Boynton Beach DUI Accident Lawyer

Drunk driving crashes are different from other car accidents. When a driver gets behind the wheel impaired and causes a collision, there is a criminal case unfolding alongside your civil injury claim, and what happens in one can directly affect the other. A Boynton Beach DUI accident lawyer who understands both sides of that equation can position your case for maximum recovery while the criminal process plays out. At Steinberg Law, P.A., Brett Steinberg has spent his career handling exactly these kinds of cases, where liability is clear but getting fair compensation still requires a fight.

Boynton Beach sits at the intersection of some of Palm Beach County’s most heavily traveled corridors. Congress Avenue, Federal Highway (US-1), Boynton Beach Boulevard, and the Gateway Boulevard interchange all see significant traffic volume, and the combination of nightlife establishments, late-night commercial activity, and distracted or impaired drivers creates conditions where DUI-related crashes happen with troubling regularity. Many victims walk away from these crashes without understanding the full scope of what they are owed, accepting early insurance settlements that do not come close to covering the actual cost of their injuries.

Florida law allows DUI crash victims to pursue compensation not just for medical bills, but for lost income, future medical care, pain and suffering, and in some cases punitive damages when the driver’s conduct was especially reckless. That last category, punitive damages, is more accessible in DUI cases than in standard negligence claims. An impaired driver who chooses to get behind the wheel has arguably done something more than careless, and Florida courts have recognized that distinction. Getting the full picture of what your claim is worth requires an attorney who will actually take your case seriously from day one.

What Sets Steinberg Law, P.A. Apart in DUI Injury Cases

Brett Steinberg founded Steinberg Law, P.A. with a specific philosophy: injured people deserve a lawyer who knows their name, answers their calls, and is not afraid to walk into a courtroom. That philosophy matters in DUI accident cases because insurance companies do not automatically pay what a case is worth simply because their insured was legally drunk. Adjusters still look for reasons to reduce payouts, dispute the extent of injuries, and delay resolution. You need someone who has already been on the other side of that pressure and knows how to push back.

Since the firm’s founding, Brett has recovered over $25 million in verdicts and settlements for injured clients across South Florida. His case results include a $1,800,000 settlement and a separate $1,850,000 settlement in car versus pedestrian cases, a $1,525,000 auto negligence settlement, and a $900,000 motor vehicle accident recovery. These numbers reflect what happens when an attorney prepares a case as though it is going to trial, even when it settles. Brett began his legal career as an Assistant Public Defender in Miami-Dade County, where he tried over 25 cases to verdict. That trial background, rare among personal injury attorneys in South Florida, means he understands how evidence is presented, how juries think, and how to keep a case on track when the defense tries to complicate things. He is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, has been recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer every year since 2015, and holds a 10.0 Superb rating on both AVVO and Justia.

Types of DUI Accident Claims Our Boynton Beach Attorney Handles

Rear-End and Intersection Crashes: Impaired drivers frequently fail to stop at red lights along Boynton Beach Boulevard and Congress Avenue or rear-end stopped vehicles, causing whiplash, spinal injuries, and traumatic brain injuries that may not be fully apparent until days after the collision.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Injuries: The areas around downtown Boynton Beach, Ocean Avenue, and the waterfront see significant foot and bicycle traffic. DUI drivers who strike pedestrians or cyclists often cause catastrophic injuries because there is no vehicle barrier to absorb impact.
Wrong-Way DUI Crashes: Impaired drivers disoriented on I-95 or the Florida Turnpike near Boynton Beach can travel against traffic, creating high-speed head-on collisions with severe or fatal consequences for other drivers.
Commercial Vehicle and Rideshare DUI Accidents: When an intoxicated driver is operating a rideshare vehicle, delivery truck, or commercial van, both the driver and potentially the company they work for may carry liability, expanding the sources of recovery available to injured victims.
Dram Shop Liability Claims: Florida’s dram shop statute allows DUI victims to pursue claims against bars, restaurants, or venues that knowingly served alcohol to a visibly intoxicated person who then caused a crash. Establishments along Federal Highway and in the Boynton Beach commercial corridor can face liability under this theory.
Fatal DUI Collisions and Wrongful Death: When a drunk driving crash kills someone, Florida’s wrongful death statute allows surviving family members to pursue compensation for funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship. These cases require prompt legal action to preserve evidence and identify all potentially liable parties.
Punitive Damage Claims: Florida permits punitive damages in DUI accident cases where the defendant’s conduct demonstrates conscious disregard for the safety of others. A driver with a high blood alcohol level or a prior DUI history is a strong candidate for punitive exposure, and these damages can significantly increase total recovery.

