Bernstein & Maryanoff

Miami & Statewide Florida DUI/DWI Injury Lawyers

If you have suffered an injury or loss in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you are entitled to recover compensation for economic damages such as medical bills and for loss of income in the past and future. You can also recover compensation for intangible damages such as physical pain, emotional pain, and suffering. If you suffer any permanent scarring or loss or impairment of any important bodily function from the DUI/DWI accident, you are entitled to compensation for those damages as well.

The attorneys at Bernstein & Maryanoff  have the financial resources and experience to help you recover the maximum compensation for your injuries or loss in a DUI/DWI accident. With a principal office in Miami and numerous other offices across Florida, our attorneys represent clients throughout the state.

In most cases, a full and competent presentation of the DUI/DWI evidence by your lawyer will cause the insurance company to pay a significantly higher settlement than in an auto accident that does not involve a drunk driver. It is important that your lawyer gather all evidence that is necessary to prove that the driver who injured you or your family member was drunk. This evidence will include a complete copy of the court file against the drunk driver. It will also include evidence such as the 911 tape, the squad car video taken during the arrest, the results of the breathalyzer test, and possibly the drunk driver's prior driving record.

Your lawyer needs to carefully analyze your case to identify all liable parties who may be responsible for paying your damages. This is especially important in cases where the drunk driver may not have enough insurance to pay for all of your losses. In Florida, bars, restaurants and other establishments that serve alcohol have a duty not to serve a known alcoholic or someone who is visibly intoxicated. If they fail to stop serving such a person, they are responsible for the damage done by that person. This area of law is known as dram shop liability. To receive all of the compensation you deserve in a DUI/DWI accident, it helps to have an experienced lawyer who has handled numerous cases against drunk drivers in order to properly present your case in the strongest way possible.

While insurance companies in Florida do not normally have to pay punitive damages in auto accident cases, there may be exceptions in cases of extreme negligence or recklessness such as drunk driving. For example, if an employer fails to take away a car given to an employee after gaining knowledge that the employee had prior DUI/DWI arrests, they and their insurance company may be responsible for paying punitive damages for injuries or losses. If a person allowed a drunk driver to operate their car, they and their insurance company may be subject to punitive damages. Every drunk driving accident case must be carefully analyzed to determine whether punitive damages may apply.

Free consultation: There is never a charge to talk to a drunk driving accident attorney at the law firm of Bernstein & Maryanoff. With a principal office in Miami, numerous other offices across Florida, and the willingness to make house calls, our attorneys  will be there when you need them. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis.