Florida Drunk Driver Sentenced in DUI Manslaughter

A 20 year-old man, A. C., was sentenced to six years in prison for killing a pair of newlyweds in a car crash in Orlando in June of this year. The couple had stopped their car at a red light when A. C. rear-ended them, killing the 24 year-old woman instantly. Her 30 year-old husband died two days later in a local hospital. A.C.'s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was still three times the legal limit four hours after the crash. He was apparently so intoxicated that he did not know he had been in an accident and thought he was being pulled over for speeding. According to news reports, he did not stop after slamming into the couple at high speeds of between 80 and 100 miles per hour. He was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of DUI manslaughter.

A.C. could have been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison which is the maximum sentence in Florida for DUI manslaughter. According to the Florida DMV, 33,625 DUI convictions occurred in the state in 2011. In 2010, Miami-Dade experienced 2,274 DUI convictions. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) estimates that 30 percent of all traffic deaths in the state are alcohol-related. In Florida, those drunk drivers who wind up killing another may be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and / or fines of up to $10,000. DUI manslaughter is charged as a second-degree felony in the state.

Personal Injury Firm Serving Miami, Florida

Drunk driving is just one form of negligence which can lead to a personal injury or wrongful death claim by victims. Other types of negligence include speeding, disobeying other traffic laws, texting or cell phone usage while driving, driver inattention, defective auto parts and road design, and poor road maintenance. Those who are harmed through negligence, carelessness, or other misconduct can pursue justice through legal action and, with the assistance of a skilled attorney, can obtain legal compensation that is fair and just.

The Law Offices of Maria L. Rubio is a personal injury firm serving those in and around Miami. Lead attorney Maria Rubio has more than two decades of experience in this field. Due to her legal ability and excellent case results, she has been included in Super Lawyers elite list of top lawyers. This recognition is achieved by only a small percentage of lawyers in each state. To find out more about how Ms. Rubio and her legal team can assist you in the wake of any personal injury incident, contact the firm for a free case evaluation. Learn more about your legal rights and the best way to proceed with your potential claim.