Late last month, a suspected drunk driver hit and killed one Florida teen and injured several others in a hit-and-run accident. According to a local news report, the accident occurred in Polk County, near the intersection of Allegheny Road and Athbasca Drive.
Evidently, the motorist was operating a Kia Rio when witnesses say he leaned forward in the driver’s seat, losing control of the vehicle and driving off the road’s right shoulder. A few moments later, several children who had recently exited the bus at their designated bus stop were struck. An investigation after the accident indicated that there was no pre-collision braking, and the children all seemed to be off the road at the time of the collision.
After the car struck the children, the driver apparently regained awareness and proceeded to flee the scene. A witness to the accident followed the driver, who later crashed into another vehicle before coming to a stop. Police arrived on the scene and arrested the driver, whose blood-alcohol content was approximately twice the legal limit. The driver was charged with several offenses, including DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
In all, five students were involved in the accident. One 13-year-old was later pronounced dead at the hospital, and another teen is still in the intensive care unit. The remaining victims are expected to fully recover from their injuries.
Florida Drunk Driving Accidents
Florida motorists have a duty to those with whom they share the road to safely operate their vehicles. When a driver gets behind the wheel after having too much to drink, he is violating that duty. In Florida, the maximum legal blood-alcohol content is .08. However, a driver may still be liable if their blood-alcohol content is lower than the legal limit if it can be shown that the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle was compromised due to alcohol or that the driver was otherwise negligent.
In order to be successful in a Florida drunk driving accident case, the plaintiff must be able to show that the at-fault driver was somehow negligent and that the driver’s negligence was the cause of their injuries. In cases in which the other driver was cited for a traffic citation or criminally charged for something like drunk driving, a plaintiff may have an easier time proving their case because negligence can be inferred by the infraction or commission of the criminal offense.
Have You Been a Victim of a Florida Drunk Driving Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Florida car accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The skilled personal injury and wrongful death attorneys at the South Florida law firm of Cecere Santana have decades of collective experience assisting injured Floridians in seeking the compensation they deserve. Call 800-753-5529 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with a dedicated attorney today. Calling is free, and we will not bill you for our services unless we are able to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.
More Blog Posts:
Determining the Liability of Children for Accidents in Florida, Cecere Santana Injury Lawyers Blog, published April 27, 2017.
Florida Appellate Court Reverses Lower Court’s Decision, Allowing Premises Liability Case To Proceed to Trial, Cecere Santana Injury Lawyers Blog, published April 10, 2017.
