Drunk Driving Car Accidents in Port Orange

A drunk driver can cause a crash in seconds and leave you with injuries that take months to treat. You may be stuck dealing with medical bills, time off work, and an insurance company that wants a quick payout before you have the full picture.

Drunk driving car accidents in Port Orange often involve a parallel criminal DUI case and a separate injury claim. An experienced car accident attorney can protect the claim, gather records, and handle insurer communications while you focus on recovery.

How Florida Defines DUI and Why It Matters to Your Injury Claim

Florida makes it illegal to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or certain substances to the extent normal faculties are impaired, or with an unlawful breath or blood alcohol level.

In a Port Orange drunk driving crash, proof of impairment can strengthen the liability case and can affect how insurers value the claim. Even so, an arrest or a charge is not the only proof that matters in civil court. The injury claim still needs a solid record showing how the crash happened and how it harmed you.

Evidence That Helps Prove Impairment and Fault

A drunk driver accident in Port Orange is often proved through objective records, not opinions. We work to secure the items that tend to disappear or become harder to obtain over time, including:

• Police reports, citations, and DUI arrest documents
• Body camera video, dash camera video, and 911 audio
• Breath, blood, or urine testing results and chain-of-custody records
• Field sobriety test notes and observations recorded at the scene
• Witness statements about driving behavior and the driver’s condition
• Receipts, surveillance video, or card records that show where the driver was before the crash

We also track vehicle damage patterns and roadway evidence, because they can support speed, lane position, and point of impact.

Insurance Coverage and Damages in Drunk Driving Claims

After a drunk driving car wreck in Port Orange, your own coverage may be the first layer of benefits. Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) makes certain benefits available under an auto policy that meets the state’s security requirements.

In Florida, to recover non-economic damages like pain and suffering from the at-fault driver, the no-fault system requires meeting a specific injury threshold.

If the drunk driver has no insurance or not enough coverage, uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may apply, and Florida’s UM statute addresses how UM limits are selected or rejected.

Some people ask whether a bar or restaurant can be responsible. Florida’s dram shop statute is narrow. It generally limits liability for sellers of alcohol, with exceptions for serving a minor unlawfully or knowingly serving a person who is habitually addicted to alcohol.

In some cases, punitive damages may be an issue. Florida establishes a process for pleading for punitive damages and limits punitive awards.

What Is the Statute of Limitations for Drunk Driving Car Accidents?

Florida’s limitations statute establishes filing deadlines. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11, most negligence lawsuits, including wrongful death claims, must be filed within 2 years. Delaying action can restrict available options, so it is advisable to address the deadline promptly in a drunk driving injury claim in Port Orange.

Speak With a Port Orange Attorney About Your Legal Options After a Car Accident Caused by an Intoxicated Driver

If you were hurt because a driver chose to get behind the wheel after drinking, you deserve a careful review of the facts and the coverage available. Drunk driving car accidents in Port Orange do not have to leave you handling insurers and paperwork on your own.

Call Rue & Ziffra and speak with a compassionate attorney to discuss what happened, what records exist, and what we can do to move the claim forward. Schedule your free case review today.