Driving under the influence of alcohol in Florida can have severe consequences. When an impaired driver causes an accident in which serious injuries occur, or lives are lost, the outlook may appear bleak. Facing DUI manslaughter charges is serious, and it is always a good idea for an accused driver to secure legal counsel to protect all applicable legal rights.
A 23-year-old woman from South Florida was recently arrested after a crash that caused the death of a passenger in another car. According to a crash report, the accident occurred on a recent Saturday evening. The report indicates that the woman rear-ended another vehicle, pushing it into the median.
Law enforcement at the scene says the force of the impact was so severe that it sent the other car flying over the median before it slammed into a fence. Prosecutors say the chain-link barrier penetrated the other vehicle on the passenger side before impaling the woman in the passenger seat. The victim was rushed to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries.
Officers claim the driver failed the field sobriety tests, and her blood alcohol content measured more than double the legal limit of .08% when a Breathalyzer test was administered several hours later. Anyone in similar circumstances will likely recognize the need for a criminal defense attorney. A Florida lawyer with experience in dealing with DUI manslaughter cases can establish a strong defense after scrutinizing the facts of the case and the procedures used by law enforcement during any field sobriety test, Breathalyzer test and the arrest process.
