Highly Rated DUI With Injuries Defense Attorneys in West Palm Beach, FL Reliably Handle DUI and Accident Cases for Victims and Clients in Broward County, Palm Beach County, and Throughout South Florida
Driving under the influence is a serious crime. Being charged with DUI with injuries is even more serious, and you can face thousands of dollars in fines, a loss of driving privileges, and even jail time if convicted – not to mention the permanent criminal record that comes with a conviction. We are here to help, and our Florida DUI with injuries defense lawyers have years of experience handling traffic violations, personal injury cases, and DUI with injury charges of all kinds. If you face legal proceedings and need guidance and assistance, the experienced DUI with injuries defense attorneys in West Palm Beach, FL at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. are just a call away. Reach out to us today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation in which we will break down the laws that apply to your case so that you better understand what you need to do and we’ll chart out a strategy for you to help you beat the charges you face.
Understanding Florida’s DUI with Injuries Laws with Our Dedicated DUI With Injuries Defense Attorneys in West Palm Beach, FL
As per FL Stat § 316.193 (2022), driving under the influence is a serious crime. Anyone found guilty of this offense (which includes driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages, specific chemical substances outlined in Statute 877.111, or any substance controlled under Chapter 893 on drug abuse prevention and control, can face the following penalties:
- Fines of between $500 and $1,000 and imprisonment of no more than 6 months for a first conviction
- Fines of between $1,000 and $2,000 and imprisonment of no more than 9 months for a second conviction
For a second conviction, the use of an ignition interlock device will also be required – at the expense of the convicted party.
Additional charges and penalties will be added on whenever a DUI charge is accompanied by aggravators such as property damage or personal injuries. As per Florida law, anyone who violates the statutes outlined above by operating a vehicle and causing or contributing to property damage will face charges of a misdemeanor in the first degree. Causing serious bodily injury to another person is a felony of the third degree, and taking the life of someone or an unborn child will be charged with DUI manslaughter. These crimes can be elevated to felonies of the second or first degree, and these charges come with substantially longer jail terms and higher fines than simple DUIs.
We are here to help. We will gather evidence, interview witnesses, obtain the police report of your accident, and use other relevant evidence such as your clean driving record or the actions of other drivers to lessen or dismiss your charges. Florida is a comparative fault state, so if someone else was partly at fault for your accident, we can work to have your charges or penalties reduced accordingly. For a better understanding of how this process works and how our Florida DUI with injuries defense lawyers can help you, speak with our skilled and knowledgeable DUI with injuries defense attorneys in West Palm Beach, FL today.
Defining Serious Bodily Injuries
Legal matters are matters of precision, and determining whether you are innocent or guilty and arguing whether or not you broke specific laws can come down to the definitions contained within those laws. For example, if you are charged with DUI with injury for causing serious bodily injuries to someone else, how are serious bodily injuries defined? We can potentially argue that the injuries in question do not meet the legal threshold for you to be charged under a given statute or rule.
In general, the severity of bodily injuries can be subjective, but Florida Statute 316.1933 defines them as physical conditions that create a substantial risk of death, serious disfigurement, or the long-term loss or impairment of an organ or bodily function. Under this definition, DUI with injury can be used against you if your DUI caused:
- Head trauma
- Brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken bones
- Organ/tissue damage
- Scarring/disfigurement
- Dental or eye injuries
- Burns and lacerations
Call Our Florida DUI With Injuries Defense Lawyers Today If You’ve Been Charged with DUI with Injury
Our DUI with injuries defense attorneys in West Palm Beach, FL are just a call away. Skilled and reliable legal representation can be the difference between an acquittal, a lowering of your charges, or months or years behind bars and long-term license suspensions. Do not take the risk of ignoring or miscalculating the severity of your DUI with injury charges and speak with us today for advice, guidance, and representation from a knowledgeable and dedicated DUI with injuries defense attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions About DUI With Injuries in West Palm Beach, FL
Restitution is when the court orders the convicted party to cover the losses that a victim suffered in an accident. However, there are limits on how much the court can order the convicted party to pay. If you are a defendant in a case in which the court orders restitution, you can request a hearing to dispute how much restitution is fair. If you or a loved one are facing a DUI charge and want to better understand your rights when it comes to paying restitution, speak with our DUI with injuries defense attorneys in West Palm Beach, FL today.
No two cases are alike, so there is no standard approach that is used for every situation. The best approach will depend on the case facts and the specifics of your charges. However, based on the findings of our investigation into the case, some of the ways we can defend you include disputing the claims of the victim or prosecution, using police reports to support your claims, debating the severity of the charges levied against you or the severity of the victim’s injuries, and even proving that you were either not drinking or driving or operating a vehicle to be charged. Cases of mistaken identity, false arrest, and constitutional violations can also be used as defenses in your case. Our Florida DUI with injuries defense lawyers will know which defensive strategy to employ after reviewing your case, so speak with us today for a free consultation and case evaluation.