Tampa DUI Car Accident Highlights the Importance of Knowing Your Rights After a Serious Crash
A recent DUI car accident in Tampa serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences impaired driving can have on innocent Tampa drivers and others on the road. According to reports, deputies arrested a suspected drunk driver after he allegedly rear-ended a sedan, causing it to collide head-on with an SUV. Authorities say the driver then crashed into a fence and fled the scene on foot before being located and arrested approximately one mile away.
Two people were transported to the hospital, including one driver who suffered critical injuries and another who sustained serious injuries. Tampa deputies reported that the suspect later provided breath samples measuring .287 and .283, more than three times Florida’s legal limit, and now faces multiple DUI and leaving-the-scene charges.
While the criminal case will proceed through the courts, the dangerous DUI-involved car accident also highlights the legal rights available to Tampa car accident victims injured by impaired drivers.
Drunk Driving Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries
Alcohol affects a driver’s judgment, reaction time, coordination, and ability to safely operate a vehicle. As a result, DUI car accidents in Tampa often occur at high speeds or involve little or no attempt to avoid impact. Tampa car accident victims may suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and other life-changing conditions that require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
In many cases, the physical, emotional, and financial consequences continue long after the car accident itself.
Criminal Charges Do Not Automatically Compensate Tampa Car Accident Victims
When a Tampa driver is arrested for DUI, many Tampa car accident victims assume the criminal case will resolve everything. However, in Tampa, criminal proceedings are designed to determine whether the driver violated the law and what penalties should apply. They generally do not compensate victims for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, or other accident-related losses.
Tampa car accident victims often need to pursue a separate civil claim under Florida personal injury laws to seek financial compensation.
Compensation May Be Available
If you were injured due to another driver’s actions, whether the driver was intoxicated or acted negligently, you may have important rights under Florida law. Depending on the circumstances of the car accident, compensation may be available for medical expenses, lost income, future medical care, pain and suffering, property damage, and other accident-related losses.
Every Tampa car accident case is different, making it important to understand your legal options before accepting an insurance company’s settlement offer.
Why You Should Contact a Lawyer as Soon as Possible
Following a serious car accident in Tampa, insurance companies may begin investigating the crash almost immediately. An experienced Tampa car accident lawyer can investigate the collision, preserve important evidence, communicate with insurance companies, and work to pursue the compensation available under Florida law. Acting promptly can also help preserve evidence and ensure important legal deadlines are not missed.
The sooner you understand your rights, the better positioned you will be to make informed decisions about your case.
Contact a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer at Florin Gray
If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident in Tampa, you do not have to face the aftermath alone. The experienced Tampa car accident lawyers at Florin Gray are committed to helping Tampa car accident victims protect their rights and pursue the compensation they deserve.
Contact Florin Gray today to speak with a lawyer about your rights, options, and next steps now.
Source:
wfla.com/news/hillsborough-county/alleged-drunk-driver-injures-2-in-head-on-collision-drives-through-fence-in-tampa-deputies/
