The bodyguard reportedly fled the scene of the accident after his Chevy Tahoe crashed into a police cruiser. The bodyguard refused to take a Breathalyzer test and was subsequently taken into custody. The Miami Herald reports that this bodyguard has a record of criminal misconduct. For example, he was arrested twice for disorderly conduct.

Unfortunately, serious auto accidents involving intoxicated drivers is a common occurrence in Florida, and across the country. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than two percent of people surveyed in Florida admit to driving after consuming too much alcohol. Nationally, just under two percent admit taking the same risk.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone is seriously injured in a drunk driving accident every 90 seconds. Over 600,000 people were killed in drunk driving accidents in 2014, which equates to a one deadly car accident every 53 minutes.

What To Do If You are Hit by a Drunk Driver in Miami

If you or a family member was involved in a collision with an intoxicated driver, you have the right to pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses, which can be quite extensive in a car wreck. Many car accident victims wind up suffering debilitating injuries such as:

• Brain trauma or head wounds
• Spinal cord damage
• Broken bones
• Torn muscles and ligaments
• Lost limbs

These injuries can result in significant medical bills, time missed from work, and other damages.

This is why you can pursue financial compensation for the following harms and losses:

• Medical bills, including the immediate care you received after the collision at an ER, the ambulance bill, prescription medication costs, physical therapy, surgery, etc.
• Lost wages and future wages
• Damages for pain, suffering and mental anguish

Drunk Driving Accident May Make Punitive Damages Available

When someone causes a serious accident as a result of being intoxicated, it may be possible to pursue punitive damages against the intoxicated driver. You may be asking yourself, “what are punitive damages?” Well, they are basically money damages designed to punish the wrongdoer.

In most cases, punitive damages are not pursued because there is a higher evidentiary burden and there is a statutory cap on damages. However, in the context of a drunk driving auto accident, the restrictions and limitations associated with a punitive damage award are not applicable, according to Florida Statute 768.736.

Contact a Miami Drunk Driving Accident Injury Lawyer Today

As you can see, when you or a family member is injured by a drunk driver, you have legal options and may be able to obtain compensation above and beyond what is typically awarded in other personal injury cases. To learn more about your legal options, contact the Miami drunk driving car accident injury lawyers at the office of Alan Goldfarb, P.A. to schedule a free consultation.

Resource:

miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/west-kendall/article187265848.html

An intoxicated driver operating a Hyundai Sonata crashed into a Toyota being driven by a 20-year-old man and carrying a passenger. The driver of the Toyota died at the scene while the passenger had to be transported to Kendall Regional Medical Center for treatment of his injuries, according to ABC 10 News.

Deepest condolences go out to the friends and family of the victim who lost his life in this preventable car crash.

Each and every year, thousands of Floridians are injured or lose their lives in alcohol-related automobile collisions. For example, there were over 16,800 automobile accidents in Florida in 2014 involving at least one driver under the influence of alcohol. Of those 16,000+ car accidents, more than 11,000 people suffered injuries and over 800 people died, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Drunk driving is not a problem relegated to Florida. Across the country, thousands of people are injured or die in drunk driving-related car wrecks. For example, approximately 10,265 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving accidents in 2015, according to the CDC.

Take Legal Action to Hold the Drunk Driver Accountable

As you can see, drunk driving is a serious public safety issue and one of the ways to send a signal that this type of behavior will not be tolerated is holding the drunk driver accountable in court. Most drunk drivers face criminal charges brought by the state, but you also have the right to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit in a civil court to obtain money damages. You can pursue financial restitution for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. If you lost a loved one in a drunk driving accident, you can pursue compensation for the income that would have been earned by the decedent, along with funeral expenses and the loss of companionship, guidance, and support provided by the decedent.

Liability may also extend beyond the intoxicated driver. For example, if there is evidence that a bar, night club or restaurant continued to serve alcohol to the at-fault driver after realizing they were heavily intoxicated, it may be possible to hold the establishment liable, at least in part, for your harms and losses.

Learn More About Your Legal Rights by Contacting an Experienced Miami Car Accident Lawyer

The attorneys at the law office of Alan Goldfarb, P.A. in Miami are passionate about helping the injured in their time of need. Our legal team will take the time to sit down and talk with you about the facts and legal strategies that may be viable in your case. Our consultations are completely free and we work on contingent fee agreements, which means you owe us no money upfront and only pay when we obtain a financial recovery for you.

Resources:

local10.com/traffic/man-killed-in-crash-in-southwest-miami-dade-by-possible-drunken-driver

nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/cnmi_fy2015ar.pdf

cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html