Fort Lauderdale, Florida (PRWEB) January 26, 2014
Just before the end of 2013, the estranged wife of George Zimmerman—the man famously accused and acquitted of the murder of Trayvon Martin—is back in the news. According to a report by the New York Daily News on December 28, 2013 (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/shellie-zimmerman-injured-alleged-drunk-driver-article-1.1560316), Shellie Zimmerman was involved in a car accident with another vehicle around 11 a.m. on Friday, December 27th when the other driver ran a red light and crashed into Zimmerman. The accident occurred in Winter Park.
The other driver, who initially refused to consent to the requested alcohol breath test, was arrested on drunk driving charges after the officer on the scene noticed unopened bottles of beer in the driver’s car. Despite the driver’s insistence that he had only consumed one beer, the officer took him in for DUI related charges because he was “off balance and had difficulty speaking clearly.” Shellie Zimmerman suffered only minor injuries and will likely experience a quick recovery.
Drunk Driving Car Accidents Spike over the Holiday Season
Drunk driving is defined by Florida law as operating a motor vehicle on any public road with blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or greater. It is also possible to be cited for DUI while operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs, regardless of whether the drugs are prescribed or illicit. In these cases, an officer may require a blood test to confirm the presence of drugs.
Across Florida, and the U.S. as a whole, drunk driving accidents spike during the end of December and into the New Year. Of course, this is due to all the time off that most employees have during this time period, as well as the multitude of holiday parties and family gatherings. When people celebrate, they consume alcohol; but that isn’t necessarily a problem.
A problem arises when someone who is drinking gets behind the wheel and decides to drive, despite their impairment. According to local officials, in Broward County alone, there is an average of about 1,000 DUI or DUI related arrests each year. Expand that statistic to all of Florida, and the figure skyrockets to almost 36,000. Many of these occur over this holiday season.
What To Do if You Have Been Involved in a Drunk Driving Accident
If someone was recently involved in a drunk driving accident, chances are they are still recovering from their injuries. On top of the injuries you sustained, there is the added stress of the insurance forms, doctors visits, and searching for a new car.
The good news is that the laws of Florida are on your side, as an accident victim. Florida law allows for victims of drunk drivers to recover monetary damages to help cover the costs of past medical bills, future medical expenses, as well as any pain and suffering caused by the accident.
Contact an Attorney Today
AskMyAttorneys provides experienced accident attorney in Broward County and surrounding communities including Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Sunrise, Plantation, and Weston. Call for a Free Consultation or schedule an appointment on line, today.
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