Drunk drivers are often vilified by the media, law enforcement, and the general public, and they won’t find many supporters in their corner since making the choice to drive under the influence certainly comes across as an egregious lack of concern for others. Almost without exception, victims and families of victims injured by drunk drivers are often filled with indignation, but in a recent case, the victim’s family agreed with a deal to help a drunk driver make amends and get on with his life. If you’re currently facing a DUI charge in Fort Lauderdale, consult a DUI lawyer and take heed.
A 22-year-old college student was driving drunk last year when he ran over a nine-year-old boy who was walking to a hotel with his family after a baseball game in San Francisco. The boy survived, but with serious and lasting injuries that have not only left him in extreme pain and the need for several surgeries—he is soon to undergo his fourth operation since the accident—but he has also lost the ability to enjoy everyday activities, such as riding his bike, swimming, and martial arts.
The driver has expressed remorse for his actions and has vowed to “turn things around” for the injured boy and his family. He was quoted in the news as saying, “I have learned so much out of this, and … will do everything in my power to avoid [sic] others from making the same mistake that I committed.”
The victim’s family approved a deal that included one year in jail, five years’ probation, nine months of alcohol counseling, and 100 hours of community service for felony drunken driving with great bodily injury. The parents of the boy expressed that they believe the driver is not a terrible person, but that he had made a mistake and that justice would be better served if he had the chance to correct it rather than “sit in jail forever and do nothing.”
Though there are many DUI charges that will never make it to court due to improper actions by law enforcement, in this case the action was unavoidable. However, the collaboration among the prosecution, the defense, the judge, and the parties involved served to prevent a secondary tragedy from occurring. But don’t take this as a suggestion to throw yourself on the mercy of the court and hope for the best; in Fort Lauderdale, a DUI lawyer will provide expert legal counsel to ensure the best outcome, whether that means charges are dropped, reduced, or an opportunity to negotiate punishment in order to help the defendant turn his or her life around.
Leader & Leader, PA, is an experienced, aggressive Fort Lauderdale criminal defense law firm that has a breadth of experience with DUI laws and charges in Florida. With more than 68 years combined experience as an Fort Lauderdale DUI lawyer, they will defend you against DUI charges and other criminal charges from pre-case filing efforts to trial and appeal, if necessary. We serve Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe counties in state and federal court criminal matters. For more information, visit http://criminallawleader.com/ or call 954.523.2020. Initial consultations available 24 hours, 7 days a week via telephone.
