DUI Property Damages & Injury

Plant City DUI Lawyer

Florida law provides for even stiffer potential penalties when a person commits a DUI, and in the process, also causes property damage, personal injury, or death. These penalties can be severe. Some of the important provisions governing such penalties are explained below.

Any person commits a DUI, and while committing that DUI, operates a vehicle, and by reason of such operation, causes or contributes to causing:

Damage to the property or person of another commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

Serious bodily injury to another, as defined in s. 316.1933, commits a felony of the third degree (maximum 5 years in prison), punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

The death of any human being or unborn quick child commits DUI manslaughter, and commits:

a. A felony of the second degree (maximum 15 years in prison), punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

b. A felony of the first degree (maximum 30 years in prison), punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, if:

At the time of the crash, the person knew, or should have known, that the crash occurred; and

The person failed to give information and render aid as required by s. 316.062.

For purposes of this law, the definition of the term “unborn quick child” shall be determined in accordance with the definition of viable fetus as set forth in s. 782.071. A person who is convicted of DUI manslaughter shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 4 years.