Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Attorney Blog
Spring Break week in Florida is known for parties and good times for teens and college students all over the country. Florida motorists may have noticed the roadways have become more crowded this week as Spring Break season is in full swing. The next few weeks will bring a higher risk for drunk driving accidents in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and elsewhere, as well as other alcohol-related accidents throughout the state.
Our personal injury lawyers in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach know that March and April typically rank near the top in fatalities reported during the calendar year in Florida. In a previous drunk driving blog posted on our South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog we reported that 21% of Florida drunk driving crashes in 2009 involved a drunk driver with a blood alcohol content of .15 or higher. The month of March reported the second highest number of alcohol-related crashes.
Drunk driving and alcohol-related accidents is one topic we are focusing on in our Spring Break 2011 series. Other related topics touched on in the series are teen driving accidents, distracted driving and injuries related to premise liability.
Many young adults have a habit of binge drinking during Spring Break. Alcohol-related incidents are already being reported for Spring Break 2011. The Palm Beach Post reported recently about the death of a Georgia Southern student vacationing in Florida for Spring Break with 15 other students. His friends had reported they were partying the night before when they found him the next morning. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. A separate incident reported by My Fox Tampa Bay involved a teen from Tampa who was home for Spring Break from the University of Florida when she was found dead following a night of drinking.
As the incidents are mounting, the Florida Highway Patrol wants to remind young students to drink responsibly. First Coast News reports that Florida Law Enforcement officials will be on high alert as they take to the streets and beaches the next few weeks. Underage drinking will not be tolerated and violators under 21 with a BAC of .02 or higher will have their license suspended for 6 months automatically.
Drivers refusing to take a test for blood alcohol will have their license revoked for 12 months on a first time offense, and 18 months for a second offense.
Teenagers are prohibited from consuming alcohol. Students who are of age to drink need to remember to be responsible since drinking on public beaches and driving under the influence is against the law. The consequences for breaking the law may be life-changing.
Contact the Law Offices of Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez if you have been injured in an alcohol-related accident in West Palm Beach, Miami or Fort Lauderdale. For a free and confidential appointment to discuss your case call 1-800-529-2368.