Los Angeles DUI Accident Lawyers
A DUI Scenario
Consider the following scenario: A California driver is driving under the influence, and is currently stopped at a red light. A second car approaches from behind and slams into the rear of the vehicle driven by the impaired driver. The impact injures the driver of the second car.
Can the impaired driver be charged with a DUI with injury accident? California law enforcement officials may try very hard to make the charges stick, but the law of the state says no.
DUI with Injury: California Law
In California, a DUI causing injury charge relies on one of two elements. The intoxicated driver must have either violate a traffic law which directly led to the injury accident, or the impaired driver must have acted in a negligent manner which triggered the accident.
DUI Causing Injury Charges: What’s at Stake?
A DUI charge is usually a misdemeanor. If a DUI causes injury, the state of California has a choice: pursue misdemeanor charges in addition to the standard DUI penalties, or push for a felony DUI conviction. Either option has serious consequences for the driver.
- DUI with Injury: California Misdemeanor Penalties
- Adds up to one year of jail time
- Serious injuries may result in additional enhancement
- DUI with Injury: California Felony Penalties
- Adds up to three years of jail time
- Adds up to one year additional jail time for each additional person injured
- Serious bodily injury adds up to another three years of jail time enhancement; also counts as a strike for California Three Strikes sentencing
Fighting DUI with Injury Charges
Have you been charged with a DUI offense that caused injuries? You need the expert advice of a California DUI lawyer to defend your freedom. The courts must prove that you violated a traffic law or acted in a negligent manner that directly caused the injury. A skilled DUI lawyer understands the intricacies of a DUI with injury case.
The unique legal edge offered by Takakjian Sowers & Sitkoff LLP can protect your reputation and your freedom. The partners of Takakjian Sowers & Sitkoff are all former Los Angeles County deputy district attorneys. Their knowledge of the prosecution’s side of drunk driving, from law enforcement to Superior Court, is an invaluable asset for successfully defending your case.
We offer a free consultation, and can determine if the DUI charges against you can be reduced or completely dismissed. Call 866.299.4111 to discuss your situation with one of the Los Angeles DUI accident attorneys of Takakjian Sowers & Sitkoff LLP.
