Huntsville DUI Accident Lawyer
Facing charges for driving under the influence (DUI) is complicated and high stakes as it is. These things are amplified in cases involving accidents. This page offers information you need to know about how accidents affect DUI penalties and other related subjects.
If you have been accused of DUI in a case involving a car crash, contact a lawyer immediately. At Ward Law, our Huntsville DUI accident attorney has the hard-earned experience and skills to help you navigate the intricacies of your situation.
To schedule a free consultation, call (256) 578-7729 or reach out online. You can contact us 24/7.
How Does an Accident Impact DUI Penalties?
In most instances, the penalties for DUI offenses involving a collision are more severe. Why is that the case? It is because crashes that cause property damage or physical harm are aggravating factors that courts will consider when determining sentences. Generally, aggravating factors lead to harsher penalties.
Additionally, you may face charges besides DUI if your case involves a wreck that hurts or causes the death of another. A conviction for DUI, on top of other offenses, could require you to pay larger fines and be imprisoned for a lengthy period.
Civil Consequences for DUI Accidents
Regardless of whether a judge convicts you of DUI, you could be on the hook for civil damages if you cause an accident that injures someone else.
Through a civil lawsuit, parties can seek damages including but not limited to:
- All past and future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Decreases in earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
A judge may also require you to pay punitive damages. Together, these damages can amount to very large sums of money.
Plea Deals & DUI Accidents
At Ward Law, we often settle DUI cases via plea bargaining. Doing so secures lesser consequences for clients. However, the prosecuting team is not as likely to allow a plea deal in cases involving accidents. Instead, they typically will attempt to prosecute charges to the full extent of the law.
What If You Leave an Accident Scene?
If a person is involved in traffic accient, including DUI-related accident, in which any people are injured or property of others is damaged, it is illegal to leave the scene until certain duties have been completed. The statutes setting out a person’s duties after a traffic crash are found in Alabama Code § 32-10-1 and following. These statutes are not particularly well drafted, and officer often charge people incorrectly with violating the “Leaving the Scene of an Accident” laws. It is important to fight a Leaving the Scene charge, this is because the criminal penalties are harsh, and a conviction for this offense looks very bad on your criminal record.
How Our Huntsville DUI Accident Attorney Can Help You
While DUI accident cases are challenging, our experienced attorney, Frank Ward, can help you in several ways. As a dedicated and passionate DUI defense lawyer, he takes pride in supporting and advocating for clients in difficult situations.
For your defense, he can:
- Obtain police reports, witness statements, and other crucial information that might be valuable for telling your story
- Challenge the validity of procedures law enforcement used to determine whether you were drunk or impaired at the time of the wreck
- Highlight instances where law enforcement or other legal officials violated your rights
- Work tirelessly to secure lesser penalties or the option to participate in diversion programs
How any of the above might look for you will vary depending on your case and its circumstances. Schedule a free consultation to learn specifically what our attorney can offer you.
Start with us by calling (256) 578-7729 or reaching out online.
Why Choose Ward Law?
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ExperiencedAttorney Ward has represented clients throughout North Alabama for more than 15 years and tried cases in many courts. He has even co-authored a book for other attorneys on Alabama DUI defense.
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FocusedMr. Ward endeavors to never lose focus on the needs of his clients, and to do his utmost to achieve their goals. Let him focus on your needs and get you results.
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DrivenThe practice of law is not just a job for him; it is his passion. He is driven to strive for the best possible outcome he can for each of his clients, and he wants to put that drive to work for you.