DUI Accident Attorney in Florida

When a drunk driving accident disrupts your life in Florida, you need legal advocates who understand both the complex intersection of criminal and civil law and the devastating injuries that result when impaired drivers get behind the wheel. At Lowman Law Firm, our Florida DUI accident attorneys have spent over two decades helping victims of drunk driving crashes secure the compensation they deserve while navigating the aftermath of these preventable tragedies with skill and compassion.

Operating from our conveniently located offices throughout Central Florida – including Brooksville at 31 S Main St, Spring Hill at 11029 Spring Hill Dr, Dade City at 14233 7th St, Crystal River at 600 SE US Hwy 19, and Inverness at 508 W Main St – we serve DUI accident victims across the region. With Florida experiencing 4,025 alcohol-related crashes in 2024 resulting in 145 deaths and 2,318 injuries, and drunk driving accidents claiming 331 lives in 2021 alone, having knowledgeable legal representation can make the difference between a fair settlement and ongoing financial hardship.

Common Causes of DUI Accidents in Florida

Florida’s combination of tourist destinations, nightlife districts, and year-round social activities creates numerous situations where impaired driving accidents occur. Understanding these circumstances helps victims and their families recognize when they may have legal claims beyond standard car accident cases.

Tourist and Vacation-Related Drinking

Florida’s tourism industry creates unique DUI risks as visitors unfamiliar with local roads combine drinking at beaches, theme parks, restaurants, and bars with driving rental cars or unfamiliar vehicles. Tourist areas see elevated accident rates during peak seasons when out-of-state visitors may underestimate local traffic conditions while impaired.

Nightlife and Entertainment Districts

Major Florida cities feature concentrated entertainment areas where bars, clubs, and restaurants create high concentrations of intoxicated individuals attempting to drive home. These districts often see multiple DUI accidents in single evenings, particularly during weekends and holidays.

Boating and Water Recreation

Florida’s extensive coastline and inland waterways create unique opportunities for “boating under the influence” accidents that can be just as devastating as vehicle crashes. Learn more about boat accident lawyer services for water-related DUI incidents.

Holiday and Special Event Drinking

Major holidays, sporting events, concerts, and festivals throughout Florida create spikes in impaired driving accidents when social drinking combines with unfamiliar routes, heavy traffic, and coordination challenges.

Prescription Drug Impairment

Florida’s large elderly population creates risks related to prescription medication impairment, where legal medications can cause driving impairment similar to alcohol. These cases often involve complex liability determinations about whether the impaired driver understood their medication’s effects.

Repeat Offender Incidents

Florida sees frequent accidents caused by repeat DUI offenders who continue driving despite license suspensions, creating particularly dangerous situations for innocent victims.

Types of DUI Accident Cases We Handle

Fatal DUI Accidents

Drunk driving fatalities create wrongful death claims that allow families to seek compensation for their devastating losses. These cases often involve both criminal prosecution of the impaired driver and civil liability for damages. Learn more about our wrongful death attorney services.

Catastrophic Injury Cases

DUI accidents frequently result in life-changing injuries including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and internal injuries requiring extensive medical treatment and ongoing care.

Hit-and-Run DUI Accidents

Impaired drivers often flee accident scenes to avoid detection, creating additional challenges for victims seeking compensation. These cases require immediate investigation to identify the responsible party before evidence disappears.

Multi-Vehicle DUI Crashes

Drunk drivers often cause chain-reaction accidents involving multiple innocent victims. These complex cases require thorough investigation to determine liability and identify all available insurance coverage sources.

Pedestrian and Bicycle DUI Accidents

Impaired drivers frequently strike pedestrians and cyclists, particularly in entertainment districts and tourist areas where foot traffic is heavy. Learn more about bicycle and pedestrian accident lawyer services.

Commercial Vehicle DUI Incidents

When commercial drivers operate under the influence, their employers may face liability beyond the driver’s personal responsibility, creating additional sources of compensation for victims.

Underage DUI Accidents

Accidents involving drivers under 21 create unique liability situations that may involve parents, social hosts, or establishments that provided alcohol to minors.

Understanding Florida’s DUI Laws and Your Rights

Florida operates under specific DUI laws that directly impact both criminal prosecution and civil liability for drunk driving accidents. Understanding these legal frameworks helps victims navigate their rights to compensation.

Florida’s DUI Criminal Penalties

Florida law establishes severe criminal penalties for impaired driving, with enhanced punishments for repeat offenses, high blood alcohol content, and accidents causing injury or death. These criminal cases proceed separately from civil claims but can provide valuable evidence for personal injury lawsuits.

Civil vs. Criminal Cases

While criminal DUI cases focus on punishment, civil lawsuits seek compensation for victims’ damages. You can pursue a civil claim regardless of the criminal case outcome, and criminal convictions often strengthen civil liability claims.

Dram Shop Liability

Florida’s dram shop laws allow victims to hold bars, restaurants, and other establishments liable when they serve alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons or minors who subsequently cause accidents. These cases can provide additional sources of compensation beyond the impaired driver’s insurance.

Social Host Liability

Property owners who provide alcohol at social gatherings may face liability when their guests cause DUI accidents, particularly involving underage drinking situations.

Comparative Negligence in DUI Cases

Even in DUI accident cases, Florida’s modified comparative negligence system applies. However, impaired drivers typically bear primary responsibility, making these cases favorable for innocent victims seeking compensation.

Statute of Limitations

Since March 2023, Florida has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including DUI accident cases. This shortened timeframe makes immediate legal consultation crucial for preserving your rights.

