Drunk Driving

Despite decades of heightened public pressure, stronger laws and stiffer law enforcement, drunk driving persists as a threat in Florida and across the country. Nearly 13,400 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2021 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And in Florida, 5,111 motor vehicle crashes in 2021 involved alcohol, reports the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says.

Car accidents caused by drinking drivers have tragic results. Lives can be lost. Families can be changed forever.

If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a car accident caused by an impaired driver, you deserve compensation. The law firm of Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, can help. We assist drunk driving accident victims and their families across South Florida and the Treasure Coast, including Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, Palm Beach and Vero Beach. For a free consultation, call us today toll free or use our online contact form.

Drinking and Driving Accidents in Florida  

Since 2002, it has been illegal in all 50 states to drive with a blood-alcohol concentration (or content) of 0.08 percent or higher. Under Florida law, a person may be found guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) by proving impairment of normal faculties by alcoholic beverages, chemical substances or controlled substances or by having a BAC of 0.08 percent or above.

Florida’s DUI law mandates fines, driver’s license suspension, community service, DUI school attendance, probation, installation of ignition interlock devices and possible jail time for individuals convicted of DUI.

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) records show that in 2021:

• There were 5,111 alcohol-confirmed traffic crashes in Florida, marking a 12-percent increase from 2020.
• These alcohol crashes resulted in 407 deaths, up by 6 percent from 2020.
• There were 471 incapacitating injuries from DUI crashes, which was 7 percent more than in 2020.
• In addition, there were 414 collisions in Florida involving both alcohol and drugs at the same time.

The FLHSMV has also collected statistics from 2022 and revealed that in March 2022, these were the Florida counties with the most impaired-driving crashes:

• Pinellas County — 64 crashes
• Duval County — 58 crashes
• Hillsborough County — 54 crashes
• Lee County — 49 crashes
• Orange County — 40 crashes.

Collated data from the Florida Highway Patrol, city police departments, and sheriff departments reveal that all in all, there were 44,001 DUI violations in the Sunshine State in 2021.

However, a Florida driver does not have to be convicted of DUI to have been alcohol impaired and responsible for a drunk driving car accident. Nor does a driver have to be found legally drunk to be responsible for a personal injury or wrongful death that resulted from their decision to drink and drive.

Get Legal Help if You or a Loved One is a Drunk Driving Accident Victim  

At Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, we combat the injury and loss suffered by victims of Florida drunk driving accidents. When a driver chooses to drink and drive and causes injury, death or property damage in a car wreck, those who have suffered harm should be made whole financially.

At Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, we are dedicated to helping people who have suffered serious injury or the death of a loved one in a car crash caused by drinking and driving in Florida. Since 1975, we have investigated the circumstances of thousands of auto accidents on behalf of clients in South Florida and the Treasure Coast. We know how to determine what happened, and we know what should happen next to ensure our clients’ best interests are served. We are committed to achieving the proper results for our clients.

Contact a Florida Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today  

If you or a loved one has been injured, or if you have lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, you may have a right to compensation for your injuries and losses. If you’ve been hurt, Florida drunk driving accident lawyer Philip DeBerard is on your side.

From our office in Stuart, Philip DeBerard, Injury Attorney, has obtained millions of dollars in compensation for victims of car wrecks caused by drunk drivers in locations throughout South Florida and have offices in Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Okeechobee, Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach.