Drunk drivers account for 28% of the fatal car accidents every year. It’s a sad statistic that could change with one better decision before getting behind the wheel to drive.
What happens when someone is driving under the influence and kills someone? Will they face a murder charge? What happens next?
Charges You May Face for a Fatal DUI Charge
If you receive a DUI and are facing charges for killing someone, there are multiple different types of charges that will be on your plate. Understanding these types of penalties will help you to understand what type of action you need to take. Let’s dive into the type of DUI penalties you will be facing.
Reckless Homicide While Intoxicated
You might be facing a DUI and never have had one before. If it is your first time receiving a DUI conviction and it is a fatal accident when you were driving, you could face a charge of reckless homicide.
This is actually a pretty common charge when death occurs because of an accident that involves alcohol. However, the prosecution will look for evidence that shows more than just driving under the influence. This could be something like texting while driving, not obeying a traffic sign, or engaging in risky driving behavior.
Steps to Take After Facing This DUI Charge
If you’re facing a DUI charge of any kind, there are a few steps that you need to take right away.
The first thing that you want to do, and quickly, is hire a criminal defense lawyer. Having a DUI charge of any sort is not something you want to deal with, but adding a fatality to that makes it much worse. This means that you need a defense lawyer that is able to handle a serious criminal charge.
When looking for an attorney to help you, you want to ensure that they have some prior experience with these cases. The more experience they have, more likely it is that you are going to win the case.
You also want to ensure that you hire a criminal defense attorney that has experience dealing with DUI charges.
Before deciding on a lawyer, ensure that you look through reviews and testimonials, and get a free consultation first. This will help you narrow down your research to determine which lawyer fits your needs the best. This is why it is also essential to ask the right questions during the process.
DUI and Its Consequences
If you are convicted of a DUI in a fatal accident, you are going to need as much help as you possibly can. It is not easy to deal with these charges.
You will want to hire an attorney that can help you. Not only will you want help with the case, but you may need help reinstating your license down the line. We are here to help you do that.
Contact us today at JMQ so that we can have a discussion about next steps.
