Tampa Drunk Driving Accident Attorney

The Distasio Law Firm is a Tampa based drunk driving accident law firm that is dedicated to helping our clients achieve the results they desire.  Our Tampa drunk driving accident law firm is accessible, communicative, and most importantly, extremely experienced in Florida personal injury and drunk driving accident law.  If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident, do not hesitate to contact our knowledgeable legal team today!

Drunk Driving Accident Overview

In the state of Florida, drunk driving or driving under the influence (DUI) is a very serious criminal offense.  Drunk driving is defined as driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, or driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher. 

People who choose to drive drunk place their lives and the lives of others at great risk.  When a person operates a motor vehicle while under the influence, they lack the coordination and abilities they would normally have if they were sober.  In legal terms, they are considered incapacitated, and should not be on the road at all. 

People who drive drunk are very likely to cause a serious motor vehicle accident.  In fact, many drunk driving accidents are classified as catastrophic, if not fatal.  After a person is involved in a drunk driving accident, he/she has a greater chance of sustaining serious bodily injuries than he/she would have sustained if he/she were involved in non-alcohol related motor vehicle accident.

After a person has caused a drunk driving accident, he/she will not only face criminal prosecution, but also may false civil action from injured parties or their families.  Additionally, drunk drivers face sentence enhancements if they are convicted because the state of Florida has zero tolerance when it comes to driving under the influence. 

Drunk Driving Accident Statistics

• In 2006, nearly 17,602 people died while involved in DUI accidents.
• Of the 17, 602 people that died, over 13,470 had an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC).  
• In the past 10 years, 250,000 people in the United States have died from drunk driving accidents. 
• Alcohol related accidents are the number one cause of death for Americans ages 16 to 24 years old. 
• 80% of all DUI accidents occur between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Drunk driving Accidents & Personal Injury Law

In the state of Florida, a person must have sustained serious physical injuries, received medical treatment, and have incurred substantial medical expenses before he/she can file a personal injury lawsuit.  Additionally, a person must be able to prove that his/her injuries resulted from third party negligence.  According to the law, negligence is a person’s failure to act the way a normal person would act in any given situation.  Negligence is also the failure to exercise the amount of caution any other person would exercise in a similar situation. 

If a person is able to prove that he/she was injured while involved in a drunk driving accident, and that the accident and injuries resulted from another person’s negligence, he/she may be able to collect monetary damages for his/her:  medical expenses, injuries, property damage, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. 

For more information about drunk driving accident injuries and your rights, contact the Distasio Law Firm today!