Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog
A woman in Seminole, Florida was recently arrested for DUI after she crashed her SUV into her house several times. According to a local news article, witnesses reported the woman was drunk and crashed into her garage while trying to back out, and she then drove through her front window and out the back of her home. She then put her car in reverse and backed it through the wreckage, parking on her front lawn. When police arrived at the scene, they found the woman waiting for them, partially naked, in her partially demolished house. The woman was charged with driving under the influence, as well as resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.
Drinking Alcohol Impairs Judgment
The woman involved in the crash may face serious criminal penalties for her conduct, but she is fortunate that nobody else was injured or killed in the accident. If the witnesses reported the incident accurately, the woman was extremely intoxicated and acting recklessly, and bystanders were endangered by her conduct. When somebody gets behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol, motor skills and perception are reduced, and decision making and judgment are also impaired. This can cause drunk drivers to speed and take unnecessary risks. Drunk drivers are more likely to be in accidents, and accidents involving drunk drivers are more likely to cause serious injury or death.
Drinking and Driving and the Law
In Florida, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol. A driver is deemed legally intoxicated by alcohol when they have a blood alcohol concentration (%BAC) at or above .08%. If a Florida drunk driver is involved in an accident that causes injury or death, they can also be charged with other crimes in addition to DUI, including reckless driving, assault, or manslaughter. DUI offenders who have been convicted of multiple offenses are subject to increased penalties with each subsequent DUI, and they may ultimately be sentenced to prison time for repeated offenses.
Drunk drivers may face civil liability in addition to the criminal charges resulting from a DUI. Other drivers or passengers who have been injured or killed in an accident caused by a drunk driver can hire an attorney and seek compensation for their injuries and loss by filing a Florida personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. DUI accident victims can seek damages for medical and funeral expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and pain and suffering, as well as other damages. A skilled Florida accident attorney can help accident victims obtain the maximum compensation for their injuries.
Have You Been Hurt by a Drunk Driver?
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by a drunk driver, the Ocala accident attorneys at the Dean Law Firm want to help you hold the responsible parties accountable for your loss. Our dedicated car accident attorneys have represented accident victims in Central Florida for years, and our experience gives clients the peace of mind of knowing we are fighting our hardest for the compensation they deserve. At the Dean Law Firm, we represent clients in most personal injury and wrongful death cases, including DUI accidents. Call us today at (352) 387-8700 to set up a consultation.
Deerfield Beach Accident Involving Car and Pick-Up Truck Kills One Child, Injures Several Others, Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog, published June 15, 2015.
Florida Hit-and-Run Driver Sentenced to 20 Years in Jail, Ocala Injury Lawyers Blog, published July 14, 2015.