When things go wrong, sometimes they really go wrong. It is bad enough to be involved in an auto accident, but then when a police officer is a victim of the accident, and alcohol is allegedly involved, and you leave the scene of the accident – even briefly – these are a lot of issues to have in place all at the same time.  Unfortunately for one Miami area Chevy driver, though, that is exactly the situation he found himself in when he allegedly ran several lights and ended up going the wrong way against traffic. According to reports, the Chevy driver rear-ended another vehicle, which then hit a police vehicle, and then the Chevy driver left the site of the accident to go into a nearby restaurant. As a result of this chain of events, the police officer and another driver were taken to the hospital, and the Chevy driver was tested, arrested, and charged with DUI.

Lesson One – Do Not Drink And Drive

It is difficult to imagine a scenario where so many things downhill so quickly, but this accident could have been far worse.  We can look to it for several examples of what not to do if you are involved in an accident.  First, do not drink and drive – just say no.  If you have been drinking, make arrangements with someone to take you where you need to go.  Never get behind the wheel of a car after you have even one drink; studies show that impairment begins with the first drink. As a part of its recent Driver Sober Or Get Pulled Over campaign, the Florida Highway Patrol advocated giving the gift of a designated driver over the holidays.  This seems practical advice for any time of the year.  If you are going to drink, arrange for a ride, or get a cab – but do not drive, and do not let your friends drive after drinking either.

Lesson Two – Do Not Leave The Scene

Even beyond the stringent laws that Florida has enacted over recent years to increase penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident, staying to make sure everyone gets the help they need just seems to be the right thing to do. If you were the victim of an accident, that is surely what you would want for yourself – so make sure you do the right thing for others. If you choose to leave, however, know that this action will almost certainly make things more difficult for you in the long run.

What If I Am The Victim?

If you have been involved in an auto accident and have suffered injuries as a result, you are likely entitled to some sort of relief.  Most individuals are not familiar with the legal system and need the help of an experienced auto accident attorney to know what they may be entitled to receive and what they need to do to obtain the relief they seek.  The law allows parties to file an action only within a specific period of time following an accident, so you need to be able to get reliable information from an attorney you can trust. Contact an Auto Accident Lawyer in Miami today to find out your rights and take action.