How the Criminal Case Connects to Your Civil Claim

When a driver is arrested for DUI after causing a crash, a criminal prosecution begins that runs on a separate track from your civil injury case. The criminal case is brought by the State of Florida through the State Attorney’s Office. Your civil case is brought by you, through your attorney, against the driver and any other responsible parties. These two proceedings are legally distinct, but what happens in the criminal case can be enormously valuable to you.

A DUI conviction, or even a no-contest plea, can be used as evidence in your civil case to establish that the driver was impaired at the time of the crash. The police reports, breathalyzer results, field sobriety test videos, and witness statements gathered in the criminal investigation become part of the record you can draw from. A DUI accident attorney in Boynton Beach who moves quickly can obtain and preserve this evidence before it becomes harder to access. That includes subpoenaing surveillance footage from businesses near the crash site, securing dashcam video, and locking in witness accounts before memories fade.

One critical point: the civil case does not wait for the criminal case to resolve. Florida’s civil courts operate on their own timeline, and delay can hurt your claim. Evidence disappears. Witnesses become unavailable. The at-fault driver’s insurance company may attempt to close out claims early and cheaply while the criminal case is still pending. Engaging a Boynton Beach DUI injury attorney early gives your case the best chance of a full recovery, regardless of how the criminal prosecution unfolds.

Practical Steps After a DUI Accident in Boynton Beach

The hours and days after a DUI crash are often chaotic, especially if you are dealing with injuries, shock, or concern for others involved. But the actions you take in that window matter significantly for your claim. If you are physically able at the scene, document everything. Photograph your vehicle, the other vehicle, the surrounding road, any visible skid marks, traffic signals, and your injuries. Get the names and contact information of every witness. Do not decline medical attention, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline can mask serious injuries, and a medical evaluation creates a record that connects your injuries to the crash.

DUI crashes in Boynton Beach are handled through the Palm Beach County court system. The criminal case will proceed through the Palm Beach County Criminal Division at the Palm Beach County Courthouse in West Palm Beach. Your civil claim will typically be filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court if the damages exceed the threshold for county court, which is common in serious injury cases. Florida’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims means you have a defined window to file suit, and missing that deadline forecloses your right to compensation regardless of how strong your case is. That deadline is not something to approach casually.

When you contact Steinberg Law, P.A., Brett will review the police report and any available evidence from the scene during a free one-hour consultation. He will assess the strength of your liability case, identify all potentially responsible parties including the driver, any employer, and any alcohol-serving establishment, and give you an honest picture of what your claim may be worth. The firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless compensation is recovered for you. There is no financial risk to having the consultation.

Common Questions About Boynton Beach DUI Crash Claims

Can I still recover compensation if the DUI driver was not convicted?

Yes. The criminal standard of proof, beyond a reasonable doubt, is higher than the civil standard, which is a preponderance of the evidence. Even if the driver pleads down to a lesser charge or is acquitted in the criminal case, your civil claim can still succeed if the evidence shows it is more likely than not that the driver was impaired and that impairment caused the crash.

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

This is a common problem in Florida, where minimum insurance requirements are modest relative to the cost of serious injuries. Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may provide an additional source of recovery. If a bar or restaurant over-served the driver, their commercial liability policy may be available through a dram shop claim. Brett will identify every available source of compensation before any strategy is finalized.

How do punitive damages work in a Florida DUI accident case?

Punitive damages are awarded to punish conduct that goes beyond ordinary negligence. Florida courts have recognized that choosing to drive while impaired can qualify as the kind of conscious disregard for others that supports a punitive damages award. These damages are separate from compensatory damages for your actual losses. They must be specifically requested and proven, and the process involves an additional procedural step in Florida civil litigation. Not every case will support a punitive claim, but in serious DUI crash cases, it is worth evaluating carefully.

