A Villages man was arrested and charged with drunk driving moments after being seen “staggering” to his golf cart at Lake Sumter Landing.
Police stopped the 71-year-old man after his golf cart failed to come to a complete stop at the red flashing light at Old Mill Run and Canal Street, Villages-News reports. Minutes earlier, cops noticed he appeared unsteady on his feet while approaching the golf cart, backed out and began driving on Old Mill Run.
The Village of Virginia Terrace man initially told cops he had consumed “a couple of wines” earlier in the night, according to the news outlet. When asked to participate in field sobriety exercises, however, he reportedly changed his tune.
“He told the deputy, ‘Just take me away,’” Villages-News reports. “[The man] also called the deputy a ‘prick’ and became ‘aggressive.’”
The officers also reported that the man’s eyes were bloodshot and watery and that he emitted a strong smell of alcohol. After struggling through the field exercises, he submitted to breath tests that showed his blood alcohol content was between 0.106 percent and 0.111 percent. That is well above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
The man was booked at Sumter County Detention Center and later released on a $500 bond.
Injured in a DUI Accident? Know Your Rights
More than 800 people are killed every year in Florida in accidents involving alcohol-impaired drivers, according to data from Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. That is not to mention the thousands of people injured in such crashes annually.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a golf cart accident caused by a drunk driver, you have the right to seek compensation from the driver, his or her insurer and anyone else responsible for the collision.
The money damages available in these cases typically include compensation for medical bills and property damage, as well as for missed wages and any long-term impact on earning capacity. Additional punitive damages - designed to punish those responsible for the accident - 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.
To get compensation you generally have to be able to prove liability. You do not need to go it alone, however. An experienced Villages injury attorney at our firm can help you understand your rights, take action against those responsible for the crash and maximize your compensation.
How a Villages Injury Attorney Can Help You
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, truck, motorcycle, golf cart or other accident, it is vital to seek the advice of an experienced lawyer. Villages injury attorney Tim Babiarz has been fighting for people and families across the community for more than two decades.
Our office is conveniently located in the Villages. We are also proud to represent clients 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 injury attorney.
