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3/18/2011
Jeffrey Meldon
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Florida DUI Accident Victims often entitled to Punitive Damages. Gainesville lawyer helps explains.


A personal injury or death resulting from a DUI accident can be unimaginably traumatic.

Often, there is nothing a court can do to ‘fix' emotional or bodily damages caused by a drunk or drugged driver, especially in the event of a wrongful death. 
 

But, the civil justice system can help make DUI victims "whole," awarding Compensatory Damages, for actual financial losses, such as:

  • Medical expenses for past and future care;
  • Lost wages, past and future;
  • Pain and suffering;
  • Loss of consortium, if married;
  • Property damages; and
  • Disfigurement, if permanently scarred.

 

Punitive Damages may also be awarded, if the driver's blood alcohol exceeded the legal limit (.08 BAC) or the driver behaved recklessly and reprehensibly.  A Punitive Damages award may far exceed actual losses received in an accident.  Punitives, also called Exemplary Damages, are intended to punish the wrongdoer and deter future reckless behavior. 

 

Punitive damages are often paid directly out of the drunk driver's pocket.  More often than not, a wrongdoer's insurance company will not reimburse for Punitives.  However, if the wrongdoer is insolvent, the insurance company may be held responsible for paying punitive damages, but not without consequence-skyrocketing insurance rates. 

 

It's important to consult an experienced DUI/accident attorney to evaluate your case for punitive and compensatory damages, immediately after an accident.  In certain circumstances, a bar owner, alcohol vendor, or an employer may also be held liable for DUI damages.

 

For more information:

Are you entitled to Punitive Damages?  Ocala accident attorney explains.

Could I have a claim for Punitive Damages against my Insurance Company?

Punitive damages in a Florida Auto Accident Case Explained By Local Attorney



Category: Car and Motorcycle Accidents

Labels: accident drunk driver lawyer punitive damages



We at the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates strongly believe that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.  

We are experienced personal injury attorneys, trial lawyers, negotiators, litigators, paralegals, and staff that have been proudly working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 30 years in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, and the rest of North Central Florida and North Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice.

Based on Jeffrey Meldon's, founder of The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, over 30 years of helping accident victims get justice and a fair shake from the insurance companies, he has written the consumer guide book, Seven Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case.  You can request your free, no obligation copy right now, or contact our office for your complimentary copy sent to you today.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon at (800) 373-8000 or (352) 373-8000 immediately if you have been involved in a serious auto, truck, or motorcycle accident.  We are in your community, have the experience and resources required to work towards obtaining a fair settlement for you - we are here to help you.

We proudly handle accidents that occur on all roads and in the areas including: I-75, I-10, I-95, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 441, State Road 40, State Road 26, State Road 24, Archer Road, Main St, and University Avenue.  Our law firm has  been representing accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Palatka, Crystal River, Daytona Beach, Interlachen, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, Bunnell, Live Oak, Starke, Jasper, Cross City, Perry, Trenton,  Leesberg,  Lake Butler,  Tavares, Chiefland, Bronson, Brooksville, The Villages and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Levy, Lake, Bradford, Flagler, Hamilton, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, Hernando, Suwannee, Union, and Putnam, and, since 1971!



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