Driving while under the influence is a
very serious crime, the consequences of which can be difficult to deal with.
The punishments handed out to someone convicted of any form of drunken driving
vary depending on the jurisdiction or state where it occurred and also on the
specifics of the case itself.
Like
a Finger Print, Unique
Tampa, FL drunk driving accident lawyers
tell us that every DUI arrest is unique in its own way. For instance, a driver
that is only slightly above the maximum legal limit may have driven through a
DUI checkpoint and gotten busted. Accident or not, this person needs legal
help. There could be some avenues to block some of these charges. Do not assume
anything until you have clicked this link and spoken with a Tampa
Bay legal representative who knows this arena.
On the other hand, a completely inebriated
driver may have run a red light while speeding and t-boned another car gravely
injuring or even killing someone else. The magnitudes of the crime in these two
scenarios vary from one end of the spectrum to the other. Likewise, the
punishments differ too.
Drunk drivers that cause accidents will
not only be hit with criminal charges by prosecutors but can also be sued in a
civil court via a personal injury or property damage lawsuit.
Civil
vs Criminal Charges in a Drunk Driving Accident
The motive of filing criminal charges
against the suspected perpetrator is to determine what exactly transpired and
to also punish him. Furthermore, punishing offenders will send out a message
that all offenders will be dealt with just as severely and this will discourage
drunken driving in general. Even some Tampa Bay drunk driving accident
attorneys understand this train of thought.
A civil lawsuit is different in the
sense that it is one way to try and compensate the victim for what has happened
to him/her. Through the filing of a civil lawsuit the victim will be awarded
money to make up for their damages. This aspect is known as compensatory
damages. Damages are of three types – economic damages, non-economic damages,
and punitive damages.
Economic damages include money paid to
the plaintiff for direct/indirect financial losses sustained as a result of the
accident. For example, if a victim was hurt in a drunk driving accident and was
incapacitated for a period of three months during which he could not do
business and thereby accumulated losses, then this can be claimed as loss of
pay. Economic damages need to be backed by bills and other documented evidence.
Some common economic damages claims are medical expenses, legal fees etc.
Subjective
Financial Damages
As per Tampa Bay, FL drunk driving
accident lawyers, victims can also claim non-economic damages. These damages
are more subjective in nature and there is no way to equate them to a sum of
money. This is also the reason why many states put caps or limitations on how
much money a jury or judge can award a victim in terms of non – economic damages.
Typical examples of non-economic damages are claims such as loss of enjoyment
of life, loss of companionship, disfigurement, mental anguish, distress, and so on.
If you are the victim of an
inconsiderate drunk driver, you deserve to be compensated. Call a Florida drunk
driving accident lawyer today! You can reach some of the finest in the business
on this magnificent and cutting edge legal website: http://dui-lawyers.usattorneys.com/florida.
The police will not inform you of this site!
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