Trial begins for drunk driver whose actions led to officer’s death reports Dallas drunk driver accident lawyer
Dallas, Texas (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Legal News Release ) –- Unsuspecting police officer, Dwayne Freeto was assisting a broken down motorist on the night of December 17, 2006 on Interstate 35 when an oncoming vehicle slammed into his police car igniting it with flames. At the start of twenty-two year old Samuel Hilburn’s trial this Monday, prosecutors claimed that Hilburn’s Blood Alcohol Level was at a 0.2%, which, in Texas, is two and a half times the legal limit of 0.08% and he was barreling towards the Freeto’s car at 84mph.
Hilburn’s attorney is objecting these statements and asserting that his client was neither intoxicated nor traveling at the set speed. Prosecutors argued that the officer had turned his warning lights on, which should have indicated to Hilburn that the officer was aiding another vehicle. Yet the tragic events led to a father, son and husband losing his life to another’s unintelligent and negligent actions. Hilburn could receive up to twenty years in prison with possible probation.
DUI laws are common to each state, though there are slight differences. The two that apply to each and every state are as follows:
• The driver’s ability to safely operate the vehicle is impaired by the effects of alcohol, illegal drugs, prescribed medications such as painkillers, or even over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines; or
• The driver is intoxicated at a level above established DUI standards, such as blood-alcohol concentration (BAC).
The laws of the state of Texas declare that the BAC limit is .08 with a zero tolerance policy. In the United States, alcohol related fatalities account for 41% of all traffic fatalities. Additionally, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for 15-20 year olds. Also in Texas there were 1,677 alcohol-related traffic fatalities and 276 fatalities that took place due to those under the legal age of 21 in 2006. On average, someone in the United States is killed in an alcohol-related traffic crash every thirty minutes; unfortunately, Officer Freeto and many others have been victims.
If you have been injured in a Texas drunk driver accident, your recovery and rights must be attended to. The experienced personal injury lawyers at Eberstein and Witherite bring more than forty years of experience representing victims of car accidents caused by drinking and driving. Contact Eberstein and Witherite today to ensure you are granted justice.
Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS).
http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/CrashProfile/CrashProfileMainNew.asp Photo courtesy: Eberstein & Witherite, LLP is a Dallas personal injury law firm - For more information on drunk driving accident attorneys in Dallas
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