The Sarasota Police Department recently announced its intention to crack down on impaired drivers in its jurisdiction. The ramped-up enforcement efforts started in late August leading up to Labor Day weekend, which is one of the most dangerous driving weekends in terms of number of impaired drivers on roads across the United States.
Sarasota’s version of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign is focused on speeding and a variety of other traffic safety laws in addition to being sober behind the wheel. Police remind anyone who intends to go out and drink to have a plan to get home safely that does not involve them getting behind the wheel. That could include having a designated driver, hailing a cab, using a ride-sharing app or taking public transportation.
Impaired driving victims may seek compensation
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts everyone on the road at risk. A person who commits a DUI that results in injury or death faces significant criminal penalties, in addition to the results of any civil personal injury lawsuit a victim files against them.
Courts are generally sympathetic to DUI victims, and it’s common for them to seek to maximize the amount of compensation the victim can take home as an extra way to punish DUI offenders for their negligence. Fortunately for impaired driving victims, proving the defendant was negligent is a simpler process than in other types of accident cases, as there is public record of their drunkenness behind the wheel. Plus, if their criminal case already concluded, there is also likely evidence of their guilt that arose in that case.
For further guidance on the steps to take after an accident involving impaired driving, meet with a skilled Bradenton personal injury attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.