Felony DUI with Injury

Driving under the influence is a serious matter under any circumstances. However, there are certain situations that will escalate a drunk-driving offense from a misdemeanor to a felony.

The majority of the states in the U.S. have expanded their drinking and driving laws to provide more serious penalties when drunk driving results in bodily injury to another person or persons. If the offender causes harm to another person while driving under the influence, he or she may be charged with a felony.

Some states are changing their criminal laws to incorporate manslaughter statutes with their DUI laws when driving under the influence results in the death of another person. It is important to note that there are some states that will charge a person with assault with a deadly weapon for driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. In this case, the deadly weapon is the vehicle itself.

All states allow for treating a first DUI offense as a misdemeanor. However, many states will treat a DUI offense as a felony if the driver has prior DUI convictions on his or her record. While the number of prior convictions varies depending on jurisdiction, most states will charge the driver with a felony if it is his or her third conviction.

Some states will also consider the time frame in which a driver received DUI convictions. For example, if the driver has had three DUI convictions within a five-year period, he or she may be charged with felony DUI. This time period usually ranges from five to ten years for each state.

If you have been charged with a felony DUI, it is very important to speak with a DUI defense lawyer immediately. A felony conviction will limit your life in many ways. Convicted felons are prohibited from working in certain professions and are not allowed to vote. A felony conviction will also prevent you from joining the military or owning a firearm.

The sentence for a felony conviction also includes time in prison and very expensive fines.

To begin fighting your felony charge, contact an experienced defense attorney today.