DUI Charges

Charges for drunk driving, DUI, or DWI are very serious and should be handled with by a lawyer who specializes in DUI. The penalties and consequences of DUI go above and beyond the simply driving under the influence. The severity of the charge differs depending on your blood alcohol content and if there was property damage or injury as a result of the DUI.

Most Common DUI Charges include:

• Misdemeanor DUI
• Felony DUI
• Vehicular Manslaughter

The lines between what constitutes misdemeanor and felony charges will vary from state to state and most First Offenses will be considered a Class 1 Misdemeanor, or the most serious of the misdemeanors. In some states even a 2nd or 3rd DUI may still be considered misdemeanors, though the penalties will go up with each DUI conviction.

However, you will be automatically charged with a felony if a state-mandated number of DUIs are committed within a set timeframe, like 3 in a 10 year period. If the DUI involves injury or death, the charge is almost always a felony. In some states under certain circumstances, it's possible for the charges to include both misdemeanor and felony charges.

Regardless of criminal charges, if there is injury involved, any damage caused by a DUI can also be open to a civil suit. The victim will be able to attempt to recover damages and/or medical expenses whether or not the DUI resulted in any other consequences.

Your DUI attorney can evaluate your case to see if it will be charged as a misdemeanor or felony and how to best proceed with your case.