When a drunk driver causes an accident that results in bodily injury to another person, this is referred to as a DUI with injury or a DUI causing injury. In DUI accidents causing injuries, drivers face potentially serious penalties. Whether a DUI with injuries is charged as a felony or misdemeanor depends on the extent of injuries to the victim, along with the driver’s history of criminal or other DUI charges.

In any DUI with injury case, the prosecution must prove that you, the driver, were in fact under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash and that this impairment caused the accident.

Potential penalties for DUIs with injury include:

Misdemeanor Charges

• Probation for up to five years
• Imprisonment for five days to one year
• Fines of $390 to $5,000
• Mandatory attendance in a driving under the influence education programs
• Driver’s license suspension for one year

Felony Charges

• One strike under California’s “three strikes” law
• Imprisonment for up to four years for the first injured party, adjusted upward for each party injured
• Substantial fines
• Mandatory attendance in an 18-month or 30 month driving under the influence program
• Driver’s license revocation for up to 4-years.

Southern California DUI Defense Attorneys

If you are driving under the influence of alcohol and cause an accident that results in injury to another person, you may be charged with a felony DUI. A conviction can have devastating consequences, such as incarceration in a state prison. The felony DUI lawyers at The Chahine Law Firm have the experience and dedication to successfully build a strong defense. Our Los Angeles DUI attorneys will review all the facts of your case, investigate the accident, interview witnesses and, if necessary, recreate the scene of the accident to prove that you were not at fault. For more information, contact The Chahine Law Firm for a free consultation at 1-800-950-7755 to find out how we can help.