Drunk driving suspected in critical injury accident

On Behalf of | Dec 14, 2018 | Drunk Driving Accidents |

Two motorists in two separate vehicles had to be taken to hospitals in the Tampa area after a very serious recent accident.

According to police, one driver was traveling in his Jeep the wrong way on a state highway in Hillsborough County when he slammed head on in to a Corvette. Rescuers transported the driver of the Corvette to a nearby hospital in what authorities described as a critical condition. The driver who was traveling the wrong way also suffered serious injuries and was taken to the same hospital.

The interesting twist in this drunk driving accident is that police believe both motorists may have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the accident occurred shortly after midnight. They indicated charges would be forthcoming, presumably against both motorists.

This raises an interesting question because, if both drivers had been drinking, it could be difficult to sort out who is actually at fault for this accident and to what extent.

Presumably, the motorist who was traveling against traffic bears some additional blame, but there could be an argument that the driver of the Corvette would have been able to avoid the wreck if he had not been drinking. Additional investigation will likely be necessary. In any event, it will be a thorny legal issue, particularly in light of Florida’s comparative fault rules which this blog has discussed on previous occasions.

If anything, this case illustrates that there is no such thing as a straightforward accident investigation, even when alcohol is involved. There are, however, at least two people who, perhaps in part because of their own choices, have medical bills to pay and may also have lost a lot of income as well. They should not hesitate to evaluate their legal options and will likely need assistance doing so.

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attorneys Brad Culpepper and Brett J. Kurland