How Drunk Driving Accident Penalties are Assessed

How harsh can the punishments be?

(Palm Beach, Florida) – December 18^th, 2015 – Before you make the dreadful decision to get behind the wheel after knocking back a few drinks, it is vital that you understand what a serious criminal offense it is and how offenders are punished. The facts are very clear, alcohol impairs your judgment, motor skills, balance, co-ordination, and awareness, and it simply does not mix well with driving.

The chances of you being involved in a car accident go up two folds after the consumption of alcohol or even drugs for that matter. Not only can drunk driving offenders be sued in a civil court by the victim or the victims estate using a Palm Beach, FL drunk driving accident lawyer, but they will also face criminal charges by state prosecutors. 

You do not have to worry about that. You have enough things to worry about. Your vehicle is smashed up, you have some medical issues, you have some scrapes and bruises, how to you get to work on Monday morning, are just some of details that you have to worry about.

http://dui-lawyers.usattorneys.com/florida ― this website was designed for people who needed legal help. This website was set up to allow people to even the score or to be able to find a legal representative when they needed it the most. Do not sign any paper work with the other driver’s insurance company until you have legal representation and you understand the full extent of your case.

Florida drunk driving accident attorneys have also made it very clear that the consequences for those convicted of a DUI is not sparing. Offenders may find themselves behind bars for years, and may be even decades in some felony/repeat drunk driving cases.

When are you technically said to be driving under the influence? 

Driving under the influence is a crime punishable by law throughout America and pretty much everywhere around the world. The specifics may vary slightly from state to state, but predominantly, anybody that is operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% BAC or more is said to be driving under the influence.

This is the maximum legal limit with respect to adult, non-commercial drivers. In the case of underage or commercial drivers, understandably, the limit is much lower. States like Florida have zero tolerance laws and every Palm Beach drunk driving accident lawyer is cognizant of this. This is where a minor with 0.01% BAC is liable to be charged with driving under the influence. 

How are the penalties for a DUI assessed?

Essentially there are two major factors that come into play when a court deliberates the punishments to be handed out to a DUI perpetrator. The first factor is obviously the state of jurisdiction. As already mentioned, state laws vary from state to state and so does the punishments you receive. Secondly, the other factor will be the severity of the DUI offense itself.

The severity is judged on whether or not the arrest was a result of a DUI accident, whether anyone was seriously injured or killed by the DUI instance, if the driver has any prior drunk driving convictions, and whether the suspect was driving on a suspended or revoked license.

Penalties can include lengthy prison or jail sentences. In most states, a misdemeanor drunk driving offender may be sentenced to jail for a maximum period of one year whereas a felony DUI offender will face a minimum of one year in prison. In some extreme cases, repeat offenders can be jailed for 10 years and more.

Offenders will also be slapped with other penalties such as hefty fines, the mandatory installation of ignition interlock devices on all of their vehicles, compulsory completion of drug/alcohol counseling, probation, and community service, to name a few. Their South Florida drunk driving accident lawyer will be busy to say the least.