Compensation Available for DUI Accident Victims

DUI accident victims may be entitled to comprehensive compensation that often exceeds typical car accident cases due to the egregious nature of impaired driving and potential punitive damages.

Economic Damages

• Medical Expenses: Emergency room treatment, trauma surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, ongoing medical care, and future treatment needs
• Lost Wages: Income lost during recovery, including sick leave, vacation time, and salary continuation benefits used
• Lost Earning Capacity: Reduced ability to earn income due to permanent injuries or disabilities caused by the accident
• Property Damage: Vehicle repair or replacement costs, damaged personal belongings, and related expenses
• Future Care Costs: Long-term medical treatment, home modifications, assistive devices, and ongoing rehabilitation

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain and discomfort caused by injuries and medical treatment
• Emotional Distress: Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and psychological trauma resulting from the traumatic accident
• Loss of Enjoyment: Inability to participate in activities, hobbies, and social events you previously enjoyed
• Scarring and Disfigurement: Permanent changes to appearance from injuries or surgical procedures
• Loss of Consortium: Impact on relationships with family members and loss of companionship

Punitive Damages

Florida law allows punitive damages in cases involving gross negligence or intentional misconduct. DUI accidents often qualify for punitive damages due to the deliberate decision to drive while impaired, providing additional compensation beyond actual damages. Learn more about punitive damages and auto accidents what you need to know.

Immediate Steps After a DUI Accident

The actions you take immediately after a DUI accident can significantly impact both the criminal prosecution and your civil claim for compensation.

1. Call 911 Immediately: Report the accident and request police and medical assistance. DUI accidents require law enforcement investigation to document impairment evidence.
2. Seek Medical Attention: Get immediate medical care even if injuries seem minor, as adrenaline can mask serious trauma and some injuries may not be immediately apparent.
3. Document Impairment Evidence: Note any signs of intoxication you observe – alcohol odor, slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, unsteady movement, or admission of drinking.
4. Preserve the Scene: Take photographs of vehicle damage, the accident scene, road conditions, and any visible injuries if you’re able to do so safely.
5. Gather Witness Information: Collect contact details from anyone who witnessed the accident or observed the impaired driver’s behavior before the crash.
6. Avoid Confrontation: Don’t confront the impaired driver or engage in arguments. Let law enforcement handle the situation while you focus on safety and evidence preservation.
7. Request Police Report: Ensure law enforcement creates a detailed accident report that documents any impairment evidence and field sobriety test results.
8. Contact Our Office: Call (352) 796-0016, (352) 540-7777, (352) 437-7777, (352) 651-1111, or (352) 617-7777 before providing statements to insurance companies.

Learn more about tips after a drunk driving accident in Spring Hill and what should I do if I’ve been hit by a drunk driver.

Common DUI Accident Injuries

DUI accidents often result in more severe injuries than typical traffic collisions due to impaired drivers’ inability to take evasive action or brake before impact. Understanding these injuries helps victims recognize the importance of comprehensive medical evaluation and proper legal representation.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Head trauma from high-impact collisions can cause concussions, brain swelling, cognitive impairment, and permanent neurological damage requiring lifelong care and rehabilitation.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The violent forces involved in DUI crashes frequently cause spinal cord damage, potentially resulting in partial or complete paralysis and permanent mobility limitations.

Multiple Fractures

High-speed impacts common in DUI accidents often cause multiple broken bones, complex fractures requiring surgical repair, and extended recovery periods with potential permanent limitations.

Internal Injuries

Blunt force trauma can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, and life-threatening injuries that may not be immediately apparent but require emergency surgical intervention.

Burn Injuries

Vehicle fires following severe impacts can cause devastating burn injuries requiring skin grafts, reconstructive surgery, and resulting in permanent scarring and disfigurement.

Psychological Trauma

DUI accident victims frequently develop post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety about driving, depression, and other psychological injuries requiring ongoing counseling and treatment.

Fatal Injuries

DUI accidents have higher fatality rates than other crashes, creating wrongful death cases where families must seek justice while grieving their losses.

Read about DUI injury and fatality what you should do following an accident and what does my insurance cover if I’m a victim of a DUI accident.

Working with Insurance Companies in DUI Cases

DUI accident cases involve complex insurance scenarios where multiple parties may bear liability and various coverage sources may apply. Understanding these complexities protects your rights to full compensation.

Multiple Insurance Sources

• Impaired Driver’s Insurance: Primary liability coverage for damages caused by the drunk driver
• Your Insurance: Personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and collision coverage
• Business Liability: Dram shop coverage when establishments served the impaired driver
• Social Host Coverage: Homeowner’s insurance when private parties provided alcohol

Common Insurance Company Tactics in DUI Cases

• Quick Settlement Offers: Low initial offers before the full extent of injuries and liability is established
• Disputing Intoxication: Challenging blood alcohol test results or field sobriety test accuracy to reduce liability
• Coverage Exclusions: Claiming intentional acts exclusions apply to drunk driving to deny coverage
• Policy Limits Arguments: Attempting to limit compensation to minimum coverage amounts despite multiple liable parties
• Surveillance: Following accident victims to find evidence contradicting claimed injuries or disabilities

How Our Attorneys Protect You

Our Florida DUI accident lawyers understand the tactics insurance companies use and fight aggressively to maximize compensation from all available sources. We investigate all potential liable parties and insurance coverage to ensure you receive full compensation for your damages.