Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer in Tallahassee

Direct Attorney Involvement in Complex Drunk Driving Claims

Milles Law handles personal injury claims and complex civil cases in Florida state and federal courts. Eric Milles has practiced law in Tallahassee since 1999, representing serious-injury victims and their families. Anyone searching for a drunk driving accident attorney in Tallahassee needs counsel prepared to examine impairment evidence, insurance coverage, damages, and every potentially responsible party.

Call (855) 553-3310 or Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss a potential civil claim with Milles Law.

Civil Claims & Potential Damages

Although drunk driving is typically prosecuted as a criminal offense, injured victims also have the right to pursue a civil claim for compensation. A criminal case requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, while a personal injury case generally requires proof by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning the claim is more likely true than not.

Through a civil claim, victims may seek compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent injury
• Disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Punitive damages may also be available in appropriate cases, but they aren’t automatic.

Evidence & Available Coverage

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies impaired driving as a continuing roadway safety problem. In the Tallahassee area, these crashes can occur on busy routes such as Interstate 10, U.S. Highway 90, and major local roads. Evidence from the crash and any related DUI investigation can help establish what happened, but the civil claim remains separate from the criminal prosecution.

Unfortunately, many drunk drivers lack sufficient insurance to fully cover serious injuries. Other potential sources of recovery may include an establishment covered by Florida’s limited dram shop law or the injured person’s own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. The available options depend on the evidence, applicable policies, and circumstances surrounding the collision.

How a Tallahassee Drunk Driving Accident Attorney Can Help

Milles Law can investigate the crash, preserve available evidence, evaluate insurance coverage, and address communications that may affect the claim.

At Milles Law, clients work closely with Attorney Milles and his team throughout these steps:

• Investigating the accident: The firm can review the collision, determine how it happened, and identify potentially responsible parties.
• Gathering evidence: The firm can collect police reports, witness statements, photographs, available video footage, medical records, and relevant toxicology or breath-test records when available.
• Evaluating damages: The firm can document medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, recovery needs, and other proven losses.
• Negotiating with insurers: The firm can handle insurance communications and work toward a settlement that accounts for the documented effects of the crash.
• Taking the case to trial: If litigation becomes necessary, the firm can present the evidence and pursue appropriate compensation in court.

If an injured person or family member needs legal representation after a drunk driving accident, Contact Milles Law today to schedule a consultation and review the available options.

Florida Laws That May Affect a Drunk Driving Injury Claim

Under Florida’s DUI statute, drivers can be charged when their normal faculties are impaired or when their blood-alcohol or breath-alcohol level meets the statutory threshold. Evidence of impairment can include officer observations, witness testimony, toxicology or breath-test records, arrest records, crash-scene documentation, and available vehicle or video data. A criminal charge or conviction may be relevant, but the civil claim has its own elements and burden of proof.

Several additional legal and insurance issues may affect the claim:

• Comparative fault: Florida law may reduce or restrict recoverable damages when evidence assigns part of the fault to the injured person. The effect depends on the allocation of fault and the law applicable to the claim.
• Dram shop liability: Florida generally limits alcohol-vendor liability to specific circumstances, including unlawfully furnishing alcohol to a person under 21 or knowingly serving someone habitually addicted to alcohol. The necessary facts must be established in each case.
• Insurance coverage: The impaired driver’s liability coverage may not be enough to address serious losses. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may provide another source of compensation when the policy and facts support a claim.
• Punitive damages: Under Florida law, these damages are intended to address conduct beyond ordinary negligence, such as intentional misconduct or gross negligence. Their availability depends on the evidence and Florida’s pleading and proof requirements.

Attorney Milles and his team can assess how these legal issues interact rather than treating the crash as a routine insurance claim.

Steps to Take After a Drunk Driving Crash in Tallahassee

In the moments and days after a drunk driving crash, safety and medical treatment should come before collecting evidence.

Whenever it’s safe to do so, call 911 so law enforcement and medical responders can come to the scene, whether the collision happened on a neighborhood street or a busy roadway such as Monroe Street or Capital Circle. Accept medical care even if the injuries initially seem minor. Follow-up treatment at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare or with a regular physician can document symptoms that develop or change after the collision.

If possible, the injured person or someone they trust can take photographs, obtain witness contact information, and retain paperwork from the responding agency. Vehicle data, video footage, physical crash evidence, and witness recollections can become more difficult to obtain over time. Keep medical records, bills, proof of missed work, repair estimates, and correspondence from insurers together for later review.

Early legal review can help preserve evidence, identify applicable insurance coverage, track filing requirements, and evaluate communications with insurance companies. Before providing a recorded statement or accepting a settlement, an injured person can ask an attorney to assess how that decision may affect the civil claim.

Get a Case-Specific Review of the Tallahassee Crash

Milles Law offers a free, no-obligation consultation for people injured by impaired drivers. Attorney Milles and his team can review the available evidence, potential liability, documented losses, insurance coverage, and practical next steps.

The firm provides direct attorney access and personalized counsel from the beginning of the claim through its resolution. This approach gives clients a consistent point of contact while an evidence-intensive case develops.

Call (855) 553-3310 to discuss a drunk driving injury claim with Milles Law.