Drinking and driving is harshly punished in California. This is especially true if you get into a DUI accident that hurts or kills someone. One poor decision can cause you to lose your license, job, and relationships. Your life is at stake if sentenced to prison for vehicular manslaughter. If you are charged with DUI causing injury, work with an experienced lawyer to decrease the chances of facing unbearable consequences.
False Accusations of Drunk Driving
Unfortunately, many people charged with DUI causing injury were never actually intoxicated. Or, at least not above the legal limit, which in California is 0.08%. However, if you are involved in an accident and someone was hurt or killed, law enforcement could attempt to pin a DUI on you if they consider you are at fault for the incident.
For example, you may have run a red light, causing the accident. If you are able, the law enforcement officer may ask you to perform field sobriety tests. These tests can be used against you to “prove” your intoxication — even if you passed.
Getting Help Reducing the Charges Against You
If you are a driver in an accident that caused someone else harm, you face many charges if law enforcement believes you were intoxicated. If someone died in the accident, you may be facing serious vehicular manslaughter charges. Or, if someone was hurt, you can be charged with DUI causing injury. Along with those charges, you could face charges of reckless driving, speeding, first/second/third DUI, and potentially more.
If your attorney feels it is unwise to go to trial due to the evidence, you may be able to plead out for lesser charges. In some cases, accepting reduced charges in exchange for pleading guilty could cut years off your sentence. It also can help you avoid jail time altogether. You will commit to alcohol treatment, counseling, probation, and other mandatory conditions imposed by the court.
At Rancho Cucamonga criminal defense, we believe that people sometimes make decisions that hurt others without meaning to. We also know that our justice system isn’t perfect and that innocent people are accused of crimes every day. We believe every person deserves a zealous defense against DUI charges, especially if a DUI accident caused someone to become injured or killed. Contact us today for a consultation to discuss your legal rights at 909-689-4292.