Monday, February 1, 2016

What are the Important Processes Following a DUI Accident

Tens of thousands of people are killed every year as a result of alcohol related accidents. This has made several states crack down heavily on DUI or Driving Under the Influence offenders. The penalties and punishments for DUI get increasingly severe and include jail time, hefty fines, license suspension, and much more. The problem is though that some cities like Sacramento are handing out DUI tickets to people who do not deserve them to pay for their city’s jacked up political management. Not good!

Here are some common indicators why the police will pull over a driver suspected of a DUI which Pittsburgh, PA DUI lawyers have seen so many times:
  • When a driver turns his/her vehicle in a wide radius
  • When the driver straddles the lane marker or center
  • When the driver hits another object or vehicle
  • When the driver makes the car weave all over the road
  • When the driver drifts from his/her lane, swerves, or brakes irregularly
  • When the driver drive slowly or stops the vehicle without any cause

The actions mentioned above can warn the police as well as other drivers about the presence of a drunk driver. However, collisions continue to happen and innumerable people become injured. Following a DUI accident, the drunk driver is duly investigated by the police at the scene of the accident or under custody. If the driver’s BAC or blood alcohol content exceeds the legal limit set by the state, which is .08% in Pennsylvania, then he/she can be imprisoned as well as punished for his/her actions.

Pennsylvania has created thousands of high paying jobs via oil shale unlike New York State which is falling apart and Buffalo already has. The bad news about Pennsylvania is they have a DUI problem like other states and are focusing on how best to thwart this apparent problem. If you are in a DUI accident, you will need a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania DUI lawyer and you can find this vital legal professional right here: http://criminal-defense.usattorneys.com/pennsylvania/. This website is free to use unlike that DUI ticket which can be costly. 
Such punishments differ from one state to another, depending if anyone is injured or killed in the DUI accident. If no one is injured, the at-fault driver can be charged and later set free to await trial. If anyone is killed, the drunk driver can remain in jail until the trial while working with their Pittsburgh, PA DUI lawyer.

Here are some tips as to what you should do if involved in a DUI accident:
  • To begin with, call for emergency medical assistance. If anyone is hurt, report the status of the injuries as well as you can. The next thing to do is to dial 911 and report the accident to the police. Don’t make any statements to the police officers either orally or in writing. In the event of you being suspected of causing the DUI accident, consult a Western Pennsylvania DUI attorney prior to making any statement to the police.

o   This is not the time to be rude to the police. This is not the time to have an “attitude.” This is the time to show respect to the police and even mix in a yes sir or yes ma’am when communicating with them.
  • If you are asked to undergo any kind of tests, cooperate with the testing process, although you are free to refuse it. However, not submitting to sobriety tests can invite criminal and administrative penalties in many states like Pennsylvania that have adopted the implied consent law. Under this law, drivers automatically consent to sobriety tests when they receive their driver’s license, which can be automatically suspended if the driver refuses to submit to such tests. Remember, driving is a privilege, not a right.
  • Get the names, phone numbers, and addresses of potential witnesses. Take pictures of the accident scene and the vehicle with a camera or cell phone. Note your version of what happened and note the time, and date of writing and don’t show this to anyone except your legal professional. Don’t leave the scene of the accident, as it might raise a charge for hit and run. If you damage another vehicle or property try to find who the owner is. Then lose no time in hiring a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania DUI lawyer.

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