Houston Criminal Defense Attorney - Driving While Intoxicated Crash Cases
Houston Criminal Defense Attorney - Brian Foley - Board Certified in Criminal Law
If you or a loved one has been charged with a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) case in Houston, Texas, the choices you will face will depend on the particular facts of your case and the evidence. One factor that stands out to prosecutors is if there was a crash. Negotiating cases with a single vehicle crash is easier than one involving multiple vehicles. The main reason is because when someone hits another person's car, there is a victim now associated with the case.
Houston, like other major cities in Texas, has a zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving. If you are caught driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, you will be arrested and charged with DWI. The consequences of a DWI conviction in Houston can be severe, including fines, imprisonment, community service, and mandatory alcohol education classes. If you were involved in a single-vehicle crash, prosecutors will likely focus on the facts of the crash itself. They will want to know if you were driving recklessly or if there were any other factors that contributed to the crash. For example, if you were driving on a poorly-maintained road or if your car had a mechanical failure, these factors may be taken into consideration. In these cases, prosecutors may be more willing to negotiate a plea bargain with you. However, if you were involved in a multi-vehicle crash, the situation becomes more complicated.
Prosecutors will not only focus on the facts of the crash but also the impact it had on the other drivers and passengers involved. They will want to know if anyone was injured or killed in the crash and will use this information to determine the severity of the charges against you. In these cases, prosecutors may be less willing to negotiate a plea bargain. They may instead push for a harsher sentence, such as a longer jail term or higher fines. They may also seek to make an example out of you to deter others from drunk driving. It is important to note that even if no one was injured in a multi-vehicle crash, prosecutors may still push for harsher penalties.
The mere fact that you were drunk driving and caused a crash is enough to justify harsher penalties. As you can see, the facts of your DWI case can have a significant impact on the choices you will face and the outcome of your case. That is why it is essential to work with an experienced DWI attorney who can review the facts of your case, identify any potential defenses, and negotiate with prosecutors on your behalf. A good DWI attorney will also be able to advise you on the best course of action for your case. For example, if you were involved in a single-vehicle crash and there are no injuries, your attorney may advise you to accept a plea bargain to reduce your charges and penalties.
On the other hand, if you were involved in a multi-vehicle crash and there were injuries, your attorney may advise you to fight the charges in court. It is also important to understand that a DWI conviction can have a long-term impact on your life. A DWI conviction will remain on your criminal record, which can make it difficult to find employment, housing, or other opportunities. It may also result in the revocation of your driver’s license, which can make it difficult to get around and make a living.
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