Drunk or intoxicated drivers have slower response times

It is incredibly frustrating for victims and their family members to know that Florida drunk driving crashes are preventable.  For example, the driver could have asked a friend to drive, taken a taxi or public transportation, spent the night at a hotel or at the home of a friend.  Drunk drivers choose to drive drunk and are therefore negligent when they get behind the wheel. Drunk drivers also break the law when they operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

The injuries resulting from drunk driving accidents can be catastrophic and are often fatal. Colette Heck is a car accident lawyer have successfully litigated catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida and have the experience necessary to maximize the amount of compensation our clients receive.

Drunk or intoxicated drivers have slower response times, fall asleep more easily while driving and often lose control of their vehicles, weaving between lanes and crossing into oncoming traffic.  Too often they drive their vehicle off the roadway and strike pedestrians on adjacent sidewalks or bike paths. Drunk driving accidents also tend to occur at night when visibility is low and involve high speeds, so that victims may not be able to see the drunk driver coming, or have little time to react.

Victims of drunk-driving accidents and their family members may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the drunk driver and sometimes others in order to receive compensation for their injuries.  They can recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability or for the emotional and financial loss suffered when an accident results in the death of a family member.  In certain situations, punitive damages may also be recovered.

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With or without a criminal conviction, Colette Heck can help you

Not all alcohol-related car accidents involve a driver who is legally drunk. Alcohol has a measurable impact on a driver's reflexes and decision-making at levels below .08 blood alcohol content (BAC). We have extensive experience in car accident cases. We know how to investigate an accident and prepare your case to demonstrate why you are entitled to full compensation. We have an excellent record of verdicts and settlements for victims of all types of motor vehicle accidents, including those where alcohol was a factor.

There are many ways to show that the driver who caused your accident was behaving negligently. A driver who is speeding or checking a cellphone is driving negligently. A driver who is impaired by alcohol is driving negligently. If the driver who caused your accident is convicted of DUI/DWI, that is certainly evidence of negligent driving. With or without a criminal conviction, Colette Heck can help you present the strongest possible case to get you the compensation you deserve.

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You'll need to be familiar with the laws that might affect your case

Deadlines for Filing an Injury Lawsuit in Florida

Like every other state, Florida has a statute on the books that sets a deadline for the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit in civil court against the person or business that might be legally at fault for your injury. This law is called a statute of limitations.

Under Florida's statute of limitations for personal injury cases, you have four years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit in Florida's civil courts (this law can be found in Florida Statutes Annotated section 95.11). If you don't file your case within this time window, the court will very likely refuse to hear it at all. In rare cases, you may not “discover” that you actually suffered harm for some amount of time after the incident that caused the injury, and in those instances the lawsuit-filing window will be extended.

For injury claims against a city, county or state government, the time limit is three years.

If you're filing an insurance claim or lawsuit over an accident or injury, you'll need to be familiar with the laws that might affect your case.

Contact Colette Heck Law today.

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If you’re the victim of a car accident, you need to take immediate steps

If you’re the victim of a car accident, you need to take immediate steps to make sure you can be compensated for any physical injuries. Even if you think you haven’t been injured, take these steps. Serious injuries can show up days or even weeks later. If you can’t act immediately, call a friend or family member to take these steps for you or ask for help from someone at the scene.

--Call 911

Immediately report the accident. Let the 911 dispatcher know if anyone has been hurt.

When the police arrive, be completely honest and cooperative. Remember that what you tell the police about your injuries will be recorded and can be used as evidence when you file an insurance claim or a lawsuit. If you are hurt, get this information into the police report. Do not discuss the accident or “fault” for the accident with anyone other than the police.

--Record the Scene

Use your cell phone to take pictures of the accident scene from all angles. Take pictures of the inside of the vehicle you were in. Photograph your injuries. Get the contact information, insurance, license plate and drivers’ license information of anyone else involved in the accident. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Make note of weather conditions, construction activity or any other contributing factors.

Record your version of exactly what happened, in the order it happened. If you are not able, ask someone else to do these things.

--Seek Medical Attention

Even if you think that your injuries are not serious, immediately seek medical attention. Closed-head injuries, for example, rarely show up at once. Do this because EMT, emergency room and doctor’s records will be required by insurance companies and needed in lawsuits. It is important to be completely honest. Disclose any previous injuries that might be seen as contributing to your current injuries. Be sure to follow up on any discharge advice you are given. Failure to do so can jeopardize your case. Save all receipts and bills.

--Notify Your Insurance Company

Contact your insurer as soon as possible. Often, insurers have notification deadlines. If you fail to meet these deadlines, you might not be compensated. Cooperate with the adjuster. You may be compensated for your medical expenses, future medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, loss of earning capacity and loss of consortium. An insurance carrier will first look to the types and amounts of damages suffered, and then to fault or percentage of fault.

--Don’t Sign Anything Yet

In the hours, days and weeks following an auto accident, insurance companies – both your own and others – often try to “settle” for a specific amount of money if you agree to give up your rights to make a claim or sue in the future. The money can be tempting, but it is much better to wait and see what the actual extent and cost of your injuries will be.

--Call a Personal Injury Lawyer

The laws on personal injuries caused by auto accidents can be complicated. You need to call a reliable and trusted Daytona Beach Shores auto injury attorney. Contact Colette Heck Law today.

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Tractor trailer and commercial vehicle accidents are known to be caused by a variety of factors

While common sense dictates that a properly trained and licensed driver of large trucks will improve performance and reduce auto accidents, this isn't always the case.

In fact, a Federal Highway Administration study in 1996 concluded that the trucking sector is not providing adequate training for new drivers of large rigs, while currently, drivers with a CDL license are not required to have on-the-road experience.

Tractor trailer and commercial vehicle accidents are known to be caused by a variety of factors, with most serious accidents generally being attributed to five main contributing factors.

These include:

-Drunk driving
-Vehicle safety
-Driver skill level
-Load shift / incorrect cargo stowage
-Driver fatigue
-Speeding
-Overloaded trailers
-Oversize cargo

These all contribute significantly to the chances of serious truck accident occurring.

Knowing what to do and who to contact after being involved in a serious truck accident can be very confusing for many accident victims.

If you have been injured in an accident involving a tractor trailer, it's important to contact an experienced law firm to help explain your legal options and relieve the burden of pursuing an injury compensation claim. Contact Colette Heck Law today!

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