Florida Drunk Driving Accident Lawyers
Drunk Driving Accidents
With more than 18 million residents and 15 million licensed drivers in Florida, our roads are some of the busiest in the country.
The high number of passenger vehicles means it is very likely that some of the motorists on the road are driving under the influence of alcohol or are impaired by drugs, or both.
With about one in three traffic fatalities involving an impaired driver, it is not unlikely that at some time in your life your or a loved one could be involved in a collision with a drunk or impaired driver.
Hundreds of people come into our offices at Farah & Farah after such tragedies. From the loss of a loved one to the astronomical medical bills, lost wages, and crippling injuries. These lives are shattered when a father, son, mother, teen or other relative dies in a head-on collision, a rollover, a side impact, or rear-end collision. It is a pain they will never get over.
In Florida in 2008, there were 1,169 alcohol-related fatalities. The Florida Highway Patrol reports as many as 39.5% of traffic fatalities were alcohol-related. In Florida in 2008, 15,736 injuries resulted from the 22,259 auto crashes involving alcohol.
Drivers in age group 20 to 24 who had been drinking had the highest rate per 10,000 licensed drivers of crash involvement (22.76) and the highest rate of fatal crashes, according to state statistics.
The limit for DUI or driving under the influence is 0.08 blood alcohol count or BAC. And we should remember that not only alcohol but prescription medication, illegal drugs, and over-the-counter medication, mixed with alcohol, or not, also result in an impaired driver.
We find of the passenger vehicle occupant fatalities involving impaired driving crashes, 58 % were in rural areas where there is a lower percentage of seat belt use.
Drinking is a major problem with pedestrians in traffic crashes. 10.3% (922) of all pedestrians in crashes (8,951) had been drinking and 36.25% (182) of all pedestrian fatalities (502) had been drinking, according to 2008 state statistics.
Drunk driving may actually give the driver a sense of empowerment and put caution to the wind. The end result can be an excessively aggressive driver, tailgating, passing when there is not adequate room or warning of what's ahead.
Drunk driving crashes repeatedly involve the same driver, so much so, that the state allows for a fine schedule for a first, second and third conviction. A third DUI can bring you an impoundment of your car up to 90 days. By the fourth or subsequent DUI, a Third Degree Felony charge can lead to a $5,000 fine and/or 5 years in prison.
Unfortunately it often is these repeat offenders who cause the bodily injury and death that finally gets them off the road for good, taking other innocent victims with them.
If you or a loved one has been injured by an impaired driver, you may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering as well as property damage and the loss of employment. The Jacksonville traffic accident attorneys at Farah & Farah will speak to you at your convenience in an office nearest you.
Please visit our Jacksonville Florida Car Accident Website for more info.
Our personal promise: Accident victims have specific rights, but by law you have a limited time to take action. When you use our team at Farah & Farah, there are NO up-front charges.
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Our fee is a percentage of the money awarded payable only when your case is successfully concluded. No matter how many times you call and how long we talk, there is NO CHARGE or cost until your case settles. Do not sign any releases, agreements or give any statements until you have spoken with us about your legal rights. When it comes to getting you more, we won't settle for less!
We personally promise that you will be treated with the respect and dignity you deserve. We promise to keep you up to date and informed as to developments in your case. Your case is important to us, regardless of size.
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