All charges for driving under the influence (DUI) in California can lead to fines, jail time, and the suspension of your driver’s license. Most of these DUI charges are prosecuted as misdemeanors in the court system.
However, you can face felony charges in some situations. If you are accused of a DUI causing injury, you might face harsher felony accusations. Fortunately, you may be able to get a felony DUI with injury charge reduced to a misdemeanor in some circumstances. Find out more with the Simmrin Law Group.
Understand DUI Causing Injury Charges
Before we discuss charge reductions for DUI causing injury cases, we should define this criminal act. You may be charged with a DUI causing injury if:
- You operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs AND
- You carry out an illegal act
- Causing someone else to suffer an injury
DUI causing injury charges are prosecuted under California Vehicle Code Section 23153. This charge can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony.
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Review Penalties for DUI Causing Injury Convictions
Misdemeanor and felony charges for a DUI with injury can lead to different penalties. For example, if you are charged with a misdemeanor you could face:
- Fines of up to $5,000
- Jail time of up to one year
- Probation of up to five years
- License suspension of up to three years
Felony charges, on the other hand, can result in:
- Fines of up to $5,000
- Prison time of up to four years
- License revocation of up to five years
As you can see, felony convictions lead to more serious results than what you will face if convicted of a misdemeanor. For this reason, you should contact a criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles to discuss the best way to get your charges reduced.
Differences Between Misdemeanor and Felony DUI with Injury Charges
Prosecutors in the state of California have a bit of lee-way when determining how to prosecute DUI causing injury cases. Your charges may be treated as a felony based on your prior criminal history. You will always face felony charges if:
- You were previously convicted of three DUIs
- You were previously convicted of two DUIs causing injury
However, you can face felony charges even if you were never convicted of a DUI in the past. Prosecutors can also seek felony charges if people were severely injured in the accident. Felony charges may apply if the accident resulted in:
- The loss of an organ or body part
- A permanent disfigurement
- A long-term disability
Placing someone’s life in danger can also lead to felony DUI causing injury charges in the state of California.
Reducing a DUI with Injury Charge to a Misdemeanor
In some cases, a DUI lawyer in Los Angeles can get felony DUI causing injury charges reduced to the misdemeanor level. Note that charges cannot generally be reduced if you are facing felony charges based on your prior criminal history.
However, if your felony charges are based on the level of injury caused by the DUI, a legal professional may be able to help. The severity of an injury is often subjective, allowing a lawyer to gather evidence and argue on your behalf.
Getting help quickly from a DUI lawyer can improve your odds of reducing DUI with injury charges in California. Waiting allows the prosecution to settle on felony charges and build a case against you, so get legal assistance now.
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Defenses for DUI with Injury Charges in California
Depending upon your situation, you can fight DUI causing injury charges with the help of a criminal defense lawyer. If your lawyer can get your charges dismissed, you will not need to worry about getting your felony charges reduced to a misdemeanor level.
Your DUI lawyer can also stand up for you in the court system. Let the team at the Simmrin Law Group work to dispute the evidence against you. We may be able to demonstrate that you were not inebriated at the time of your accident, or that the accident was not your fault.
Get Help Handling Felony Dui with Injury Charges
The Simmrin Law Group may be able to help you if you are facing felony charges for a DUI causing injury. Find out if we can help you reduce your felony charges to a misdemeanor by calling (310) 896-2723 or filling out our online contact form.
You can get a FREE initial case evaluation from our DUI lawyers in Los Angeles right now. Take charge of your future by contacting us now.
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