notfadeaway
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? FL
I was visiting Palm Beach County, FL for a concert and got into an accident at 2am or so. The concert was at 8, and I had a few beers before then (everything I drank was 12 oz) and after, I went out with some people and I had 2 more at a place that makes their own brews, so I figured why not try it. I was functioning fine. My cognitive skills were there, motor coordination seemed fine, I even called my friend before I left to make plans with her for the next day as I was leaving town. So I'm driving to my other friends' house, and I really have no memory of it all but I got into a car accident. I'm pretty sure I was knocked unconscious, because the windshield was cracked and I don't remember my head hitting it (I know my head hit it because of the trajectory of impact and my position in the front seat). All I remember is looking for a gas station in a poorly lit part of town, slamming on my brakes, but I have 50 minutes unaccounted for. That's probably from the concussion I suffered. There were no witnesses to the accident so I can't really say for sure what happened. I have a suspicion I blacked out while driving, which is a scary thing within itself, because I get these terrible migraines and dizzy spells from time to time. Thankfully the other person wasn't injured.
But at the hospital the cops came to ask me some questions and smelled alcohol on my breath, which made sense because what I drank was a pumpkin spice ale and that has a rather distinct smell. So they read me my miranda rights; I'm conscious and lucid, but to be honest I barely remember any of it. I was never arrested, but they told me about informed consent. I had no idea what that was and I was uncomfortable with it due to the fact that I take medications and that may have affected the BAC results. So I asked for a lawyer/representation. The sheriff says no I can't speak to one, and if I don't do it my license will be suspended. Because of the head injury I couldn't even read the informed consent and I didn't feel in a position to be questioned without an advocate there. I ended up just giving them my blood after asking for a lawyer several times, because I don't think I was inebriated to the point of not being able to drive, but I am so nervous about the possible test results. It's already been over a week. I was in a neck brace, so I don't know how it was handled, or anything. For all I know it could have been contaminated. I was never arrested also, for the record.
Did I actually have a right to a lawyer at that point? And how long does it take for the results to come back? I don't want this to destroy my life. It scares the hell out of me. I'm always so safe and responsible. I don't know what happened with the accident, but I don't think it had anything to do with alcohol.
I was visiting Palm Beach County, FL for a concert and got into an accident at 2am or so. The concert was at 8, and I had a few beers before then (everything I drank was 12 oz) and after, I went out with some people and I had 2 more at a place that makes their own brews, so I figured why not try it. I was functioning fine. My cognitive skills were there, motor coordination seemed fine, I even called my friend before I left to make plans with her for the next day as I was leaving town. So I'm driving to my other friends' house, and I really have no memory of it all but I got into a car accident. I'm pretty sure I was knocked unconscious, because the windshield was cracked and I don't remember my head hitting it (I know my head hit it because of the trajectory of impact and my position in the front seat). All I remember is looking for a gas station in a poorly lit part of town, slamming on my brakes, but I have 50 minutes unaccounted for. That's probably from the concussion I suffered. There were no witnesses to the accident so I can't really say for sure what happened. I have a suspicion I blacked out while driving, which is a scary thing within itself, because I get these terrible migraines and dizzy spells from time to time. Thankfully the other person wasn't injured.
But at the hospital the cops came to ask me some questions and smelled alcohol on my breath, which made sense because what I drank was a pumpkin spice ale and that has a rather distinct smell. So they read me my miranda rights; I'm conscious and lucid, but to be honest I barely remember any of it. I was never arrested, but they told me about informed consent. I had no idea what that was and I was uncomfortable with it due to the fact that I take medications and that may have affected the BAC results. So I asked for a lawyer/representation. The sheriff says no I can't speak to one, and if I don't do it my license will be suspended. Because of the head injury I couldn't even read the informed consent and I didn't feel in a position to be questioned without an advocate there. I ended up just giving them my blood after asking for a lawyer several times, because I don't think I was inebriated to the point of not being able to drive, but I am so nervous about the possible test results. It's already been over a week. I was in a neck brace, so I don't know how it was handled, or anything. For all I know it could have been contaminated. I was never arrested also, for the record.
Did I actually have a right to a lawyer at that point? And how long does it take for the results to come back? I don't want this to destroy my life. It scares the hell out of me. I'm always so safe and responsible. I don't know what happened with the accident, but I don't think it had anything to do with alcohol.
