Drinking and driving is never a good idea, yet there are people who do this all of the time. When these people cause an accident, the impact could be devastating. Those who are injured are often seriously injured and face significant expenses like medical bills to recover financially from the accident. After being injured in an accident like this, the victim will want to contact one of the Automobile Accident Lawyers in Hollywood FL for help. The lawyer can explain the civil case and the criminal case if it may impact the civil case.
The civil case is the lawsuit brought by the victim against the at-fault driver. In this case, the victim is asking for money to cover all of the accident-related expenses like medical bills and lost wages. They may ask for non-quantifiable damages as well, such as the loss of enjoyment of life if they’re permanently injured. The criminal case, on the other hand, is brought by the prosecution and is designed to determine if the driver is guilty of drinking and driving and, if so, what their punishment will be. These are two completely separate cases.
Although they are separate cases, the criminal case can have an impact on the civil case. The civil case will not have an impact on the criminal case. If the person is found guilty in criminal court of driving under the influence, this can be used to prove their guilt in the civil court. However, even if the person isn’t found guilty in criminal court, they can still be found guilty in civil court as the proof of guilt needed for civil court is much lower than criminal court. Basically, the outcome of the criminal case can only help with the civil case.
Those who have been injured due to a drunk driving accident will find it helpful to contact one of the Automobile Accident Lawyers in Hollywood FL as soon as possible after their arrest. The lawyer will help them prove the other driver was at fault and help them obtain as much compensation as needed to financially recover from the accident. To learn more or to discuss your case, speak with someone from the Law Offices of McCullough & Leboff P.A. now.
