Being Charged with a DUI Accident with Injuries in Pennsylvania
A car accident with injuries is always a frightening situation. But if you happened to be intoxicated at the time of the accident and were charged with DUI, you face serious penalties that could damage the rest of your life.
If you were charged with DUI and injuries were involved, you can also be charged with aggravated assault, which is a felony. If a death occurred due to the accident, you could be charged with vehicular homicide.
If you are convicted of DUI Aggravated Assault, you face up to ten years in jail and a $25,000 fine. A DUI Homicide conviction is a mandatory three years in prison and a $25,000 fine for each victim killed in the accident.
Having a felony on your permanent record can have dire consequences to your job, future employment, and reputation – for the rest of your life.
A DUI CHARGE IS NOT A CONVICTION
Being arrested and charged with a DUI is not the same as being convicted of a DUI. An aggressive Pittsburgh DUI Attorney who knows how to fight for your rights will give you the possibility of having your DUI charges dropped and/or your sentencing lowered.
An experienced attorney has the resources to investigate all reports, interview pertinent witnesses and ensure that nothing was done in violation of your rights. In addition, having the possibility of a felony looming over you is stressful. Hiring an attorney like David J. Shrager can ease that burden.
There are many defenses to beating a DUI in Pennsylvania.
If you have been arrested for a DUI in Pennsylvania call or text Attorney Shrager for a free consultation today. A 2016 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court may impact your DUI case. Read more about the recent Birchfield Ruling or call Attorney Shrager today.
Attorney Shrager is available his cell phone 24/7. Let him answer your questions.
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A DUI ARREST IN PENNSYLVANIA
DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU WILL BE CONVICTED.
CALL OR TEXT DAVID J. SHRAGER TODAY FOR A
FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION: 412-969-2540.
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PENALTIES FOR A DUI ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES
Penalties for a DUI in Pennsylvania are highly dependent on the BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) level at the time of the arrest.
A typical first offense DUI with no accident or injury occurring, carries a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine, 6 months in jail, a 12 month license suspension and a misdemeanor on your record.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT BY VEHICLE – CHARGES AND PENALTIES
If an accident occurs and any person (other than the driver) receives “serious bodily injury” in the accident, the DUI driver could be charged with aggravated assault.
Serious bodily injury is defined as, “any bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or causes serious, permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.” In order to be convicted, guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the serious bodily injury was directly caused by the DUI.
The penalty if convicted carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a maximum $25,000 fine.
OTHER DUI CHARGES AND PENALTIES
Even if another party to the accident did not receive a serious bodily injury, but did receive some lesser injury, you could face additional charges that could increase your sentencing.
Some such charges include simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. The more charges you face, the harsher your penalties upon conviction.
Pennsylvania takes drunk driving very seriously and therefore offenders are often charged the maximum penalty allowed under the law.
For more information, see our DUI Penalties in Pennsylvania page.
__________________________________________________
A DUI ARREST IN PA DOES NOT
MEAN THAT YOU WILL BE CONVICTED.
CALL OR TEXT DAVID J. SHRAGER TODAY FOR A
FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION: 412-969-2540.
_____________________________________________________
OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF A DUI CONVICTION
It can be very stressful to have the possibility of prison looming over you. If you are convicted and receive the maximum penalty, both you and your family will suffer financially and emotionally. Your insurance rates could increase, you may have potential hospital bills to pay, the inability to drive to and from work could cause you to lose your job entirely.
Your reputation will also suffer. With a felony on your permanent record, you could struggle to find employment in the future and not be eligible for financial loans for school, cars, houses, etc.
You can also be held responsible in civil court for injuries sustained by another due to your DUI. This means you could potentially be responsible to the victim(s), or the victim’s family, for certain civil wrongdoings such as emotional damages, lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering and property damage. In addition to any criminal fines you may have to pay, you could owe a far greater sum to an injured party. This could be financially crippling to you and your family.
FIGHTING DUI CHARGES IN PA – HOW WE CAN HELP
Our DUI attorneys empathize with your situation and will talk plainly to you about your situation, not in complicated “legal-eze”. Our staff will never talk down to you or make you feel worse about your situation.
We are here to help you understand the charges brought against you and the legal proceedings you face so we can better defend your rights.
We will closely examine your DUI charges and paperwork and all police reports and videotape to see that the police followed proper procedure and that all evidence was collected legally. If the arresting officers did not follow proper procedures, we will motion for the evidence to be suppressed, which will result in a full dismissal of charges.
We will also prepare you for the preliminary hearing, which will determine whether or not your case will be moved forward to prosecution for DUI. During your hearing, the officer who made your arrest will be present.
The preliminary hearing can be the toughest part of the entire process and having an experienced Pittsburgh DUI lawyer who knows the ins-and-outs of these proceedings is essential to helping your case.
We will weigh all of your options, including a trial and negotiated pleas to have your charges and fines reduced or dropped.
It is extremely important that you have a reputable, experienced and aggressive attorney to help you fight for your rights and keep your freedom. Attorney Shrager will work hard to get you the best result possible for your case. He will fight to make sure your rights were not violated and to protect your good name.
Your attorney will be your best advocate and take the time to explain everything to you, in terms you can understand. If you were charged with a DUI or aggravated assault by vehicle, it is best to hire an attorney immediately upon arrest.
Shrager Defense Attorneys are experienced DUI lawyers in Pittsburgh, PA who, for years, have been fighting and winning DUI cases. Don’t delay — let us defend your rights and protect your future.
Have questions about a DUI in Pennsylvania?
Here are some resources:
- Allegheny County ARD Program
- First Time DUI in PA
- Second DUI in PA
- DUI with a CDL
- DUI – Prescription Meds
- DUI Drug Charges
- Winning a DUI in PA
- Multiple DUIs in Pennsylvania
- PA DUI Court Process
- Underage Drinking and DUI Charges
- Driving While Under DUI License Suspension
- Homicide by Vehicle While DUI
- Record Expungement
- Choosing a DUI Lawyer
- Birchfield Ruling on DUI – Recent Changes to DUI Convictions and Penalties
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FREE Legal Consultation
Call or Text 412-969-2540 right now for a FREE initial legal consultation.
Speak directly with David J. Shrager 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Shrager Defense Attorneys in Pittsburgh, PA will attack your criminal charges in order to protect your good name. Have a sound and solid case prepared by David J. Shrager and his legal team so they can fight for your rights.
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