Florida takes the crime of driving under the influence very seriously. Most of the time, a DUI charge is a simple misdemeanor charge. However, there are circumstances that can turn even a first time DUI into a felony in Florida. One of these circumstances is if there are serious injuries in a DUI crash. Another circumstance is if someone is killed in the accident. In Florida, a DUI manslaughter charge is a felony punishable by a minimum of four years in state prison. The guilty driver will also be subject to expensive fines and fees and will lose their driver’s license for at least three years.
The International Business Times reports that a mother has been arrested after a suspected DUI crash killed her 3-year-old daughter.
30-year-old Leslie Joe Zeagler was arrested on April 20th in connection with a fatal February 17th accident.
On the night of February 17th, Zeagler was driving a minivan with her daughter as a passenger when she blacked out allegedly due to intoxication. Her three-year-old daughter was unrestrained at the time of the accident, which occurred when the van struck a palm tree.
The child was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The mother was taken to a hospital for the treatment of minor injuries.
At the time of the crash, Zeagler was allegedly under the influence of several controlled substances.
Zeagler surrendered herself. She is facing charges of aggravated manslaughter of a child, driving under the influence, and driving on a suspended license.
Uninsured Drunk Driving Accidents: How to Seek Compensation You can seek financial compensation after getting hit by an uninsured drunk driver. One of your first options is to seek benefits from your insurance policy. You can also sue the driver, who must pay you from their assets. A Fort Lauderdale drunk driving lawyer from our law firm can also determine if someone else is...
Punitive Damages in Florida DUI Accident Cases Drunk drivers can wreak havoc on Florida roads, causing serious, potentially life-threatening injuries and catastrophic property damage. A driver who gets behind the wheel with a blood alcohol level that exceeds the state’s limitations cannot safely operate their vehicle. They, and their insurance company, can be held accountable for their actions and your resulting expenses...
How Many Accidents Are Caused by Drunk Driving? According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019, 10,142 people died in drunk driving accidents nationwide. That equals about one fatality every 52 minutes. In 2019, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) says that drunk driving caused 4,984 collisions, 351 of which were fatal. If you...
Florida Dram Shop Laws Dram shop laws refer to the statutes governing the liability of places that sell alcohol. In an accident, like a drunk driving accident, these laws can dictate whether you can file a lawsuit against the dram shop for serving the person who injured you. These laws differ by state, so Florida has its laws with...