Getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while impaired by alcohol is a reckless decision that can have devastating consequences, both for the driver and anyone else on the road. Still, people make that decision every day across the country and close to home.
A Florida woman, for example, was recently arrested on felony driving under the influence charges following a car accident at Morse Boulevard and State Road 44 in The Villages. The woman had previously been convicted on DUI charges four separate times in Kentucky, according to the Villages-News.
The woman’s license had recently been suspended during a recent traffic stop. She was also reportedly found to be in possession of a pipe with methamphetamine residue.
The woman was transported to Sumter County Detention Center and held on a $36,000 bond.
This kind of incident is sadly all too common. More than 15,000 impaired driving crashes were reported across Florida last year, resulting in some 800 deaths statewide.
In late March, an Ocala man was charged with DUI after striking another vehicle in a parking lot. The man had reportedly been drinking at local watering hole Margarita Republic and tried to flee the scene of the accident, Villages-News reports.
A month earlier, an Indiana woman was arrested and charged with DUI following an afternoon crash in Wildwood. The woman had previously been arrested and charged with DUI in her home state, according to Villages-News.
Legal Rights for People Injured in Drunk Driving Crashes
Anyone who has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver has the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the crash. A Villages accident lawyer at our firm can help.
Drivers owe everyone else on the road a “duty of care,” which requires them to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner. Those who do not live up to this standard - including by getting behind the wheel while intoxicated - are considered negligent and legally liable for any injuries that happen as a result.
The money damages available in these cases include compensation for medical bills and property damage, as well as for missed wages while recuperating and any long-term impact on earning capacity. Additional punitive damages may also be available in cases involving particularly reckless behavior.
In the tragic case that a person dies in a car accident, his or her loved ones have the right to seek similar compensation for wrongful death. Although no amount of money can turn back time and stop the crash from happening, it can help ease some of the financial burdens that often come with losing a family member.
Talk with a Villages Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash in Florida, Villages accident lawyer Tim Babiarz can help.
We are pleased to represent clients in the Villages and throughout the area, including in Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield and beyond. Call (352) 205-7559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Villages accident lawyer.
