Everyone knows that alcohol affects driving skills. Not only is alcohol safety a big part of the mandatory driver’s education system, but there are also awareness campaigns that put out advertisements warning the public about how alcohol might affect their driving abilities.

Unfortunately, there are still plenty of people in Florida who will get behind the wheel of a car after having too much to drink. Although most of these people will reach their destination with no interruptions, some of them will cause crashes because of their impaired driving abilities.

The high speeds and reckless maneuvers associated with drunk driving crashes can cause catastrophic injuries to the other people involved in the wreck. Thankfully, there are at least three possible ways for a person hit by a drunk driver to seek compensation in Florida.

Although insurance companies often try to limit their liability when a policyholder engages in misconduct, they cannot deny a claimant coverage just because the driver who caused the crash was under the influence of alcohol. You should be able to make a claim against the other driver’s policy for property damage and injury-related losses. You may also be able to file a claim against your own policy, depending on the coverage you carry.

When someone hurts you through obviously illegal activity, you can take them to court. Regardless of whether the state has successfully prosecuted the driver for drunk driving or not, you can file a lawsuit against them for the costs from a crash not covered by the insurance they carry.

Occasionally, someone hurt by a drunk driver can make a claim against a business’s insurance policy. They may even be able to file a lawsuit. Florida’s dram shop law allows someone hurt by a drunk driver to sue a business that serves someone already drunk or too young to legally drink. In cases where a commercial driver causes a crash, there may occasionally be liability for the trucking company that employs them.

Exploring all of your options for compensation can help you limit the long-term impact a drunk driving crash has on your life.