South Florida Injury Attorneys Blog
Earlier this month, Miami Dade Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz pleaded not guilty to allegations that he was operating his motorcycle while intoxicated. According to one local news source, the Commissioner was driving his Harley Davidson motorcycle on Roosevelt Boulevard at approximately 74 miles per hour. The speed limit on this section of Roosevelt Boulevard is 35 miles per hour.
Evidently, when officers pulled the Commissioner over, the officers had dash-cams and body-cams recording their entire interaction. It shows the unsteady Commissioner introducing himself as “Commissioner Diaz from Miami Dade County.” He also name-dropped by mentioning that Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay knows his name.
The Commissioner declined the officers’ request that he take a blood-alcohol test, and regardless of how the case ultimately is decided, he will be required to forfeit his license for one year based on that refusal. The Commissioner’s attorney told reporters that he hopes that his client will be able to take advantage of some kind of diversionary program that may allow him to escape having a conviction on his record.
Drunk Driving in Florida
In Florida, any time a driver gets behind the wheel of a car, truck, or motorcycle with a blood-alcohol content of .08 or more, he or she is considered to be intoxicated. Thankfully, police were able to stop the Commissioner before he was involved in an accident that could have seriously injured another motorist or pedestrian. However, police will not always be able to stop intoxicated drivers.
When a drunk driver does cause a serious or fatal accident, that driver may be held liable by the victim of the accident for the injuries sustained in the accident. Most often, these cases are filed to seek financial compensation for the past and future medical expenses associated with the accident. In addition, the accident victim may be entitled to compensation for the emotional harm sustained as a result of the accident. These are often called “pain and suffering” damages. If the injured party missed work, or is unable to return to work, that may be taken into account when the court determines the damages.
One thing for accident victims to keep in mind is that the other party’s insurance company will likely contest any requests or demands made by an accident victim or their attorney. Therefore, significant preparation should go into a case prior to engaging in negotiations to avoid being taken advantage of.
Have You Been Injured in a South Florida Auto Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in any kind of serious Florida auto accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Recovery may be possible even in cases where the other driver was not intoxicated, but was negligent, distracted, or acting aggressively. To learn more about Florida personal injury lawsuits, contact one of the skilled attorneys at Cecere Santana. The dedicated advocates at Cecere Santana have ample experience preparing and litigating all kinds of personal injury cases, including those arising from drunk driving accidents. Call 800-753-5529 to set up a free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Skateboarder Killed in Miami Hit-and-Run Accident, Cecere Santana Injury Lawyers Blog, published August 12, 2015.
Dump Truck Loses Control on Miami-Dade Highway and Kills FHP Ranger, Cecere Santana Injury Lawyers Blog, published September 23, 2015.