A teenager charged with drunk driving in Miami is accused of killing his best friend in an accident after losing control of his vehicle and striking a pole, the Miami Herald reported.
An experienced and aggressive Miami drunk driving defense lawyer will need to fight to prevent this tragedy from ruining the life of the young man who was behind the wheel in this case. The 18-year-old defendant will likely face very serious prison time as an adult. Even juvenile DUIs in Miami that do not involve an accident should be handled by an experienced attorney. These charges do not disappear in adulthood, but remain on a person's driving record. Too often, parents do not take them seriously enough; a DUI conviction can impact a young person's ability to hold certain jobs, join certain professions or even be admitted into some colleges or obtain government assistance like student loans.
But the fact that the charges involve a fatal accidents means the state will likely move aggressively to seek lengthy prison time and other harsh penalties. Judges are all too often willing to comply. The 18-year-old Hollywood man surrendered to authorities this week and faces charges of DUI manslaughter, DUI manslaughter impairment and DUI property damage. His 18-year-old friend, a Hollywood Hills High School graduate, died at the scene.
Under Florida law (F.S. 316.193(3)), DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide are second-degree felonies, carrying a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Bond was set at $60,000 and the defendant was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.
Fort Lauderdale DUI Attorney Carlos Canet is an aggressive and experienced drunk driving defense attorney, representing clients facing DUI charges in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach. Call 866-7ASKDUI to discuss your rights.
