by Sometimes people ask our car accident lawyer Fort Lauderdale, “What should I do if a drunk driver hits my car?”
First, let’s be clear: Even if it seems like the car hit you or your car, it’s the person driving the car who was not okay. And if you’re wondering what to do if a “drunk car” hits you, well, it’s really about what to do if a driver who’s been drinking hits you.
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Good news! In Florida, police often work hard to catch people who drive while drunk, especially during holiday weekends when lots of people are traveling. This is important because there tend to be more accidents caused by drunk driving during these times in Florida.
NBC-2, a TV station in Cape Coral-Fort Myers on Florida’s Gulf Coast, shared that many police departments and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office are starting a campaign called “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” during the recent Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This campaign is happening all over the country, with police trying to stop people from driving after drinking alcohol.
When police are extra watchful, it helps reduce the number of accidents, injuries, and deaths caused by drunk driving in Florida. However, even with these efforts, drunk driving accidents can still happen sometimes.
What To I Do if a Drunk Car Hit Me?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.1 out of every 100 drivers in Florida say they drive after drinking too much, which is more than the 1.9 out of every 100 drivers nationwide who admit to doing the same thing.
If a drunk driver hits you in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere else in Florida, remember that even though the fact that the other driver was drunk might not automatically mean you win your case, it will probably make it easier to get compensation. This is because all drivers are supposed to be careful when they’re driving. You don’t have to prove they broke the law to show they weren’t being careful, which is called negligence. But if someone does break a traffic law, like Florida’s drunk driving law (F.S. 316.193), it’s automatically considered negligence, no questions asked.
if you’re involved in a car accident and it wasn’t your fault, you might be able to get extra money for punishment against the person who caused the accident. This isn’t something you usually get in these types of cases. The law says you usually can’t ask for this extra money in normal injury cases, especially car accidents. But if you can prove that the person who caused the accident was careless and didn’t care about the consequences of their actions, or they did something really bad on purpose that put others in danger, then you might be able to ask for this extra money. Driving drunk is one example where you might be able to do this.
when someone who has been drinking alcohol causes a car accident and you get hurt, they might say that you also did something wrong, which is called comparative negligence. They might claim that even though they were drunk, you still had a part in the accident. But don’t worry, you can still ask for money to help with your injuries. However, if it’s found that you did have some part in the accident, the amount of money you get might be lessened depending on how much you were at fault.
If you’re wondering what to do if a drunk driver hits your car, here’s what you should do:
Call the police to make sure the crash is recorded correctly
- Listen to and follow the instructions of the police officers who arrive.
- Try to gather as many details and clues from the place where the accident happened. But if you’re badly hurt, don’t worry about this part.
- If you’re not taken to the hospital in an ambulance, get medical help as soon as you can.
- Get in touch with a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer who deals with car accidents. They can explain what you can do next and what your rights are.
