Spring Hill DUI Accident Lawyer

Driver is drinking beer while driving.

Were you hurt in a car accident in Spring Hill? Do you suspect the other driver was intoxicated by drugs or alcohol? If so, a Spring Hill DUI accident lawyer from Zervos & Calta, PLLC can help you hold them accountable for the suffering they’ve caused you.

When times are tough, your lawyer should be, too. We’ve been fighting hard for our clients for over 50 years combined. Our team has the skills and resources to handle the most complex injury claims. Let us pursue your compensation while you focus on your physical and emotional recovery. Contact Zervos & Calta, PLLC for a free consultation and discuss your options for financial recovery with an experienced Spring Hill DUI accident lawyer.

How Common Is Drunk Driving in Spring Hill?

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), 47 confirmed alcohol-related crashes occurred in Hernando County in one recent year. These accidents caused 9 fatalities and injured 41 other people. Another 3 accidents in the county involved drivers intoxicated by both alcohol and drugs, with these crashes causing 3 fatalities and injuring 1 other person.

What Effects Does Alcohol Have on a Driver?

Alcohol intoxication can impair a driver’s ability to operate their vehicle in various ways, leaving them with:

  • Slower reactions
  • Altered perception
  • Impaired judgment

The combined effects of these impairments make a drunk driver less likely to anticipate or react to an upcoming hazard and more likely to make potentially fatal mistakes.

drinking alcohol

What Is the BAC Legal Limit in Florida?

In Florida, it is illegal to operate a vehicle while having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more. A driver can also be charged with DUI if they have a BAC lower than 0.08 but are behaving in a way that suggests alcohol has impaired their ability to operate a vehicle safely.

Commercial vehicle drivers have a lower BAC limit of 0.04 percent when operating a commercial vehicle. However, the law also states that someone with any alcohol in their body cannot drive a commercial vehicle.

Drivers under 21 may not have a BAC of 0.02 percent or more. A driver under 21 with a BAC of 0.02 percent or more but less than 0.08 will not face a criminal DUI charge. However, the driver will have their license suspended for six months for a first offense or one year for a subsequent offense. If the driver had a BAC of 0.05 percent or more, they must also complete a DUI education program before they can reinstate their license.

How Do I Prove the Drunk Driver Was At Fault for the Accident?

Although the other driver’s intoxication may clearly make them negligent, you may still need to prove that the drunk driver’s actions caused the crash for your accident claim. Doing so will require evidence like:

  • Police arrest or conviction records
  • Results of blood, breath, or urine testing
  • Surveillance or traffic camera footage
  • Police dashcam or bodycam footage
  • Bar or restaurant receipts
  • Eyewitness testimony regarding the driver’s behavior or appearance

Evidence you might use to prove that the drunk driver caused the accident through other negligent behavior, such as speeding or making an unsafe lane change, includes:

  • Police crash reports
  • Witness testimony
  • Traffic camera or dashcam footage of the crash
  • Event data recorder (“black box”) logs from the vehicles
  • Accident scene photos and videos
  • Accident reconstruction expert reports and testimony

What Compensation Can I Recover from a DUI Accident Claim?

The money you could recover in a drunk driving accident claim should compensate you for the following:

  • Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation, including emergency care, surgeries, hospitalization, prescription pain medication, and physical or occupational therapy
  • Costs of long-term care or support you may need, including home health care or home renovations to install disability accommodations
  • Loss of wages if you need to take time off work to recover from your injuries or transfer to a lower-paying position due to medical restrictions on your work duties
  • Loss of future earnings and employment benefits caused by prolonged or permanent disabilities
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of quality and enjoyment of life
  • Costs of car repairs or reimbursement of the cash value of your vehicle if totaled in the accident

In addition to compensation for your financial and personal losses, you might obtain an award of punitive damages in a DUI accident lawsuit. Punitive damages do not compensate you for any losses you’ve incurred but instead punish the drunk driver for especially reckless conduct. Punitive damages also deter others from engaging in the same behavior as the drunk driver. Juries award punitive damages in rare cases, such as when a drunk driver with prior DUI convictions drinks an excessive amount of alcohol before getting behind the wheel.

How Long Do I Have to File an Accident Lawsuit Against the Drunk Driver?

Under Florida’s statute of limitations on auto accident cases, you typically have two years after a DUI accident to file a lawsuit against the drunk driver responsible for the crash. However, you should speak to a Spring Hill DUI accident lawyer from Zervos & Calta, PLLC as soon as possible to ensure you can file your claim on time. If you file your claim after the deadline, you may lose your right to seek financial compensation from the intoxicated driver.

Contact a Spring Hill DUI Accident Lawyer

If you have suffered injuries in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you deserve financial recovery and justice for your harm and loss. Contact Zervos & Calta, PLLC today for a free consultation to discuss how a Spring Hill DUI accident lawyer from our firm can fight to hold the drunk driver accountable for their actions.

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