Deadly Accident Caused by Drunk Driver in Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is known to be one of the most affluent communities in South Florida. This city in Palm Beach County is home to major universities and medical centers, and is a resort area for many tourists. Cities that have large amounts of vacationers also tend to have problems with drunk driving or other forms of substance abuse. This is true for the entire South Florida metro area. A recent story highlights just how dangerous this can become.
Wrong Way Crash on I-95
Recently, a deadly car crash in Boca Raton killed three people. The crash involved a driver driving on the wrong side of the road when he was on a highway entrance ramp. It was also determined that all three of the deceased involved in the accident were under the influence of either drugs or alcohol.
The incident occurred when Christopher Alfeo was driving on the wrong side of Interstate 95 and was getting off of an entrance ramp for Palmetto Park Road in the middle of the night. He then struck another car head-on, which was driven by a woman named Brenda Walker. The Florida Highway Patrol stated that the cars caught on fire shortly after the accident and all three were dead by the time they arrived on the scene. Alfeo’s body tested over three times the legal limit for alcohol during the autopsy by the local medical examiner, and Walker was also determined to be impaired by marijuana at the time of the crash.
Alfeo’s twenty five year old girlfriend was also a passenger in the car and killed when the crash happened. There were no survivors or witnesses available.
What to do when an Impaired Driver causes an Accident
Cases involving impaired motorists create increased liability for the driver due to their reckless actions. Usually, a police or medical report showing impairment is highly indicative of negligent behavior by the driver. A skilled lawyer can use this evidence to make a strong case for damages. This means additional money for the plaintiff in a related lawsuit. A lawyer may also be able to ask for a larger settlement or punitive damages at a trial as a way of punishing the driver for their poor choices. Cases involving a dead victim can be pursued for large amounts by the victim’s family in a wrongful death action. These types of cases are meant to compensate the family for the amount of money the person could have earned for the rest of their life, as well as other damages related to their value if they had lived.
While the specifics of each case will vary and any course of action should be discussed with an experienced lawyer, accidents caused by reckless behavior can possibly result in a windfall for victims. Damages in an injury lawsuit are meant to cover medical expenses, missed time from work, and pain and suffering. These amounts can potentially increase if a driver is impaired and causes serious harm to others. The law of negligence is designed to punish people for engaging in dangerous activities, and driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol comes at a high price.
Get Help from Mr. Syger
To speak with a veteran accident lawyer in Boca Raton, contact The Law Offices of Oscar Syger. Oscar is a self-described family man who runs his own solo law practice. He received both his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Florida, and he has been practicing law in the Sunshine State since 1983.
