According to a recent News Chief article, last Sunday morning, July 12, 2009, Robert Edward Stewart, age 51, of Sand Pine Trail in Lake Wales, FL, was charged with DUI manslaughter and fleeing the scene of a crash.
Stewart was traveling on U.S. 27, approximately two miles south of Presidents Drive in Lake Wales, FL when he struck and killed 19-year-old Luis Francisco Rivera, a walking pedestrian who was walking along the west shoulder of the road.
Evidence revels Stewart swerved outside the lane when he struck Rivera, who was walking in the direction of the westbound traffic flow on U.S. 27, in Lake Wales, FL. Stewart was booked into the Polk County, FL Jail and was held without bond after fleeing the scene of the accident.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FDHSMV), the consequences for DUI Manslaughter are as follows:
A driver convicted of DUI Manslaughter, who knows or should have known that the offense occurred; and fails to give information or render aid is guilty of a First Degree Felony, punishable by a minimal $10,000 fine and/or 30 years imprisonment.
The aftermath of DUI manslaughter has serious consequences. It is expensive to get your license back and you could face jail time.
Suppose an individual is injured or killed because of a drunk driver. What about the victim? As in most cases, the victim may file a claim for bodily injury. Typically, the plaintiff seeks damages for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, as well as past and future pain and suffering. Additionally, Florida law permits the plaintiff injured by a drunk driver, to seek punitive damages. However, this can only be sought if the defendant receives a DUI conviction.
In my practice as a personal injury attorney, serving Polk County, FL, I represent victims of all accidents. If you have been injured in a DUI collision, it is important to seek the advice of an attorney and to know about your legal rights.
