The Spring season often brings an influx of visitors to the Sunshine State. Sadly, it also often means a spike in impaired driving.
More impaired driving crashes happened in March last year than in any other month, according to data from Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. That is why law enforcement and traffic safety officials often make a specific push to crack down on intoxicated driving this time of year.
“Impaired driving is a serious safety issue that puts not only the impaired driver but also the passengers and other road users at risk,” Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gary Howze II said during last year’s campaign.
Nearly 14,000 crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs occur across the state every year, killing some 800 people, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
About 10% of all Florida impaired driving crashes - those influenced by drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both - happen in March. The month also historically sees a spike in driving under the influence and open container citations.
Meanwhile, impaired driving is the leading cause of traffic accident deaths statewide. More than one-third of all deadly accidents each year involve impaired driving.
Impaired driving often involves alcohol but increasingly also includes drugs like marijuana, cocaine, opiates, and other controlled substances.
Legal Rights for People Injured in DUI 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. That is true whether the driver was behind the wheel of a golf cart, car, or other vehicle.
The compensation typically available in these cases includes money for medical bills, missed wages during recuperation, property damage, and other consequences of the crash. Additional punitive damages - designed to punish those responsible for the accident - may also be awarded in cases involving particularly reckless behavior.
In the tragic event that a person dies in a DUI or other crash, certain family members similarly can seek to hold responsible those to blame by bringing a wrongful death claim. Florida law allows grieving family members to seek compensation for the loss of the deceased person’s earnings and companionship, as well as for mental anguish and suffering, medical and funeral expenses.
No amount of money will ever allow you to go back in time and stop a fatal accident from happening. Compensation can, however, help ease some of the financial burden that often comes with losing a loved one.
How a Villages Accident Attorney Can Help
If you have been injured in a traffic accident, you do not need to go it alone. Villages accident attorney Tim Babiarz can help you understand your rights and explore your options for maximizing compensation.
We are proud 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 attorney.
