DUI Manslaughter Victims and Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Florida

When a drunk driver causes a traffic crash that kills or injures an innocent person the criminal justice system seeks a criminal penalty. Waiting for justice in the criminal justice system can take years. The victim's family must deal with the death of a loved one while waiting for the traffic homicide investigators to charge the at fault driver with DUI manslaughter or DUI manslaughter leaving the scene of the accident. Sometimes the same drunk driver not only takes a life, but also leaves other victims that survive the crash but suffer serious bodily injury. 

In too many of these cases the DUI victims and their families feel victimized a second time by a maze of court dates, pre-trial motions and delays. At Levine and Glassman, P.A., our personal injury attorneys represent the victim and the victim's family of the DUI cases in the civil system to obtain money damages. Our attorneys file civil lawsuits in Florida against the drunk driver, the drunk driver's insurance company, the establishment that provided the alcohol to the driver, the individual who provide the vehicle to the drunk driver, or other third parties that can be held liable for damage.

The attorneys at Levine and Glassman represent the victims of DUI throughout Florida, including the greater Westen / Miami / Ft. Lauderdale area of South Florida. Contact our attorneys today for a free consultation to discuss the wrongful death or personal injury claim that often accompany a DUI manslaughter and traffic homicide investigation.

Acting Quickly to Protect Your Rights after a DUI Crash

Although some personal injury attorneys wait until the criminal case is resolved, our attorneys believe that acting quickly is often the best course of action. After our investigation in complete, our attorneys believe in filing the lawsuit quickly to preserve your rights. By believe that acting quickly allows your civil attorney to pursue the most aggressive and complete path to obtaining a full recovery for all of your damages, both present and future.  

Obtaining Qualified Representation Early in the Process

The attorneys at Levine and Glassman, P.A., are available to discuss the DUI manslaughter case with you today. Obtaining qualified representation as early in the process as possible is important for several reasons.

First, the person who caused the crash will certainly obtain a criminal defense attorney within a matter of days. Additionally, the at fault driver's insurance company will start working on the case immediately. The family of anyone injured or killed in the crash should also obtain a personal injury attorney to begin working on the case to protect their rights.

Often the family is more concerned about obtaining justice in the criminal case rather than money damages in the personal injury case. However, often the civil and criminal cases proceed down a similar path. Your personal injury attorneys often serve as another set of eyes that look over all of the forensic evidence carefully.

In many cases, the personal injury attorneys play a role in gathering evidence that might otherwise be lost or overlooked by the law enforcement officers investigating the DUI manslaughter case. For instance, eyewitnesses to the DUI manslaughter may leave the scene before providing their contact information to law enforcement. Finding these eyewitnesses in the days and weeks following the crash is important.

Additionally, your personal injury attorneys will obtain expert witnesses to review all of the evidence to refute any common defenses such as the claims of a phantom vehicle causing the accident or claims that the accused person was not driving. Expert witnesses will also look at possible road or mechanical defects.

Finally, complex scientific evidence exists in these cases related to the "black box" in the vehicle, chemical tests of the blood, breath or urine, drug toxicology, and accident reconstruction evidence.

DUI Manslaughter under Florida Law

Under Florida law, DUI Manslaughter requires the prosecutor with the State Attorney's Office to prove the following elements of the crime beyond all reasonable doubt:

1. The defendant drove the vehicle;
2. While driving, the defendant was under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent that his normal faculties were impaired or that his blood or breath alcohol content was 0.08% or higher;
3. As a result, the defendant either caused or contributed to the cause of the death of the victim.

DUI Manslaughter Leaving the Scene under Florida Law

Under Florida law, DUI Manslaughter Leaving the Scene requires the prosecutor with the State Attorney's Office to prove the following elements of the crime beyond all reasonable doubt;

1. The defendant drove the vehicle;
2. While driving, the defendant was under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent that his normal faculties were impaired or that his blood or breath alcohol content was 0.08% or higher;
3. As a result, the defendant either caused or contributed to the cause of the death of the victim;
4. The defendant either knew or should have known that the crash occurred and failed to give information and render aid to the victim of the accident.

After a DUI manslaughter or leaving the scene of an accident case, the victim's family needs to act quickly to find qualified and experienced representation to protect their interests in the personal injury or wrongful death action under Florida law.

Conclusion

If you or a loved one is the victim of any traffic crime such as DUI with serious bodily injury, or if your loved one dies as the result of a traffic homicide crime including vehicular homicide, then call the lawyers at Levine & Glassman, P.A., to discuss the case today. Our attorneys are ready to help the victims of DUI manslaughter cases as they navigate the complexities that accompany these tragic cases. Contact our wrongful death lawyers today about any DUI manslaughter or traffic homicide investigation that occurred in the State of Florida, including vehicle accidents in Weston, Miami and Ft. Lauderdale area of South Florida.

Florida Traffic Homicide and Personal Injury Information Center

DUI Manslaughter

DUI Manslaughter Leaving the Scene

Vehicular Homicide

Vehicular Homicide Leaving the Scene

Leaving the Scene with Death

Manslaughter by Culpable Negligence

Driving While License Suspended or Revoked Involving Death

No Valid Driver's License Involving Death

Culpable Negligence Exposure

Culpable Negligence with Personal Injury

Reckless Driving with Serious Bodily Injury

DUI with Serious Bodily Injury

Careless Driving