Riviera Beach Drunk Driving Accident Attorneys

People who get behind the wheel while impaired have an utter disregard for those on the road around them. The effects of alcohol on the body make it virtually impossible to maneuver a vehicle safely in traffic, and for those who drink and drive regularly, a collision is essentially inevitable. Sadly, it is often innocent parties who suffer as a result.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a drunk driving accident, you have the right to hold the impaired motorist financially accountable for all applicable damages. In order to recover any compensation, though, you must prove both liability and the value of your losses.

This is where a personal injury lawyer can help.

When you hire one of the Riviera Beach drunk driving accident attorneys from Donaldson & Weston, you can focus on your health and wellbeing while we handle the logistics of your case. Our legal team has assisted hundreds of clients in personal injury and wrongful death claims. Call 561-299-3999 to schedule a free consultation with one of our injury lawyers.

There are a lot of personal injury firms throughout the state of Florida that help victims of drunk driving accidents. Although some of them do provide exceptional representation, Donaldson & Weston is in a league of its own.

When you hire a personal injury attorney from our practice, you can count on receiving personalized care and attention every step of the way. We know how much is at stake for both you and your family, and we will use all the resources at our disposal to protect your financial security.

Our legal team is committed to practicing with integrity. We will never promise to achieve a particular outcome for a client because we know just how unpredictable legal proceedings can be. We will be happy to answer any questions regarding potential outcomes, though, and we will rely on past experience to discuss the most likely resolution to your case.

Of course, every firm can list the ways in which they value their clients and work tirelessly on their behalf. What truly sets Donaldson & Weston apart from the others is our track record of success. We have recovered several multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for our clients.

We attribute these victories to our tenacious team of seasoned lawyers and the vast legal network we have established over the years. Despite the fact that we have the resources of a large firm, we will always provide the one-on-one counsel of a small, local practice.

In most personal injury cases, claimants have to prove negligence in order to recover compensation for their damages. This essentially means they have to demonstrate how the defendant breached a duty of care owed to them.

If you were hurt in a drunk driving crash, proving the existence of a duty of care simply requires you to demonstrate that the defendant was in fact driving. To prove a breach of duty, your DUI accident lawyer might use the police report, the results of chemical tests performed at the scene and shortly thereafter, surveillance and dashcam footage, eyewitness testimony, the at-fault driver’s social media posts from the day of the crash, and receipts from the establishment that served or sold alcohol to the driver.

The next step in proving liability requires you to demonstrate causation. You must show how the defendant’s breach of the duty of care was the proximate cause of your damages. To prove causation, your Riviera Beach DUI accident attorney might use the police report, medical records, and photos and videos of injuries and property damage.

Proving liability is just one step toward reaching a positive resolution to your case. You must also demonstrate the value of the damages you’ve already incurred, as well as the damages you’ll likely incur in the future.

Before we explain how your drunk driving accident lawyer might prove damages, it’s important that you know the types of damages that may be recoverable in a Florida personal injury claim. Such damages include:

• Property damage;


• Costs associated with medical care;


• Loss of income and benefits;


• Lost future earnings;


• Home care and other objectively verifiable losses;


• Loss of consortium;


• Pain and suffering;


• Emotional distress;


• Loss of enjoyment in life; and


• Punitive damages.

Punitive damages are not recoverable in most tort claims, but they may be available in drunk driving accident cases since the decision to operate a vehicle after consuming alcohol typically constitutes gross negligence.

The evidence your lawyer will need to prove the value of your claim will depend on the severity of your injuries and the types of damages you’ve incurred. In the state of Florida, personal injury victims can only file a bodily injury claim against the at-fault driver if their injuries meet the “serious threshold,” meaning they resulted in permanent scarring or disability.

If your injuries don’t meet this threshold, you may only be able to seek compensation for economic damages like medical bills, lost income, and property damage; however, if you meet this threshold, you can also pursue compensation for non-economic damages.

Generally speaking, the following evidence might be used by your attorney to prove damages:

• Bills for medical care;


• Diagnostic imaging and other medical documentation;


• Paystubs and income tax returns;


• Expert witness testimony;


• Estimates for property repairs;


• Bills, receipts, and invoices for home modifications and other economic damages; and


• If you intend to pursue punitive damages, your attorney might use the police report, chemical test results, and other evidence to prove the defendant was impaired at the time of the crash.