The tragic deaths of four members of an Orlando family in a Florida drunk driving accident is a stark reminder of how far Florida has to go in preventing the senseless tragedies that frequently occur when someone climbs behind the wheel after having too much to drink.
CNN reports that a father and three sons were killed last Saturday night, while enjoying a guy’s night out at the movies in St. Petersburg. The entire family had rented a cottage. Wives and children are left behind to pick up the pieces.
All four men — ages 51, 28, 24 and 19 — were killed by an accused drunk driver who allegedly ran a red light.
Our Palm Beach injury lawyers and St. Lucie car accident attorneys are dedicated to fighting for the rights of motorists who have been injured or killed in traffic accidents caused by drunk drivers.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recently trumpeted the decline in drunk driving accidents last year: Deaths dropped to 1,004 from 1,169. Yet drunk driving accidents were still responsible for nearly half of the state’s 2,563 traffic fatalities.
More than 20,000 drunk driving accidents occurred in Florida last year, injuring more than 14,000 motorists. That is more than 54 drunk driving crashes every single day.
When national statistics are released in the coming weeks, Florida is likely to remain one of the most dangerous states in the nation for drunk driving accidents. To add insult to injury, the legislature recently passed a law allowing a motorist convicted of four or more DUIs to regain the right to drive. Previously, such habitual offenders faced lifetime loss of their driving privileges.
Nearly one-third of all accidents in the state occur between Palm Beach and Miami, putting this area at extreme risk for serious and fatal drunk driving accidents.
Freeman & Mallard is a personal injury and wrongful death law firm dedicated to helping motorists who have been injured in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and the Port St. Lucie/Fort Pierce areas. Call today for a free consultation. 1-800-529-2368.