A series of high-profile drunk driving collisions has authorities concerned as we head into the heart of the holiday season.
This week, First Coast News reported the Florida Highway Patrol arrested a 46-year-old woman accused of causing a collision that killed a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office employee. The victim was driving with her husband and two children when the defendant’s vehicle reportedly struck the family’s car, causing it to rollover.
In South Florida, CBS4 Miami reports a Coral Springs firefighter is facing a DUI manslaughter charge, after allegedly driving into a group of motorcyclists on the Florida Turnpike after attending a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Closer to home, a Lee County man was arrested and accused of drunk driving Thanksgiving weekend after a crash at Summerlin Road and Pine Ridge Road. He told officers he thought he was in an Uber on the way to jail.
Our Fort Myers injury lawyers support Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other education and prevention efforts to keep intoxicated motorists off our roads. In addition to alcohol intoxication, driving under the influence of drugs has increasingly become a concern.
Drugged & Drunk Drivers Increase Road Risks
NBC2 reports the opioid crisis and relaxing marijuana laws have law enforcement officers trying to determine an arrest standard for driving high in Florida. Not only are there no state or nationwide standards or thresholds for determining whether a motorist is intoxicated by drugs, there is no requirement for motorists to provide a blood sample for testing unless a serious or fatal traffic collision has occurred.
Consulting an injury law firm in Fort Myers or Cape Coral can best protect your rights in the wake of a serious traffic collision. Determining causation is one critical factor in building a claim for damages. Identifying all responsible parties and associated insurance carriers is also critical, as is quantifying the full extent of damages, including lost wages, medical bills, pain and suffering and cost of rehabilitative care.
Preventing DUI Crashes in SWFL
Mothers Against Drunk Driving is encouraging every motorist to pledge not to drink and drive. Nationwide, the organization estimates more than 300,000 motorists drive while intoxicated each day, causing nearly 300,000 injuries and more than 10,000 deaths each year. Adult men and teenagers are most likely to drink and drive and parents are encouraged to talk frequently with their young drivers about the risks.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol are among the organizations that will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and blitz enforcement efforts through the New Year. The safest choice for motorists is to never drive after consuming any amount of alcohol. Today, there are more options than ever to reach your destination safely without driving intoxicated, including ride-sharing services such as Lyft and Uber.
Together we can make the roads safer and help prevent tragedy this holiday season. All of us at Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, wish you a safe and joyful holiday season.
If you or a loved one is injured, call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, at 1-800-646-1210.