As home to Florida’s flagship university, we regularly see Gainesville headlines regarding both students and long-term residents injured in crashes caused by intoxicated drivers. If you suffered serious injuries in a drunk driving accident, you know that it can change your life and leave you without the ability to work or enjoy your life the way you used to before your injuries.
You can—and should—hold the driver who did this to you responsible. The drunk driving accident attorneys in Gainesville at Meldon Law can seek justice and compensation for you.
Get help from our Gainesville car accident lawyers today.
Why Choose Meldon Law After a Drunk Driving Accident in Gainesville?
As the Only Official Injury Law Firm Partner of the Florida Gators, Meldon Law has deep roots in Gainesville and a long history of standing up for injured neighbors. Founded in 1971, our firm has spent more than 50 years helping Floridians rebuild their lives, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars along the way.
Even when a driver’s intoxication seems obvious, pursuing compensation is rarely simple. Insurance companies work hard to limit what they pay, and DUI cases often involve serious injuries, complicated medical evidence, and sometimes claims against bars or other third parties. You should be focused on healing, not on battling adjusters or navigating court procedures.
Our team handles every aspect of your case, including:
- Thorough investigation: We dig into police and accident reports from the Gainesville Police Department, chemical tests, eyewitness accounts, and all other evidence.
- Expert analysis: We collaborate with specialists in accident reconstruction, law enforcement, medicine, and more to build an ironclad case.
- Tough negotiation: We fight back against insurers’ typical denial tactics to maximize compensation for you.
- Courtroom advocacy: If a satisfactory settlement can’t be reached, we’re fully prepared to argue your case to a jury.
When you hire us, you receive compassionate, personalized attention, direct access to your attorney, and no upfront costs.
Recovering Compensation for a DUI Accident
An accident caused by a drunk driver often causes severe injuries. You may have several options to recover compensation for those injuries.
You Will Likely Need to Turn to Your PIP Coverage First
In most cases, you’ll need to turn to your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage first after an accident. Your PIP policy will cover a portion of your medical bills and lost wages up to $10,000 (the standard policy limit).
You can easily surpass this limit with severe or even moderate injuries. If so, you may need to file a claim against the at-fault driver. Our accident attorneys can help you explore your options.
Drunk Drivers Are Typically Liable for the Injuries They Cause
Under Florida law, people who are injured by the negligence of others can typically recover compensation for their accident-related losses. In virtually any conceivable situation, drunk driving is negligent driving, so people who are hurt by drunk drivers can usually recover compensation for the damages they suffer.
Examples of losses that victims can often recover in drunk driving accidents include:
- Property damage
- The entirety of their medical expenses, such as ambulance transportation, emergency medical care, surgeries, pain medications, physical therapy, and any ongoing care costs
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- The entirety of their lost income
- Lost quality of life
In many cases, drunk driving accidents leave victims with injuries that will affect them for years or even decades to come. If you are in this position, any settlement that you accept should compensate you for your future losses in addition to the damages you have already incurred. In many instances, establishing these future losses requires working with medical or financial experts.
A Gainesville personal injury lawyer with experience handling drunk driving accident claims will be able to demonstrate your future losses to the insurance company or the court, ensuring that your future losses do not go uncompensated.
Uninsured Motorist Protection
If the other driver fled the scene or was uninsured, you may need to file a claim with your uninsured motorist (UM) protection coverage. Many people have UM coverage without knowing. Meldon Law’s Gainesville drunk driving accident lawyers can help you determine whether this coverage is available in your case.
Can I Sue if I Was in the Car With the Drunk Driver During an Accident?
Passengers in the vehicle with the drunk driver have the same right to recover compensation for their damages as any other accident victim in Florida. It was the driver’s choice to get behind the wheel when they had been drinking, and this negligent choice resulted in your injuries. If you weren’t the drunk driver, you shouldn’t be stuck with the drunk driving accident bills.
Recovering the full value of your compensation can be tricky in certain situations. For example, if you knew the driver of the car had been drinking, it could affect your settlement. The driver’s insurance company may argue that you were negligent in getting in the car with an obviously intoxicated driver. That’s why it’s best to speak to a lawyer right away after the crash, before you’ve made any statements to the drunk driver’s insurance company.
What to Do After an Accident Caused by a Drunk Driver
There are several things you can do after an accident with a drunk driver to ensure you get the evidence and care you need.
- Call 9-1-1. Ask the dispatcher to send both law enforcement and emergency medical services to the scene. Members of the Gainesville Police Department will analyze the scene, draft a police report, and arrest the driver if there is proof of intoxication.
- Get medical care. If you did not receive medical attention at the scene, you should head to the ER or urgent care or make an appointment with your doctor. Getting medical care soon after the accident ensures your injuries are diagnosed and treated while creating a link between the accident and those injuries. You must also continue with your medical care. Any deviation from your care plan gives the insurance company ammunition to deny or reduce your settlement.
