A recent tragic accident in Florida is just another example of the deadly and intolerable consequences of drinking and driving. Families who lose loved ones in this manner have every right to feel outrage, and often, their grief finds outlet through the civil courts in the form of a wrongful death claim. When successful, these lawsuits not only provide victims some financial redress for their loss, but they may also send strong messages to those who persist in drinking and driving without concern for the lives of others.
A 30-year-old man is in jail waiting his day in court following a collision that took the life of a woman on a recent Sunday night. The man and his two friends had spent the day on the beach and consumed a bottle of gin. The trio got into the man’s Jeep and stopped at a local bar for more drinks. They were on their way to yet another bar, and witnesses say the man was passing other vehicles at a high rate of speed when the unthinkable happened.
A deadly collision
At about 10:15 that night, along the same stretch where the Jeep was traveling, a 62-year-old woman entered the roadway from a side street. The Jeep slammed into the back of the woman’s vehicle. The occupants of the Jeep suffered minor injuries, but the woman in the other vehicle was critically injured. She died at the hospital two hours later.
Police arrested the driver of the Jeep the next day. He is now facing numerous charges, including DUI manslaughter and DUI homicide. While no civil action or compensation can return a loved one to a grieving family, the benefits of a successful wrongful death case may be far-reaching.