Hollywood, Florida, Drunk Driver Accident Lawyers

When life hurts, we make it personal.

Being struck by an impaired driver adds layers of outrage and frustration on top of the physical injuries and the emotional pain and suffering that go with them. When a drunk driver turns your life upside down with catastrophic injuries or steals a loved one from your family, the emotional, physical, and financial toll can be enormous. At Ansel & Miller, our Hollywood drunk driver accident lawyers know how devastating these crashes are, and we fight tirelessly for justice and full compensation for crash survivors and grieving families across South Florida.

Why Drunk Driving Crashes Are So Catastrophic

Alcohol impairs all the core faculties necessary for safe driving, such as reaction time, attention, coordination, and judgment. As blood alcohol concentration (BAC) increases, the risk of collision grows exponentially, from the mild impairment at .05% to severe disruption of sensory and motor functions at .15%, including loss of vehicle control and slowed response to emergencies.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles underscores how lethal impaired driving remains. Between 2013 and 2023, one in three fatal traffic crashes in Florida was caused by impaired driving. In 2023 alone, 969 fatalities involved alcohol or drug-impaired driving or a combination of both, and another 3,740 drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists were injured. These numbers aren’t trending downward either.

What Counts as DUI in Florida

Florida treats drunk driving seriously. Legally, a driver with a BAC of 0.08% or higher is considered impaired, even without obvious signs of intoxication. Regardless of BAC, impairment may be determined by performance in field sobriety tests or officer observations of a person’s driving behavior and personal interactions.

DUI classifications vary:

• Misdemeanor DUI: Most first and second offenses within five years; penalties include fines, possible jail time, and license suspension.

• Felony DUI: Triggered by incidents involving serious bodily injury, death, or repeat offenses (third within ten years, or fourth anytime).

• DUI Manslaughter: A second-degree felony if impairment leads to death; if the driver flees, charges increase to first-degree felony—potentially carrying sentences up to 30 years in prison.

Florida also recognizes “wet reckless” pleas, a lesser charge sometimes offered when evidence is weak. These carry milder penalties and may be expungable.

Civil vs. Criminal Cases: How They Differ in Your Drunk Driving Crash

A drunk driving crash can trigger two separate legal tracks, with each serving a different purpose. A criminal case is initiated by the state to punish the violation of state law. To earn a conviction, prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a high burden to meet. Penalties if convicted include jail time, fines, license suspension, and mandatory programs.

A civil case, on the other hand, is brought by injured individuals seeking compensation for injuries and losses. A successful case requires proof by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning a jury is convinced the facts presented are more likely than not to be true. The injured victim seeks damages like medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and, in some cases, punitive damages.

Because the types of cases serve different purposes, you can bring a civil claim against the drunk driver who caused the crash regardless of whether the driver was cited, arrested, or convicted of DUI. A criminal conviction can serve as powerful evidence in proving fault for your civil claim, but it’s not necessary. A victim may still have a strong personal injury case even if the impaired driver was never arrested or convicted. That’s why injured parties should always speak with a lawyer, regardless of the outcome of any criminal case.

What’s at Stake, and How We Advocate for You

In a serious DUI collision, the consequences are often life-altering: traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, amputations, internal trauma, or loss of life. When these tragedies result, victims and their families face not only grief but also mounting medical debt, lost income, and emotional devastation.

At Ansel & Miller, we bring deep experience in these high-stakes cases. We collaborate with medical experts, life-care planners, and forensic specialists to build a detailed narrative of harm, from how the crash happened to what your life looks like now and will require in the future. We demand full compensation for the full range of legal damages, including:

• Medical treatment (past and future)

• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity

• Pain, suffering, and emotional trauma

• Loss of companionship or support for families

• Punitive damages when the driver’s conduct was especially reckless

Our firm is small by design, making us attentive, accessible, and relentless. You’re never “just another case.” You’re someone whose life was deeply impacted, and we treat you with the humanity and conviction you deserve.

Steps to Take After Being Hit by a Drunk Driver in Hollywood

1. Get medical care immediately, even if your injuries don’t appear severe at first. This ensures your health is properly looked after and provides important documentation for your civil case.

2. Gather evidence: police reports, photos, contact info, and any information suggesting impairment, like witness statements or surveillance video.

3. Reach out to Ansel & Miller before talking to insurance companies, giving recorded statements, or accepting settlement offers. We can collect and preserve evidence, pursue the strongest claims, and shield you from insurers’ tactics.

Speak With a Hollywood Drunk Driving Crash Attorney Today

If you or someone you love was injured or worse in a collision caused by an impaired driver in Hollywood, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. At Ansel & Miller, we make it personal. We bring the legal strategy, trauma-informed care, and courtroom muscle to stand up for you, no matter how the criminal case unfolds.

Call our Hollywood office today or contact us online for a free consultation. Let us fight to ensure you’re not left to carry the cost of someone else’s reckless choice.