Does it matter where the drunk driver was drinking before the crash?

It can matter significantly. If the driver was served at a commercial establishment that knew or should have known they were already visibly intoxicated, Florida’s dram shop law may hold that business liable for your damages. Identifying where the driver was drinking, using credit card records, surveillance footage, and witness accounts, is a key part of early case investigation in DUI crash claims.

What damages can I recover beyond my medical bills?

Compensation in a DUI crash case can include past and future medical expenses, lost wages during recovery, reduced earning capacity if the injuries affect your ability to work long-term, the cost of future care including physical therapy or surgery, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In cases involving punitive damages, the total recovery can substantially exceed the compensatory amount.

Can my passenger file a claim if they were injured in my car during the crash?

Yes. A passenger injured in a DUI crash can bring a claim directly against the impaired driver who caused the accident. They are not limited by your claim or any comparative fault that might apply to you as the driver of the vehicle they were riding in. Passengers are typically in the strongest position of any claimant in these cases because they bear no responsibility for the crash.

How long will my DUI accident case take to resolve?

The timeline depends on several factors: the severity of your injuries, whether your treatment is complete, the complexity of the liability issues, and whether the case settles or proceeds to trial. Cases involving ongoing medical care are generally not resolved until maximum medical improvement is reached, because settling early could mean accepting less than what future care will actually cost. Cases that go to trial in Palm Beach County courts can take longer than those that settle, but the preparation involved in being trial-ready often produces better settlement outcomes.

What if I was partially at fault for the crash?

Florida follows a comparative fault framework, which means your compensation can be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you. However, even if you share some responsibility, you may still recover for the portion caused by the impaired driver. This is a factual and legal question that depends on the specifics of the crash, and it is not a reason to assume you have no case.

Should I talk to the drunk driver’s insurance company before calling an attorney?

No. The at-fault driver’s insurance company is not your advocate. Their adjusters are trained to limit payouts, and anything you say can be used to minimize your claim. Declining to give a recorded statement and referring all communications to your attorney is the right move. Once Steinberg Law is involved, the insurance company deals with Brett, not with you.

Can a DUI accident claim affect my own Florida auto insurance rates?

Being the victim of a DUI crash should not trigger a rate increase with your own insurer, especially when the other driver is clearly at fault. However, if you file a claim under your own uninsured motorist or personal injury protection coverage, that interaction is worth discussing with your attorney to understand any potential implications before proceeding.

Serving Boynton Beach DUI Accident Clients Across South Florida

Steinberg Law, P.A. represents DUI crash victims throughout Boynton Beach and the surrounding communities of Palm Beach County. From the neighborhoods of Golf, Hypoluxo, and Lantana to the north, through central Boynton Beach communities including High Point, Leisureville, and Quail Ridge, and south into the areas bordering Delray Beach and Lake Worth Beach, Brett handles cases across the full range of Boynton Beach’s residential and commercial corridors. The firm also serves clients in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Lake Worth, Greenacres, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Palm Springs, Atlantis, and the communities along the Intracoastal Waterway corridor from Palm Beach south through Palm Beach County. With offices in both Delray Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, Steinberg Law is positioned to serve the entire county without making clients travel far for their initial consultation. Cases are handled on a contingency basis throughout Palm Beach County, Broward County, and Miami-Dade County, as well as across the state of Florida.

Boynton Beach DUI Accident Attorney Ready to Take Your Case

Brett Steinberg has built Steinberg Law, P.A. around the idea that an injured person should have direct access to an attorney who treats their case like it matters and who is prepared to go to trial if that is what it takes to get a fair result. As a Boynton Beach DUI accident attorney, Brett approaches these cases knowing that liability is rarely the hard question and that the real fight is making sure the full value of the claim is recognized. That includes not just the immediate bills but the long-term consequences of serious injuries, the pain and disruption that does not show up on a medical invoice, and the additional accountability that Florida law makes available when a driver consciously chose to get behind the wheel impaired.

Call Steinberg Law, P.A. for a free one-hour consultation. There is no cost to speak with Brett, and you will not owe anything unless compensation is recovered in your case.