DUI Accident Lawyer West Palm Beach, FL

Was your life upended by a driver who chose to get behind the wheel drunk?

Plaintiff-focused attorneys standing up for people injured by impaired drivers across West Palm Beach, FL.

Being hit by a drunk driver is different from an ordinary car accident. The harm was entirely preventable, the injuries are often severe, and the person responsible made a choice that put everyone on the road at risk. A DUI accident lawyer in West Palm Beach, FL, at Jacobson Injury Firm helps injured victims and grieving families hold impaired drivers accountable, dealing with the insurers, building the evidence, and pursuing the full compensation the law allows. This page is written for the people a drunk driver harmed, not for anyone facing a criminal charge. Attorney Adam Jacobson prepares each claim as though a jury will decide it. Contact us for a free consultation to learn what your case may be worth.

DUI Accident Lawyer West Palm Beach, FL

A DUI accident claim is a civil personal injury case brought by someone injured by an impaired driver, and it runs separately from any criminal DUI case the state may pursue. The criminal case punishes the driver; your civil claim seeks to compensate you for medical bills, lost income, pain, and other losses. The two can proceed at the same time, and a criminal conviction can strengthen the civil claim by helping establish negligence, but you do not have to wait for the criminal case to conclude to protect your own rights.

West Palm Beach sees impaired-driving crashes on I-95, Okeechobee Boulevard, Southern Boulevard, Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, and along the nightlife corridors near Clematis Street and CityPlace, often late at night and on weekends. As the county seat, West Palm Beach is also home to the main Fifteenth Judicial Circuit courthouse, where these cases are ultimately decided. When a drunk driver causes serious harm, fault is usually clearer than in a typical crash, but the fight over the value of the claim is often just as hard, because insurers still work to limit what they pay. Statewide Florida crash data continues to rank impaired driving among the most preventable causes of serious injury.

Why DUI Crash Cases Are Different

Impaired-driving cases carry features that ordinary collision claims do not, and they can meaningfully affect your recovery:

• Clear negligence. A driver who was over the legal limit has usually breached the duty of care by definition, which can simplify proving fault.
• Potential for punitive damages. Florida allows punitive damages in cases of intentional misconduct or gross negligence, and drunk driving can qualify, which no ordinary fender-bender claim offers.
• Serious injuries. Impaired drivers often strike at high speed or fail to brake at all, producing catastrophic harm and, tragically, wrongful death.
• Possible third-party liability. In narrow circumstances, a vendor that served alcohol may share responsibility under Florida’s dram shop law.

Punitive Damages in Florida DUI Cases

Most injury claims recover compensatory damages, the money that covers medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. DUI cases can go further. Under Florida Statute § 768.72, punitive damages may be available where a driver’s conduct rises to gross negligence, and driving while intoxicated is frequently cited as an example. Punitive damages are meant to punish and deter, not to compensate, and they are never guaranteed, but their availability is one reason DUI claims can differ in value from a standard crash.

When a Bar or Vendor May Share Responsibility

Florida’s dram shop law is narrow, and it is often misunderstood. Under Florida Statute § 768.125, a business that sells or serves alcohol is generally not liable simply for serving an adult who later causes a crash. Liability typically arises only in limited situations, such as knowingly serving alcohol to a person under 21 or to someone the vendor knows is habitually addicted to alcohol. With the concentration of bars and restaurants around Clematis Street and downtown West Palm Beach, this question comes up, but whether it applies depends heavily on the specific facts, which is why these cases call for a careful investigation into liability rather than assumptions.

Why Choose Jacobson Injury Firm as Your DUI Accident Lawyer in West Palm Beach, FL?

Preparation Insurers Respect

DUI claims reward thorough preparation, because the higher potential value draws harder pushback from insurers. Adam Jacobson approaches each case with a litigation-driven mindset and readies every matter as though it will reach a courtroom, which is often what moves an adjuster off a lowball offer. He earned his law degree from Florida International University College of Law and is admitted to practice in Florida, New York, Connecticut, and Illinois. His Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology with a minor in Immunology proves especially useful when medical records and injury causation become central to a case.

Direct Attorney Access and Real Recoveries

Unlike high-volume firms that pass clients between paralegals, Adam personally handles every case from the first phone call to final resolution. He has recovered millions of dollars for injured clients, and he knows the West Palm Beach roads where these crashes happen and the county courthouse where these cases are heard.

