recover full compensation for every area of your loss.
Types of Compensation Available:
- Medical Costs: Covers hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and future medical expenses.
- Lost Wages: Includes compensation for missed work or diminished earning capacity if injuries prevent you from returning to your job.
- Pain and Suffering: Reflects the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries.
- Property Damage: Covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
- Wrongful Death Damages: If you lost a loved one, you may pursue compensation for funeral expenses and loss of companionship.
- Punitive Damages: These are awarded in cases of gross negligence to punish the drunk driver and deter future misconduct.
At Kemp Law, our attorneys meticulously calculate the full value of your claim so you receive the compensation you need to focus on recovery.
How Kemp Law Backs You Every Step of the Way
When you hire Kemp Law, you’re gaining a dedicated legal advocate who will handle every element of your case, so you can concentrate on healing.
Our Comprehensive Approach Includes:
- Free Consultation: We listen to your story, evaluate your case, and provide honest guidance on your legal options.
- Collecting Evidence: Our team gathers evidence to prove fault, such as police reports, witness statements, and blood alcohol content (BAC) results.
- Exploring Dram Shop Claims: We investigate whether bars, restaurants, or liquor stores contributed to the accident by overserving alcohol.
- Calculating Damages: We partner with medical experts, economists, and life care planners to determine the long-term costs of your injuries.
- Negotiating with Insurers: We aggressively negotiate with insurance companies to secure a settlement that accounts for the full scope of your losses.
- Litigating if Necessary: If a fair settlement isn’t reached, we’re prepared to take your case to trial. Our attorneys have a proven track record of courtroom success.
From start to finish, Kemp Law ensures your case is handled with professionalism, compassion, and determination.
Florida’s Drunk Driving Laws
Florida treats drunk driving with the seriousness it deserves. Under state law, driving with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.08% or higher is illegal. For commercial drivers, the limit is even lower at 0.04%. Drivers found to be under the influence may face criminal charges, but these proceedings are separate from any civil claims you may pursue.
Dram Shop Liability
Under Florida’s dram shop laws, victims may also hold bars and restaurants accountable if they serve alcohol to:
- A minor under 21.
- A person they know is “habitually addicted” to alcohol.
These claims expand the avenues for compensation, and Kemp Law will vigorously pursue all available options to hold responsible parties accountable.
Why Choose Kemp Law?
Kemp Law has earned a reputation as one of Florida’s most trusted personal injury firms, combining results-driven representation with unparalleled client care.
What Sets Us Apart:
- Award-Winning Attorneys: Our legal team is recognized among the top 1% of lawyers nationwide as members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
- Personalized Attention: We treat every client as family, offering regular updates and open communication.
- Proven Results: Kemp Law has successfully recovered millions for accident victims across Florida.
- Contingency Fee Promise: You never pay upfront. We only get paid if we win your case.
When you choose Kemp Law, you’re choosing a legal team that is deeply committed to protecting your rights and helping you move forward.
Contact Kemp Law for a Free Consultation
With us in your corner, you don’t have to face the aftermath of a drunk driving accident alone. Trust us to fight for the compensation and closure you deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured by a drunk driver, don’t wait to seek legal help. The Florida Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys at Kemp Law are here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring justice is served and your future is secure.
Call us today at (727) 788-6792 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
FAQs
you deserve answers
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What Should I Say To The Insurance Company?
The at-fault party’s insurance company could ask you to give them a recorded statement. You do not have to give them a recorded statement. However, if your own insurance company asks you for a recorded statement please seek advice from your attorney so that they can assist you in giving that statement. But yes you do have to comply and you do have to give your insurance company a recorded statement.
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Will I Have To Go To Court?
Actually, most cases, or a large percentage of the cases are resolved pre-suit, which means the cases never go to court. We work with the insurance companies before filing suit to try to find a fair resolution for the client, which save money on expenses, court costs and attorney’s fees.
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How Do I Know Who Was At-Fault?
Fault is determined by the evidence collected during the investigation. We look to many things to determine fault in the case: we look to the police report, we look to witness statements, we look to the property damage to the vehicles, skid marks, layout of the cars, etc. Sometimes we even have to refer to accident re-constructionists to do a professional examination of the all the evidence to do a recommendation for us, but that does not happen in very many cases.
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Will I Recover Monetary Damages?
It depends on who was at fault for the accident. If you were at fault, your insurance company will pay for the damage to the vehicle. If you were not at fault, the at-fault driver’s or owner’s insurance policy will pay for the damage, and if they do not have enough coverage to cover the damage to your vehicle, your collision coverage (if purchased) would pay for the damage to your vehicle.
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What Documents Will I Need?
We like you to bring the driver’s exchange of information that the police officer gives you at the scene. We also like you bring any photographs of damage at the scene. Also bring your health insurance cards and your auto insurance cards or declarations page, so we can review the coverage available to you.
