Clearwater Drunk Driving Accident Attorney
Every year several thousand people are convicted of drunk driving in Clearwater, Tampa and surrounding areas. Statewide, drunk driving is responsible for thousands of injury accidents and hundreds of fatalities annually. Drunk driving is not only illegal and dangerous; it is also a form of negligence or misconduct that shows a failure to drive with the reasonable standard of care expected of all Florida drivers. The dedicated Clearwater drunk driver accident attorneys at Roman & Roman hold drunk drivers accountable when their errors in judgment cause serious personal injury or wrongful death to another.
Drunk Driver Accident Attorneys in Clearwater
Generally speaking, it takes about an hour for the effects of one drink to dissipate as the alcohol is metabolized by the body, although the actual amount of time differs from person to person and is based on a number of different factors. Even with just one or two drinks in a person’s system, however, perceptions are dulled and important factors for driving such as judgment, processing and reaction time are all affected. A person who is more intoxicated may be subject to weaving or drifting out of the lane, and underreacting or overreacting to traffic and road conditions. Alcohol is known to affect all of these functions essential to safe driving:
- Sensory perception
- Motor function
- Cognitive functioning/processing information
- Ability to concentrate on the road
- Ability to pay attention/stay focused
- Reacting appropriately to changing road or traffic conditions
- Exercising proper judgment
Even when you are hit by a drunk driver, you must still be able to prove the driver’s negligence or fault in order to fully recover all of the compensation due to you. The fact of a driver’s intoxication may be powerful evidence of negligence, but do not make the mistake of thinking you do not have to do anything else to prove your case. It is still very important to contact experienced auto accident attorneys right away so that important evidence will be gathered and preserved and so that your case will be properly prepared from the very start.
Dram Shop Liability
Many states have so-called “dram shop” laws on the books which hold restaurants and bars responsible for car crash injuries that result from the serving of alcohol to a person who is already visibly intoxicated. Although Florida law does not fully embrace this concept, it is still possible to hold an establishment liable for injuries caused by a drunk driver in the following circumstances:
- Alcohol is willfully and unlawfully sold or furnished to a minor
- Alcohol is knowingly served to a person who is habitually addicted to alcohol
Dram shop liability is therefore very limited in Florida and is difficult to prove. However, in an appropriate case, we take the time and make the effort to hold such establishments liable for their own poor judgment in creating a dangerous situation and make them pay for the harm they have caused. Our Clearwater drunk driving injury attorneys carefully investigate every accident and work to hold all responsible parties accountable for their mistakes to maximize compensation for our clients and see that justice is served.
Recover Compensation with the Help of Experienced Clearwater Drunk Driver Attorneys
If you or a loved one have been injured or worse in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, contact the experienced drunk driver accident attorneys in Clearwater for a free consultation and immediate assistance with your claim. Our drunk driver accident attorneys in Clearwater handle car accidents throughout Clearwater, Tampa and Hudson, Florida and will meet with you personally to discuss your case. We also represent those in need of criminal defense and business and real estate law cases.