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Florida Drunk Driving Victims
It is not surprising that Florida's criminal penalties for drunk driving are among the toughest in the nation. The expenses of alcohol-related vehicular accidents are often much higher than those that do not.
June 04, 2009 /Hispanic PR News/ -- Florida Drunk Driving Victims
Article provided by Baird Law Group, please visit us at http://www.bairdfirm.com
Florida is the destination of choice for many people and for many reasons: pristine beaches, tropical winters, business conventions, ocean cruises, retirement communities, spring break, international ports, and commercial and agricultural prosperity, to name some of the more obvious draws of this beautiful state. But the movement of people within the state leads to heavy traffic on its highways and the inevitability of accidents. Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents in Florida are a menacing threat to the traveling public.
The Numbers
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 28 percent of Florida's 3,214 crash fatalities in 2007 were "alcohol-impaired driving fatalities," involving blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher (the legal limit in Florida and nationwide). By contrast, the state with the lowest percentage of crash fatalities involving alcohol had only 17 percent. Thus, a relatively high proportion of Florida's fatal crashes are alcohol related as compared with other states.
In 2007 traffic crashes, according to the state of Florida:
• Number of alcohol-related fatalities: 1,244
• Number of alcohol-related injuries: 16,208
• Number of alcohol-related crashes: 22,823
• Counties with the highest numbers of alcohol-related crashes: Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach and Pinellas
• Fatal motor vehicle accidents occurring after dark: 77 percent
Given these harsh facts, it is not surprising that Florida's criminal penalties for drunk driving are among the toughest in the nation. It also has programs aimed at alcohol treatment of DUI offenders with an eye toward future accident prevention. And while punishment and rehabilitation are of the utmost importance, how the state deals with offending drivers in the criminal context does little to help the victims of these accidents, often struggling with horrific injuries, medical expenses, property destruction, job loss, depression and more.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Floridians involved in serious drunk driving accidents are at high risk of traumatic spinal cord injury. According to the Mayo Clinic and the National Institute of Health, 50 percent of spinal cord injuries are caused by auto and motorcycle accidents. When the driver in such a crash is impaired by alcohol, the resulting decreased reaction time can cause late braking and higher speed upon impact. Sometimes even a small amount of alcohol can have a devastating affect on alertness, accuracy, judgment and visual acuity.
Severe physical trauma from such a car accident can squeeze, crush or fracture vertebrae and cause permanent paralysis. Depending upon the part of the spine injured, the patient can be completely paralyzed (quadriplegia) or paralyzed from the waist down (paraplegia). Unfortunately, spinal cord damage is largely irreversible, although some improvement is possible depending on the circumstances.
Characteristics of spinal cord injuries:
• In addition to the initial traumatic injury, additional physical damage can continue for weeks after the accident with harmful changes to the immune and nervous systems.
• Symptoms and complications can include loss of sensation or movement, inflammation, low blood pressure, low heart rate or other heart dangers, acute and chronic pain, bowel and bladder problems, breathing issues, potentially fatal pneumonia, blood clots, muscle spasticity or paralysis, pressure sores, sexual or reproductive dysfunction, stroke or seizure, obesity and mental health issues. Not surprisingly, persons with spinal cord injuries are at higher risk for suicide.
• Injury can be complete with no remaining functioning in the body below the injury, incomplete or partial with some communication ability remaining between the brain and spinal cord.
• Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment to regain as much of a normal life as possible can include medication, immobilization, surgery, psychological support, physical therapy, vocational rehabilitation and recreational therapy. Often the ability to perform the most basic life activities is compromised.
• Spinal cord victims often need to use medical equipment like wheelchairs and a wide variety of computer technology to assist with activities of daily living.
The Importance of Legal Counsel
The expenses of alcohol-related vehicular accidents are often much higher than those that do not. The physical and medical results when alcohol is involved tend to be worse, with a higher risk of severe or fatal consequences. If you or someone you love is the victim of an auto wreck with a drunk driver in Florida, be sure to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to preserve and fight for your right to damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, property loss, pain and suffering and, in the worst case, wrongful death. If the resulting injury is to the spinal cord, there may also be a fight with responsible parties and insurers to cover expensive assistive technology.
Article provided by Baird Law Group, please visit us at http://www.bairdfirm.com
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