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DUI Accidents & Potential Penalties

By Hager & Schwartz, P.A.

November 7, 2019

Being charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in association with an auto accident can bring severe penalties for the accused. The first offense a driver may face is a criminal charge for impaired driving.

This charge can result in criminal penalties even if the level of impairment is below 0.08% because driving under the influence is defined as driving under the influence of alcohol, regardless of oneโ€™s blood alcohol content (BAC).

Regardless of BAC, an investigating officer can issue a citation for reckless driving, which could be a serious issue resulting in civil penalties. Any DUI accident case is a complicated legal issue, and a conviction on any charge can ruin oneโ€™s life. This is why it is vital to retain an experienced and aggressive Broward criminal defense attorney for all DUI cases.

DUI Penalties

Those found with a BAC of 0.08% or greater will typically face a suspended license and significant fines along with jail time. The court is not obligated to assign the minimum penalty in any case, and itโ€™s highly unlikely they will in an accident case that results in a conviction. Multiple offenders can expect even more severe sentencing with extended license suspension periods and prolonged jail terms.

Accident Penalties

In an accident scenario, even a borderline BAC reading can be problematic when severe injuries are involved. In fact, charges stemming from a DUI accident are typically worse than simple DUI penalties and could result in a felony DUI charge. Additionally, fatal accidents could result in vehicular homicide charges that could forever change the accusedโ€™s life.

Why You Need Private Criminal Defense lawyer

All individuals accused of causing DUI accidents are eligible for the assignment of a public defender for their criminal cases, but this rarely bodes well for the accused. The PDโ€™s priorities may be compromised because their caseloads are much higher than private attorney caseloads, but a private attorney can provide aggressive criminal defense that could make all the difference in your case.

Contact a Broward DUI Attorney

Florida DUI accidents are always serious legal matters, but alleged defendants can fight for their rights. Contact our Broward criminal defense firm Hager & Schwartz PA, for experienced representation for your case.

Call (954) 840-8713 now for an immediate consultation!

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