Articles Posted in DUI Car Accidents

Facing a DUI charge can be frightening. This may be your first run in with the law, and facing the criminal justice can be a terrifying experience because you have never done so before.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, on Halloween night during the years 2015-2019, 126 people were killed in DUI accidents. Moreover, drunk drivers operating vehicles with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher are responsible for 38% of deaths on Halloween night.

With so many fatalities resulting from drivers operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs on Halloween night, it is much more common nowadays to see local police setting up more DUI checkpoints to scout any drunk drivers.

The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a recommendation for all new cars in the U.S. to have blood alcohol detection systems that can stop a drunk person who gets behind the wheel from driving.

If the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) chooses to see this through, then the U.S. could see a reduced number of alcohol-related car crashes, which is one of the leading causes of deaths in the country.

The NHTSA said that highway deaths in the U.S. are at crisis level, as nearly 43,000 people were killed last year, resulting in the largest death toll in 16 years.

Early numbers from the first half of 2022 show another rise in fatalities, but from April to June the numbers fell, a trend that authorities hope continues.

If these new blood alcohol detection systems are implemented, then we could see them in new vehicles in as early as three years from now.

While the NTSB has been pushing the NHTSA to implement this new technology and develop a standard so that more lives can be saved, the agency, along with 16 automakers have been co-funding research on the topic since 2008.

The team, named “Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety,” has hired a Swedish company to make further strides in testing a driver’s breath using a sensor (not breathing into a tube) and preventing the car from moving if the driver is found to be impaired.

Another company is working on light technology that would test for a driver’s blood alcohol through their finger.

Estimates show that breath technology advancements could be ready by the end of 2024, and touch technology is slated for 2025/2026. Once the technology is ready, the it will likely take automakers 1-2 years to start adding it into new models.

Even when the technology is ready, it will take years for the estimated 280 million vehicles on U.S. roads to be equipped with these devices.

2020 has the most recent figures available for traffic deaths, and according to the NHTSA, 11,654 people died in DUI-related crashes that year. These numbers roughly reflect a 30% increase in all U.S. traffic deaths, and a 14% increase compared to numbers from 2019.

You can follow all the rules of the road when it comes to driving and do everything in your power to protect yourself and your passengers, but an irresponsible drunk driver can change your life in a matter of seconds. Whether you were on your way to pick up your kids, coming home from dinner, or just out running errands, a drunk driver’s actions can leave you with mounting medical bills, missed time from work, and even the grief and anguish of having a loved one taken from you unexpectedly.

Why Do I Need a Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer? Continue reading

A 29-year-old man that allegedly caused a fatal traffic crash in Avon Park in 2007 fled the country before he could be prosecuted, according to reports. 

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) says the man was driving drunk when he caused the collision. His alleged blood-alcohol content was nearly four times the legal limit of .08. 

The man was arrested just outside of Mexico City on Monday after eluding police for nearly a decade. The United States Marshals Service brought him back to the United States, where he now faces very serious charges of DUI manslaughter, property damage, and driving with a suspended license where death is involved. 

The man posted bail of $10,000 two days after being arrested in 2007 and then fled the country. 

Troopers believe the man killed a man and woman on June 30, 2007, when the man’s Cadillac struck the vehicle the pair were travelling north in. 

The man apparently tried to flee the scene after the crash, but was unable to do so because of his injuries. He has two previous DUI charges on his record – one in 2001 and one in 2004. 

The FHP did not go into detail on how the man was captured. The man is now 43-years-old.

Thousands of people are killed every year across the United States in DUI crashes and countless others are injured. DUI victims face a variety of challenges after an accident changes their lives, which is why you need a Florida Injury Lawyer for Victims of DUI at Whittel & Melton to help you fight for your rights when you need it the most. Our team of seasoned personal injury and wrongful death lawyers have handled numerous DUI cases and recovered financial compensation for victims and their families. We are proud to help real people just like you after an accident with a drunk driver has changed their lives.  The negligent driver responsible for the accident can face criminal charges, but victims may also be able to file a civil lawsuit against the at-fault driver and their insurance company for damages, including: 

• Property damage
• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Wrongful death
• Possible punitive damages

PLEASE BE ADVISED: When an insurance company calls you following a DUI accident, this is to help them limit their damages owed to you (the victim). We strongly recommend waiting to speak to the other side until you have retained a lawyer that can walk you through handling insurance adjusters. We don’t want to see your damages get reduced just because you said something that was misconstrued. If you get a call from an insurance adjuster, you can politely inform them that you are not ready to speak with them at this time and that you will have your attorney contact them in the future.  

Drunk driving personal injury and wrongful death cases can be the most devastating types of cases a person will ever endure. We know the difficulties involved in these cases and are equipped to fight to the finish for the full and fair damages that you are owed. While nothing we do can undo the damage already done, we can help to make your future better and hold the negligent driver responsible so that they make better decisions moving forward.  Continue reading