A Florida man received an eight-year prison sentence after causing a drunk driving accident that resulted in the death of another. According to the report, the accident occurred in February 2011 at approximately 3:30 a.m. on the MacArthur Causeway eastbound lanes. The man was driving the wrong way after drinking at a bar when he collided head-on with a vehicle, killing the 26-year-old driver.
The prosecution told the judge that the driver who was allegedly responsible for the accident had a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit. The defense, however, also claimed that the deceased man’s blood alcohol level was over the legal limit when the accident occurred. The judge stated that they did not believe that a maximum prison sentence was appropriate for this particular case but also stated that two to four years was not appropriate either. In addition to the eight years of prison, the man was also sentenced to seven years of probation and a permanent loss of his driving privileges.
Car accidents can have serious consequences for all of those involved. Those who are involved in an accident may suffer from life-changing injuries, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and even paralysis. In the worst cases, the individual may die as a result of their injuries.
Family members who lose a loved one in a car accident may be eligible to seek compensation for their loss by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. While compensation cannot bring back a lost loved one, the compensation might help the family cover a wide range of damages associated with the accident, including funeral expenses, any medical costs resulting from the attempt to save the person’s life and even loss of companionship.
Source: WSVN-TV, “Man sentenced in fatal wrong-way crash”, December 10, 2013