A firefighter in Orlando recently pled not guilty after he was charged with crashing into 18 parked cars while drunk driving. The man had been off-duty when the accident occurred back in September. An attorney for the defendant filed not guilty pleas for all of the nine charges, which range from driving under the influence, criminal mischief, and damage of more than $1,000.
The defendant was arrested in early September and initially only charged with fleeing the scene of an accident with property damage. However, the arresting officer wrote in her report that the firefighter appeared to be “highly intoxicated and could barely stand straight.” The charges against the defendant were then upgraded.
The Orlando Fire Department has opened its own internal investigation as well, but has yet to announce any findings. Currently, the defendant is still on active duty.
What If My Parked Car Is Hit by a Drunk Driver?
In cases of drunk driving, there is often a criminal case filed against the driver, but it is important to remember that you will not be compensated for your losses through criminal court. You will have to file your own case in civil court. However, the verdict in the criminal case can be a huge boost to your lawsuit.
Penalties for Hit and Run Drivers
Hit and run drivers are often forced to pay more in damages. Courts in many states commonly impose treble damages on hit and run drivers. That means that any money awarded to the plaintiff by the court could be tripled in the event of a hit and run. Add the drunk driving charge to that and the defendant could be forced to pay out a huge amount in damages.