When it comes to taking care of yourself, having access to an incredible lawyer is absolutely essential. A few years back, I was accused of a crime that I didn't commit, and it was absolutely devastating. The only way that I got through the ordeal was by finding an excellent general attorney who could represent me. I worked hard to find the right lawyer, and it was amazing to find an expert who truly understood what I was up against. This blog is all about finding the right lawyer to help you through your legal battles so that you can avoid serving time for something you didn't do.
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Is DUI The Only Crime You Can Get Charged With For Drunk Driving?
Henry Jennings
If you've been arrested for drunk driving, you may think that DUI is the only charge you're facing. The truth is that many DUI cases have multiple combined charges. This can increase your consequences beyond that of just the DUI. Here are some of the charges that could be added on.
Enhanced DUI Charges
Not all DUI charges are the same. There are higher offenses if you had more to drink, hurt someone, or had prior convictions for DUI. The higher charges can turn a misdemeanor into a felony, increase your jail time, or lead to a higher fine.
When you get charged with a higher DUI, your case will usually include both the higher DUI and the basic DUI. That gives the prosecution a chance to still convict you of the basic DUI even if they fail to prove one of the elements needed for the higher DUI. To beat your charges entirely, you'll need to beat both charges.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving can be a separate criminal offense in a DUI case. Reckless driving is when you do something very dangerous like excessive speeding, driving in the wrong lane, or grossly violating the rules of the road. It's a criminal charge because of the danger it creates to other drivers.
When you're charged with reckless driving, the fact that you were drunk can give evidence of your reckless state of mind. However, it is still possible for the prosecution to convict you of reckless driving even if they can't prove the drunk driving charge. During your DUI trial, your lawyer will also need to defend against the prosecution's allegations regarding your driving.
Reckless Endangerment
Reckless endangerment is when you do something that creates a serious risk of injury to someone else. This is a common charge in a DUI crash with injuries. Unlike reckless driving, reckless endangerment does usually need another crime to be charged. That's because the situation that made it reckless, such as driving under the influence, is usually a crime by itself. The point of this charge is to enhance your sentence if you hurt someone.
Manslaughter
If you kill someone in a DUI crash, reckless endangerment becomes manslaughter. This is a very serious charge that could result in decades in prison. It is critical to your defense to beat the underlying DUI charge, so you will need an experienced DUI lawyer to defend you.
To learn more about the charges against you, contact a local DUI lawyer today.
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