Getting pulled over and arrested for a DUI in Orange County can be a sobering experience.
But when you consider the other possible outcomes, a DUI conviction is not all
that bad. For example, crashing your car and injuring someone while you are
driving drunk is a far more bleak possibility. Orange County DUI Lawyers know
that a DUI with injury may very well be charged as a felony and jail time will
very likely be imposed by a judge in the Orange County courts. And if a DUI
results in somebody being killed, the driver will likely be charged with
vehicular manslaughter. If the driver has a prior DUI conviction they will
likely face murder charges since the Orange County District Attorney will
probably be able to prove that the driver KNEW they were engaging in dangerous
conduct.
Last weekend saw two such tragic incidents in Orange County.
In Garden Grove, a 21-year-old girl crashed her car into a telephone pole and a
building. One of her passengers, another 21-year-old girl was pronounced dead
at the scene. Another passenger was taken to the hospital for her injuries. The
driver now faces charges of felony DUI and vehicular manslaughter. If
convicted, she will likely be sentenced to serve a period of years in the state
prison.
In Santa Ana, a 37-year-old Costa Mesa man was driving with
some passengers in his car. He lost control of his car and drove into a flood
control channel. One of his passengers was thrown from the vehicle and was
killed. The other passenger was taken to the hospital with the driver for their
injuries. The driver now faces felony DUI charges and a count of vehicular
manslaughter.
A legally impaired driver who causes an accident where
someone else is injured, even slightly, can be charged with the felony of
"DUI with injury". This is true even if the injured person was the
driver's passenger and doesn't want to press charges. This offense is called a
"wobbler" which means the prosecutor can charge it as a felony or a
misdemeanor. If charged as a misdemeanor, it carries a maximum of one year in
the county jail.
If you have been arrested for DUI or DUI with injury in
Orange County, you’ll need to consult with an Orange County DUI lawyer today. Call
the Law Offices of EJ Stopyro at (949) 559-5500. The consultation is free and confidential. Or visit our
website at www.EJEsquire.com.
Law Offices of EJ Stopyro
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