Motor accidents are a common features on American roads today, and sometimes, injury or fatalities may be a result of a car colliding with another vehicle, bicyclist, or pedestrian. Sometimes, adverse weather such as heavy rain or icy roads can cause a crash, but often, a drunk or distracted driver is the cause of such accidents. Drunk driving is unfortunately common, as are the accidents it causes. Often, the injured party will file a lawsuit for settlement money, and criminal charges may be brought upon a motorist who was intoxicated prior to the crash. A DUII conviction (driving under the influence of intoxicants) may result in various penalties for the defendant, although the exact charges and the punishment may vary based on factors such as pleading guilty or not guilty, the quality of the DUII attorneys involved, and whether the defendant has had previous convictions against him or her. A DUII conviction will likely be the result of the court judge and criminal defense attorneys negotiating by the law.

Rates of Drunk Driving

There are many incidents of impaired driving that may eventually lead to collisions and DUII convictions later on. Drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.8% or higher are those who, legally, are too impaired to drive, and based on how far this limit was exceeded by the defendant, a DUII conviction may be stronger and more harsh. Even those too young to legally drink may be involved in car crashes; around 10% of licensed drivers are under the age of 21, but they are believed to be responsible for around 17% of alcohol-caused crashes where fatalities occurred. And in 1012 alone, around 10.3 million people had reported that they had driven in the past year under the influence of illicit drugs, another potential cause for a motor accident. And each day, on average, 300,000 people will drive drunk, but under 4,000 of them will actually be arrested for this crime. If a driver is charged with drunk driving, especially in the case of a crash, criminal defense lawyers may be enlisted by the defendant for the upcoming trial, and the DUII conviction may be influenced by the quality of the DUII defense attorneys involved.

A DUII Conviction and a DUI Attorney

According to Legal Zoom, facing a DUI charge is a difficult undertaking, but if the defendant’s BAC was under the legal limit, a good lawyer may be able to help their client overcome the charges, but this is very unlikely if the BAC was in fact higher than the legal limit. A DUII defense attorney can also advise their client on whether it is better to face a judge or jury trial, and other factors may be affected by the defendant’s home state (different states have different DUI laws).

Penalties for a DUII conviction may vary, and may be harsh even for a first time offender. The penalties may range from house arrest and community service to a short sentence in jail or prison, as well as impoundment of the drunk driver’s vehicle and the suspension of his or her driver’s license. If someone was injured or killed as a result of drunk driving, the DUII conviction may entail higher penalties than if that were not the case. Finding a lawyer to deal with all this may involve an Internet search for local DUI law firms and getting consultations with the attorneys there (which may or may not be free), and finding a lawyer whose personality, legal experience and skills, and educational background are deemed suitable by the potential client. After all, this is a person with whom the defendant will coordinate to make a solid case.