Fatal Miami Pedestrian Accident Case: NFL Suspends Stallworth for 2009 Season
The Dante Stallworth case is back in the news, as the NFL announced it will suspend the Cleveland Browns wide receiver for the remainder of the 2009 football playing season. Stallworth was found guilty of DUI manslaughter in a Miami, Florida traffic accident that claimed the life of a pedestrian.
Stallworth served his 30-day sentence and earlier this month, a judge agreed to let him work out to get in pro condition, though he had been ordered to two years house arrest. Nonetheless, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell chose to suspend Stallworth for the remainder of the season. A report on the NFL.com website (see link at end of entry) says he will be reinstated after the Super Bowl.
Florida Car Pedestrian Accident Fatalities
In cases where a driver's recklessness or negligence may have led to pedestrian injury or death, a Miami pedestrian accident lawyer is sometimes called upon by the aggrieved families to assist with the case. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 490 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents in Florida in 2008. Driving under the influence of alcohol over the Florida legal limit of BAC .08+ was reported in 875 traffic deaths that same year. (NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts Florida 2004 - 2008.)
This fatal Miami Beach, Florida drunk driving accident involving Stallworth occurred last March, when the car he was driving struck and killed a construction worker crossing MacArthur Causeway on foot to catch a bus. Stallworth plead guilty to manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol -- a charge which typically carries 10 years imprisonment in Florida. He came to an agreement with the victim's family to pay them a confidential financial settlement. His prison time was reduced to 30 days, which he has served.
In addition to the prison time and confidential financial settlement the verdict brought back for the aggrieved family, authorities also suspended Stallworth's driver's license for life, and ordered him to pay fines of $10,000 and to perform 1,000 hours of community service.
Brown Down: Wide Receiver Donte Stallworth Suspended By The NFL For 09' Season
19ActionNews.com Aug. 14, 2009
Goodell: Stallworth suspended for season, placed 'stain' on NFL, players
NFL.com Aug. 13, 2009
Browns' Donte Stallworth Gets 30 Days for DUI
Wide Receiver Will Pay Financial Settlement to Victim's Family
ABCNews.com June 18, 2009
Related Web Resources
NHTSA Pedestrian Safety Program
