According to an article in the American Bar Association Journal, a Florida man who suffered from epilepsy and lost his driver’s license after causing a fatal car crash in 2002 has received a nine year prison sentence. The Tampa man originally had his driver’s license revoked because of his medical condition, but when the Tampa Bay Times investigated another case of an epileptic driver who hit a van killing two people, it found out that the man behind the 2002 fatality had obtained a new driver’s license in Miami using a slight alteration to his name. That is a violation of his probation.
In 2002, he suffered a seizure on West Shore Boulevard in Tampa and crashed into a real estate building, killing the woman who worked inside.
The judge could have sent the man to prison for up to 15 years under sentencing guidelines, but the man asked for another chance at his sentencing, telling the judge he made a mistake and argued he needed to get to work and needed to see his wife and infant daughter.
The Tampa judge said he would not take the chance again. In addition, when this driver gets out of prison, he will never drive again. His driver’s license has been permanently revoked.
Epileptic Drivers
Laws are different in different states concerning epilepsy and driving privileges. In Florida, a driver’s license can be issued to someone with epilepsy if they have been free of seizures for a period of two years. The driver must remain under the regular care of a doctor. Ultimately, it is up to the Division of Motor Vehicles in consultation with its Medical Advisory Board to decide whether or not to issue a driver’s license.
If you have been injured in an auto accident caused by another party, a skilled Tampa car accident attorney can help you obtain compensation for your injuries. Please call (800) 533-3555.
Source: http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/epileptic_driver_in_fatal_crash_gets_nine_year_sentence_for_violating_proba/; http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=MTU0MzM4NDQ%3D
