Drunk Driving Accident

Drunk driving crashes often result in devastating injuries or death. If an impaired driver hits you or someone you love in Polk County, you may have a claim for damages that includes medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. A Lakeland drunk driving accident lawyer can help you take legal action and pursue the justice you deserve.

Florida law allows injury victims to seek punitive damages in some cases when an intoxicated driver’s actions were reckless or showed conscious disregard for the safety of others. These cases require clear evidence and strategic timing. While criminal charges may be pending, your civil case remains separate and time-sensitive.

Maranatha Law represents victims of impaired driving with focus and urgency. The firm builds each case from the ground up and treats every client with dignity, regardless of background or circumstance. Legal support is available now for those who are ready to move forward.

How Lakeland Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Build Strong Civil Cases

Alcohol-impaired drivers endanger everyone on the road. If you were injured because someone chose to drive under the influence, you have the right to pursue compensation through a civil claim. Florida law allows injury victims to file lawsuits even when the State pursues separate criminal charges.

The criminal process may take months or even years to resolve, but you do not have to wait for a verdict to begin your civil case. Your claim focuses on the harm you suffered and how that harm connects to the driver’s intoxication. A civil court applies a different burden of proof. That means a criminal conviction is not required for you to recover damages.

Lakeland drunk driving accident lawyers gather evidence, interview witnesses, and act quickly to preserve facts that show why the crash occurred. While prosecutors work to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, your lawyer will focus on establishing liability based on a preponderance of the evidence. To meet this standard, you will need to present credible, well-documented evidence that clearly supports your claim.

How Florida Law Defines Drunk Driving

Florida law makes it illegal to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. Additionally, a person can be found guilty of driving under the influence if their normal faculties are impaired by alcohol or drugs, even if their BAC is below that limit.

The statute also increases penalties when the impaired driver causes property damage, bodily injury, or death. A crash resulting in serious harm may escalate the offense from a misdemeanor to a felony. While the criminal case moves forward in court, you have the right to file a civil claim on a separate track. You do not need to wait for a conviction to begin pursuing compensation.

Evidence such as an arrest, refusal to submit to testing, or a positive toxicology report can strengthen your civil case. Your attorney may use these records, along with witness testimony and other documentation, to prove fault and damages.

Understanding your rights under Florida law allows you to take the necessary steps with confidence, including filing a timely and well-supported civil claim. You are not simply a bystander. As the person harmed in the crash, you have legal standing to demand accountability.

How Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers Build Your Case

Drunk drivers are rarely honest at the scene. They may deny drinking, refuse to cooperate, or even try to blame you for the crash. That is why early evidence collection is critical.

A drunk driving accident lawyer will take the following steps to secure proof:

• Request body cam footage and police reports,
• Obtain results of blood alcohol tests or breathalyzers,
• Interview witnesses and gather on-scene photos,
• Pull surveillance or dashcam video,
• Analyze vehicle damage and black box data, and
• Identify bar or restaurant liability if over-service contributed.

Your attorney may also consult toxicologists, accident reconstructionists, or vocational experts to document what happened and how it has affected your life. This evidence not only proves liability but also supports the value of your claim.

When someone breaks the law and causes injury, Florida civil courts allow the victim to recover full damages. Those damages are not automatic. You must prove them and demand them through a clear legal claim.

What a Lakeland Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Can Help You Recover

Being hit by a drunk driver affects more than just your physical health. It interrupts your ability to work, care for yourself, and maintain stability in your daily life. Florida law allows you to pursue both economic and non-economic damages after a crash. Your claim can address not only medical bills but also the emotional and physical toll of what you have endured.

Depending on the details of your case, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Emergency medical treatment and future care needs;
• Physical therapy, medication, or assistive equipment;
• Lost wages and reduced future earning potential;
• Pain and suffering that interferes with daily living;
• Emotional distress, anxiety, or sleep disruption;
• Permanent disability or disfigurement;
• Vehicle repair or total loss replacement; and
• Loss of enjoyment of life and regular routines.

Under Florida law, you may also seek punitive damages if the driver’s conduct showed a conscious disregard for others’ safety. Florida law allows these damages when a driver’s actions involve gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Drunk driving often meets this legal threshold, especially when the offender has a high BAC or past DUI convictions.

A Lakeland drunk driving accident attorney will work to prove these damages using medical records, expert opinions, and your personal testimony. Your recovery begins by showing what this crash has truly cost you.

Can Bars or Restaurants Be Held Liable for Drunk Driving Accidents?

In some Florida drunk driving cases, the driver is not the only party who may be held accountable. Under specific circumstances, the business that served the alcohol may also share legal responsibility. Florida’s “dram shop” law allows victims to pursue compensation from establishments that knowingly serve alcohol to someone who is either underage or habitually addicted.

While this statute is narrow in scope, it can apply in serious crash cases where a bar or restaurant ignored obvious signs of intoxication or served alcohol to a minor. Proving this type of claim requires documentation, witness statements, and in some cases, expert testimony. Surveillance footage and receipts may also support your case.

Holding a business accountable can increase the chances of full compensation, especially when the drunk driver has minimal insurance or no significant assets. Your Lakeland drunk driving accident lawyer can investigate whether third-party liability exists and, if so, pursue every available source of recovery.

A drunk driving crash can involve more than just one bad decision. If others contributed, they can and should be held accountable. A full investigation may reveal options you did not know you had.

The Law Can’t Undo the Crash—But It Can Help You Rebuild

After a drunk driving collision, you’re left picking up the pieces while the person responsible may walk free. That’s where civil law steps in. At Maranatha Law, we focus on your recovery—financial, physical, and emotional.

With deep roots in the Polk County community and a reputation for relentless advocacy, Maranatha Law stands by victims of impaired driving every step of the way. If your life was disrupted by an impaired driver in Lakeland or anywhere in Polk County, reach out today. Let us take the legal burden off your shoulders so you can focus on healing.