The CW 34 West Palm / CBS Channel 12 News reported recently that a five-car motor vehicle pileup crash occurred in Port St Lucie around lunchtime on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, allegedly caused by a man who had stolen the vehicle he was driving, had his license revoked five years ago and was also on…
According to Safer-America.com, someone is injured by a drunk driver every 2 minutes, and someone dies due to a drunk driver every 50 minutes. Drunk driving is extremely dangerous to you and to the public. Despite the harsh treatment given to people convicted of DUI and the social stigma of driving drunk, people still do it.
On this page, we curate some of these tragic stories from Florida news sources. All sources are cited in the original articles. But what can you do about it?
First, if you do like to drink alcohol then you must take responsibility for your state. Do not allow yourself to drive when drunk for any reason. If you are a social drinker, take a taxi, ride-share, or carpool with a sober friend so you can get home safely. Leave the car at home!
If you like to drink at home, give your keys to someone sober so you are not tempted to drive. Never drink alone at home; you could lose your judgment and get behind the wheel. You could save your life.
Sometimes people end up over the limit because a restaurant or bar served a drink that was too strong for you. If you cannot wait to sober up, ask the staff to call you a taxi. These establishments have a duty to protect their patrons. A bar that negligently lets a drunk person get behind the wheel can be held liable in some cases.
The best option? Don’t drink at all. Acting as a designated driver can help you save the life of your friends and earns you the respect of the community. Some bars and restaurants may also give you complimentary drinks in thanks. Non-alcoholic, of course.
Temple Terrace Woman Charged For Fatal Wreck
The Tampa Bay Reporter reported recently that a woman accused of driving while intoxicated (DUI) on Christmas Eve and causing a wreck that killed a man from Clearwater and seriously injured herself has been charged with several felonies following the deadly incident. According to officials with the Florida Highway Patrol and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s…
DUI Driver Allegedly To Blame For Fatal Pileup
The Tampa Bay News reported recently that a man has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) as well as other charges after a deadly St Petersburg accident on Wednesday, December 16 that was responsible for the death of one driver and injuries to others. According to officials with the Florida Highway Patrol, a…
DUI Accident Kills Motorcyclist
The Tampa Bay Reporter recently reported that a New Port Richey woman was arrested recently by Florida Highway Patrol troopers for her role in a motor vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 19 that killed a motorcyclist on the day after Thanksgiving. A New Port Richey woman, 24 years of age, was charged with one count…
Accident That Killed Two Teen Girls May Have Involved Alcohol
Any auto accident that results in a fatality is both a tragic and traumatic event. If the accident involves alcohol, prosecutors in Florida are likely to vigorously prosecute the driver. One of the charges that the driver can face is DUI manslaughter. If convicted, Florida state law mandates a four-year minimum prison sentence. The maximum…
Deadly Crash Revealed to be Caused By DUI
In Florida, if an accident results from a person’s decision to drive while intoxicated, the justice system allows for two different types of compensation. An injured party may be entitled to both compensatory and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are intended to cover specific losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and…
Man Stops Vehicle in The Middle of the Highway With Fatal Results
Florida has some of the toughest DUI penalties in the nation. A first time DUI comes with the penalties of a fine that is not less than $500 nor more than $1,000. If a person’s blood-alcohol level is more than 0.15, the fine is increased to $1,000 to $2,000. Imprisonment can range from 8 hours…