- Avoid giving a recorded statement. The other driver’s insurance company will likely call you soon after the accident to get your side of the story. However, this is a trap. The insurance adjuster is hoping that you will say something they can use against you. It’s important that you don’t apologize for the accident or say you are okay or uninjured. We recommend that you only tell the adjuster when and where the accident happened and direct any other questions to our team. We’ll protect your rights.
- Call our firm. The Gainesville drunk driving accident lawyers at Meldon Law are ready to seek justice on your behalf. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay a thing to get started.
We are here for you 24/7
(Consultations are Free)
How Drunk Driving Leads to Serious Crashes in Gainesville
Alcohol can have the following effects on a driver:
- Blurred vision
- Lack of focus and awareness
- Impaired judgment
- Impaired spatial awareness
- Confusion
- Slowed reaction times
- Falling asleep
All of the above can affect someone’s ability to drive.
Drunk drivers are also often much less aware of their surroundings and have delayed reaction times. Drunk drivers often do not know where they are going, which can result in highly dangerous wrong-way driving and head-on collisions. They also might drive dangerously slow, or they might engage in reckless behaviors like excessive speeding or drag racing.
Victims who suffer injuries due to drunk drivers deserve to fully recover for all of their losses from the driver who violated the law. Our Gainesville drunk driving accident lawyers can help you get justice.
Talk to a Gainesville Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Today
At Meldon Law, we understand how devastating the aftermath of an accident caused by a drunk driver can be, and our experienced team is committed to helping you get the compensation you deserve.
Our law firm will review the facts of your case at no cost to you and will never charge legal fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Call our Gainesville office today to get started on your search for justice.
Gainesville Drunk Driving Accident FAQs
What Are My Options for Compensation If the Driver Was Overserved at a Bar?
Under Florida’s dram shop laws, bars or restaurants that knowingly serve alcohol to underage or habitually addicted individuals can be held responsible if that person causes a crash. A Gainesville drunk driving accident lawyer at Meldon Law can investigate receipts, witness testimony, and surveillance footage to determine whether a bar or social host may share liability for your injuries.
Can I Recover Compensation If the Drunk Driver Who Hit Me Was Not Convicted of DUI?
Yes. A criminal DUI conviction is not required to win a civil injury case. Courts use a lower burden of proof than criminal courts, so your attorney can still show negligence through evidence like police reports, toxicology tests, and eyewitness accounts. Our team can build your case even if prosecutors were unable to secure a conviction.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Drunk Driving Accident Claim in Gainesville?
The timeline depends on the seriousness of your injuries, the strength of the evidence, and the insurance company’s willingness to negotiate. Some cases resolve in a few months, while others require litigation and may take more than a year. Our Gainesville drunk driving accident attorneys will keep your case moving forward and work toward securing compensation as quickly as possible without compromising fairness.
How Long Do I Have to File a Drunk Driving Accident Lawsuit?
Per Florida Statute § 95.11, you typically have two years to file an injury lawsuit against the driver. Our team can help ensure you meet that deadline and establish whether a different deadline may apply.
Why Should I Hire a Gainesville Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Instead of Handling the Claim Myself?
Insurance companies often minimize settlements even when liability seems clear, especially in drunk driving cases where damages may be significant. Our attorneys provide critical advantages, such as accessing expert witnesses, negotiating directly with insurers, and preparing your case for trial if necessary. Having legal representation ensures your rights are protected and that you pursue the full value of your claim.
We also handle cases with no upfront fees. You only need to worry about your recovery while we front the expenses for your case and handle every aspect with no retainer or hourly fees.
"Some of the staff have been there for many years and they always make me feel welcomed when I contact them. They have been so much help over the years. Meldon Law’s knowledge and experience always gets the job done right and my results haven amazing."
Catherine P.
December 2024
"It has been a real pleasure to deal with Jeffery and Stacy. Jeffery is all about his clients. What is best for the clients well being. He is a great attorney. If you need an accident attorney or a referral this is the man to be talking with. He will now be my attorney for life. Jeffery and Stacy, thank you ever so much."
Hazel J.
March 2025
"Jeffrey and his team were great throughout the whole process of my settlement for an auto accident! They handled everything which made it much easier on me! They were able to navigate the ins and outs of the insurance companies and helped me receive my settlement in a timely manner! Great customer service all around. Would definitely recommend them! They made it much easier to move on from my auto accident! Thanks again!"
Justin W.
April 2024
"My first experience with meldon was amazing. The whole staff willing to talk and listen. They were very helpful and guided me threw the whole process. If you went anywhere else I’m sorry for you !!!!!"
Jabari A.
June 2024
Meldon Law
Address: 703 N Main St STE A, Gainesville, FL 32601, United States
Phone: 352-373-8000
Opening Hours: Call Us 24/7 For Legal Help
