South Florida Injury Attorneys Blog
Earlier this month in the Keys, an elementary school teacher was pulled over and cited for driving under the influence. According to a report from the Miami Herald, the woman—who teaches at Florida City Elementary School—was heading southbound on U.S. 1 around 1:45 in the morning when she was pulled over.
Evidently, the woman was traveling in her 1995 Red Toyota Camry when an on-duty officer noticed that she came close to crashing into about five cars. The officer told police that if she wasn’t stopped she was “going to kill somebody.” The officer began tracking the woman at mile-marker 81 and pulled her over two miles later at mile-marker 79 when he again noticed her weaving in and out of the center lane of traffic.
When the officer pulled the teacher over, he administered a series of field sobriety tests, which the woman failed. He then arrested her and brought her to the station, where her breath-alcohol level was .221, over twice the legal limit in Florida. The teacher has since posted bail and was released pending the outcome of her case.
Drunk Driving in South Florida
Drunk driving is taken extremely seriously by police, prosecutors, and judges here in the Sunshine State, and for good reason. Each year in Florida, there are approximately 17,000 alcohol-related car accidents. Of those, there are between 700 and 900 accidents that result in at least one fatality, and roughly 12,000 result in some kind of serious bodily injury.
Despite the known dangers, Florida drivers continue to get behind the wheel after they have had too much to drink. When a driver makes this decision, he or she is putting everyone around them at risk.
Drunk Driving is Legally Negligent
When a drunk driver causes a traffic accident, they can be held responsible for the injuries caused by their reckless behavior. This type of lawsuit—called a “negligence” lawsuit—requires that the accident victim prove that the defendant was somehow negligent and that the defendant’s negligence was the cause of the accident victim’s injuries.
In drunk-driving cases, proving negligence is easier than in other traffic accident cases, since the law specifically prohibits drunk driving. Therefore, an accident victim can point to a defendant’s citation for drunk driving and rely on that to show that the defendant was negligent. For further questions, and to discuss your case in detail, contact a dedicated South Florida personal injury attorney.
Are You in Need of an Attorney?
If you or a loved one has recently fallen victim to a drunk driver, you may be entitled to monetary compensation to help you cover the costs associated with your injuries. This may include amounts for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost future earnings, and pain and suffering related to the accident. To learn more, contact one of the dedicated South Florida personal injury lawyers at Cecere Santana by calling 800-753-5529 to set up your free initial consultation. The skilled and knowledgeable attorneys at Cecere Santana have the experience and dedication you need to feel comfortable leaving your case in their hands.
See More Blog Posts:
Are You a Victim of Personal Injury?, Cecere Santana Injury Lawyers Blog, published August 26, 2014.
Man Injured in Workplace Injury Recovers $5 Million in Settlement Offer, Cecere Santana Injury Lawyers Blog, published January 13, 2015.