Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors take all DUI arrests very seriously so the penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol in Florida are harsh, but the penalties get ratcheted up even more when a DUI accident causes serious injuries. A DUI that causes serious injury to someone other than the person driving under the influence of alcohol is a third degree felony under Florida DUI law. It also carries a mandatory minimum sentence and a maximum term of incarceration of five years in state prison.
If you are involved in a DUI that causes serious injury, the police can make you submit to a forcible blood draw. Effective defense of a DUI case involving serious injury requires careful investigation of the procedures behind the blood testing. Our Florida DUI defense firm typically works with expert witnesses to evaluate potential issues with the way the blood testing was conducted and potential legal grounds for suppression of the results. We also work closely with accident reconstruction experts to challenge the prosecution’s explanation for the cause of the accident and the injured vehicle occupant’s injuries.
These cases can be difficult to defend because sometimes charges are not filed until many months after the Florida alcohol related car accident. The Florida Highway Patrol or sheriff’s department may have conducted a long investigation, and the blood from your forcible blood draw may have been sent off for analysis months before.
These issues make it essential to retain an attorney as early as possible following your accident. Even if you have not been charged immediately following the accident, it is important to retain a DUI defense attorney who can begin to gather relevant evidence regarding the accident, investigate any blood test procedures and results as well as protect your interest during the initial stages of the accident investigation. While there are many ways to attack blood testing, it is like DNA in other criminal cases in that it can be more difficult to challenge than other types of evidence.
If you or your loved one has been involved in a car accident in Florida and is under investigation for DUI, our experienced DUI defense lawyers have the expertise and experience to carefully analyze the evidence against you even during the early stages of the investigation. We represent those throughout Florida charged with DUI including those involving serious injury. Call our Florida DUI defense lawyers to see how we can help.
Call 1 800-687-2252 to Speak With a Florida DUI lawyer In Your Area.
Hiring a Florida DUI attorney to aggressively defend you can help you obtain the best possible result in your case. Call our toll-free, Florida DUI Advice Helpline at 1 (800) 687-2252 for a Florida DUI law firm near you (by appointment only).
