A pair of recent DUI arrests in The Villages highlight just how prevalent drinking and driving continues to be in the community, regardless of the vehicle.
A 62-year-old Villager was arrested for drinking and driving a golf cart after tests showed his blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit. Days later, a 20-year-old Lady Lake woman was sent to jail after cops said she was drinking booze out of a Starbucks cup while driving her car. She registered a BAC nearly three times the legal limit.
The arrests are just some of the most recent instances of people being busted for getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. 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.
The 62-year-old Village of Buttonwood man in the recent arrest was pulled over after leaving Lake Sumter Landing when he made “an unusually wide turn” in his golf cart, Villages-News reports. “A deputy noticed that the golf cart was drifting in and out of its lane,” according to the local news outlet.
The man reportedly submitted to breath alcohol tests after performing poorly in field sobriety exercises. Breath samples showed his blood alcohol content was as high as 0.181 percent. The legal limit for drivers in Florida and across the U.S. is 0.08 percent.
He was booked at Sumter County Detention Center, charged with driving under the influence and released after posting a $500 bond. The man later pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Lady Lake woman was pulled over for erratic driving, according to Villages-News. Her breath samples showed that she had a BAC as high as 0.223 percent.
“Twisted Tea and White Claw beverage containers were found in her vehicle,” the news outlet reports. “A Starbucks cup in the center console cupholder ‘contained a very strong unknown alcoholic beverage that was orange in color.’”
Legal Rights for People Injured in Florida DUI Crashes
Anyone who is injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver in Florida has the right to seek compensation from the driver, his or her insurer and others responsible for the collision. That is true whether the drunk driver was behind the wheel of a golf cart, car or other vehicle.
The money damages available in these cases typically include compensation for medical bills and property damage, missed wages, and any long-term impact on earning capacity. Additional punitive damages—designed to punish those responsible for the accident—may also be awarded in cases involving particularly reckless behavior.
In the tragic case that a person dies in a golf cart or car accident, his or her loved ones have the right to seek similar compensation for wrongful death.
Speak with a Villages Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash in Florida, 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.
