According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, in 2022, there were 14,736 car crashes in Pinellas County. Of those crashes, 319 involved a driver under the influence of alcohol, and there were 14 fatalities. St. Petersburg is the largest city in Pinellas County, so we can infer that some of these DUI accidents occurred on St. Petersburg roads.
If you’ve been injured in a DUI accident in St. Petersburg, Florida, it is normal to feel angry. After all, the car accident and injury probably could have been avoided if the other driver wasn’t drunk.
At Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers, we’ve represented many clients who were injured because of a drunk driver. Our St. Petersburg car accident lawyers know how to make sure that the driver is held financially responsible and pays for their recklessness. Contact our law office today for a free consultation to learn more at (727) 314-5988.
How Our St. Petersburg Car Accident Attorneys Can Help After a DUI Accident
After a DUI accident, the other driver might have been charged with a crime under Florida law. This means that they can go to jail for driving under the influence. However, criminal charges won’t make you whole again. In order to get compensated, you’ll need to hold the drunk driver civilly responsible.
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers has over 119 years of combined experience. We have represented many clients who were injured after colliding with a drunk driver. Our clients consider us to be the most aggressive personal injury lawyers in St. Petersburg, FL.
We work hard to ensure that our DUI accident clients get access to high-quality legal representation and the best doctors in St. Petersburg.
Contact a St. Petersburg car accident attorney at Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Our legal team will always:
- Thoroughly investigate your case
- Provide high-quality and candid legal representation
- Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf
- Stand up for you in court
- Provide access to the best doctors and medical experts
- Prepare to fight all the way through trial
You’re probably overwhelmed after a DUI accident, but you aren’t alone. Contact us for a free initial consultation today.
What Makes DUI Accidents Dangerous?
DUI accidents are notoriously dangerous because they are deadly. Many drunk drivers are active at night when visibility is low and the risk of an accident is already increased.
Furthermore, many drunk drivers are speeding, swerving, and driving recklessly. Therefore, accidents are more likely to be fatal or cause serious injuries.
How Alcohol Affects Driving Ability
Most drivers know that alcohol affects driving ability. The more you drink, the more likely you are to feel the effect of intoxication.
Alcohol affects driving ability in the following ways:
- Impairs your judgment
- Impairs your vision
- Slows reaction time
- Makes you drowsy
All of these effects make drunk driving dangerous. Impaired drivers are less likely to follow traffic signs and more likely to make risky moves, like running red lights or speeding. They are slower to respond to obstructions in the road or to brake at a stop light.
Furthermore, drunk drivers cannot see as well, as the road becomes blurry and the colors of signs and lane markers are less obvious.
All of this heightens the risk that a drunk driver will cause an accident – and potentially a serious one. Of course, the more alcohol in your system, the more likely you are to be noticeably affected, and not everyone is affected in the same manner. That’s why it is imperative not to get behind the wheel after you’ve been drinking at all.
Criminal DUI Case vs. Civil DUI Case
After a DUI accident, the other driver will likely be charged with a criminal DUI. If convicted, they will have a criminal record and can face jail time, criminal fines, and other administrative penalties from the DMV.
This criminal case is different from a civil personal injury case. That’s because the goal of the civil case is to compensate you for your injuries, while the goal of the criminal case is to punish people who commit crimes.
The burden of proof is lower in a civil case. Your lawyer only needs to prove the civil case by a preponderance of the evidence rather than beyond a reasonable doubt.
That means that even if the other driver is not convicted criminally of a DUI, you may still be able to recover damages civilly.
Common DUI Accident Injuries
DUI accidents can cause severe injuries and even wrongful death.
It is common to experience the following injuries after a DUI accident:
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Burns, cuts, and contusions
- Internal bleeding
It is also common for victims of a DUI accident to experience PTSD and emotional trauma. Many people will become terrified of driving and may struggle to get back into a car or on St. Petersburg roads. This can affect your day-to-day life long after the physical injuries are healed.
Contact a St. Petersburg Auto Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you have questions after a DUI accident in St. Petersburg, FL, contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers for assistance. Our St. Petersburg car accident attorneys offer a free consultation to learn exactly what happened and what you need to become whole again.
