Wrongful Death Charges related to DUI

Driving fatalities occur all too often in this country, with 40,000 deaths predicted for this year alone. The harrowing statistics in Florida are the third worst in the nation, topping 1,500 traffic deaths between the months of January and June of 2016. No collision fatality is easy to accept. But when drugs or alcohol are involved, the anger and revulsion related to the incident escalate. An experienced attorney can assist you with the legal issues associated with such a tragedy.

Recent DUI Fatalities in Florida News

• Don Rogers was the lucky one. He was not injured in the DUI accident. Nonetheless, the Tampa resident has sleepless nights after witnessing the fireball that resulted when a drunk driver careened across a grass median and caused another vehicle to smash into oncoming traffic. When one car burst into flames, Rogers rushed to the scene to attempt to help the driver out of the car. But he was too late: the driver, his wife, and their young child were all killed in the explosion.
• A 27-year-old man operating a scooter was killed and his scooter demolished by a drunk driver who was traveling at 107 miles per hour. The driver’s blood alcohol level was more than double the legal limit.
• When a Florida man flew through an intersection and smashed into a guardrail, his vehicle toppled into a nearby canal, becoming submerged in just moments. His teenage passenger was killed in the accident. The driver’s blood alcohol level was .233.
• When a drunk Sumter County man drove his golf cart recklessly, his female passenger was knocked out of the cart and dragged before the driver realized what had happened and tried to conceal her wounded body under nearby bushes on the course. The woman died as a result of her injuries days later.
• A 27-year-old bicyclist was killed when a Chevy pickup careened into him after running a red light at an intersection. The driver, who was drunk, left the scene, but was later captured and arrested.

Wrongful Death Charges 

In addition to criminal charges that may be filed in cases such as these, wrongful death claims may be filed in civil court. Such a suit is generally based on the negligence of a person, which resulted in the death of a loved one. The suit may be filed by the estate of the deceased, and may result in damages being paid to the spouse, children, parents, or other adoptive siblings or blood relatives who depended on the support of the deceased. Damages may potentially be awarded to address numerous issues:

• Medical expenses;
• Funeral costs;
• Lost wages;
• Future earnings;
• The value of services and/or support provided by the deceased;
• Loss of companionship (spouse);
• Loss of guidance and protection (minor children).

Your Legal Advocate

If you have suffered the loss of a loved one due to negligence, you need the aggressive legal team at Barbas, Nunez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian on your side. Our legal team understands the issues associated with wrongful death and drunk driving, and will fight for the best possible outcomes for your grieving family. Contact us today in Tampa for a free, empathetic consultation.

Resources:

usnews.com/news/best-states/florida/articles/2017-08-11/3-die-in-fiery-dui-crash-on-florida-expressway

sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-sb-hollywood-scooter-dui-manslaughter-20170721-story.html

palmbeachpost.com/news/crime–law/now-driver-times-over-dui-limit-wreck-that-killed-west-palm-teen/MS7ieeZgiDfGyoHdu1ZsaL/

wfla.com/2017/12/01/fatal-crash-shuts-down-sr-52-in-hudson/

nbc-2.com/story/35980614/well-known-fort-myers-woman-killed-in-fatal-drunken-hit-and-run