No Fee Unless We Win

DUI injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, so there is no retainer and no hourly billing. A fee is owed only if we recover for you. When a DUI crash connects to a broader matter, our work as a West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer covers the full range of negligence claims in Palm Beach County.

Understanding Damages and Liability in a DUI Case

Liability rests on negligence, the failure to use the care a reasonable person would, and a drunk driver has usually fallen far short of that standard. Once fault is established, compensation is meant to restore what the crash took from you. Depending on the facts, recoverable damages may include medical expenses from emergency care through rehabilitation and future treatment, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and out-of-pocket costs. When a crash causes catastrophic harm or a wrongful death, the stakes and the potential damages rise accordingly.

Even when a drunk driver is plainly at fault, Florida’s modified comparative negligence law under Florida Statute § 768.81 can still come into play, reducing a recovery by any percentage of blame assigned to the injured person. Insurers sometimes try to shift a share of fault onto the victim, which is why a clear, evidence-backed account of the crash matters.

Important Aspects of a DUI Accident Case

A few factors tend to shape how these claims unfold. Evidence from the criminal investigation, such as breath-test results, police reports, and body-camera footage, can support the civil claim, so preserving and obtaining it early is important. Serious injuries need documented, ongoing medical care that ties the harm to the crash. Knowing what to do after an accident protects both your health and your claim, and prompt legal action protects the evidence and the deadlines that govern the case. According to NHTSA data on drunk driving, impaired driving remains a leading cause of preventable roadway deaths in the United States.

The DUI Accident Case Timeline

Every claim runs on its own schedule, but most follow the same general case timeline. We investigate the crash, gather the criminal-case evidence and records, and identify every liable party and policy. We follow your medical treatment so the claim reflects the full scope of your injuries. We then submit a demand and negotiate toward a fair settlement. If the insurers refuse a reasonable amount, we file suit and move into discovery. Finally, the case resolves through settlement or, when necessary, a jury trial.

Important Florida Legal Resources

Florida law sets the framework for these claims. Comparative fault under Florida Statute § 768.81 controls how shared blame affects recovery, punitive damages are governed by Florida Statute § 768.72, vendor liability is limited by the dram shop statute at Florida Statute § 768.125, and the statute of limitations in Florida Statutes § 95.11 gives most negligence claims two years from the date of injury. For background, negligence is the failure to act with reasonable care.

DUI Accident Lawyer FAQs

Can I sue a drunk driver even if the criminal case is still going on?

Yes. Your civil injury claim is separate from the state’s criminal DUI case and can move forward on its own timeline. A criminal conviction can help prove fault in the civil case, but you do not have to wait for the criminal case to finish to pursue compensation, and acting sooner helps preserve evidence.

What are punitive damages, and can I get them in a DUI crash case?

Punitive damages are extra damages meant to punish especially reckless conduct rather than to compensate for a specific loss. Florida allows them where a driver’s behavior amounts to gross negligence, and drunk driving is often cited as qualifying conduct. They are never guaranteed and depend on the facts, but their potential availability can affect a DUI claim’s value.

Can a bar be held responsible for serving the drunk driver who hit me?

Only in limited circumstances. Florida’s dram shop law generally does not hold a business liable for serving an adult who later causes a crash. Liability usually arises only when a vendor knowingly served alcohol to someone under 21 or to a person known to be habitually addicted to alcohol. Whether it applies depends on the specific facts, which is why these situations need investigation.

How long do I have to file a DUI accident claim in Florida?

Most negligence claims must be filed within two years of the date of injury under Florida Statutes § 95.11. Wrongful death claims have their own deadlines. Because evidence from the crash and the criminal investigation is easier to secure early, it helps to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.

What if the drunk driver did not have enough insurance to cover my injuries?

You may still have options. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can apply when an at-fault driver lacks adequate insurance, and in some cases additional parties may share responsibility. An attorney can identify every source of compensation available for your specific crash.

Contact Jacobson Injury Firm to Schedule a Consultation

If a drunk driver injured you or took someone you love, you do not have to face the insurance company alone. A West Palm Beach DUI accident lawyer at our firm can review what happened, coordinate with the criminal case where helpful, and pursue the full compensation the law allows. Consultations are free, and we work on a contingency basis, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover for you. Contact Jacobson Injury Firm today to speak directly with Adam Jacobson.