If you had a drunk driving accident or wreck with injuries, you could go to prison for years or even decades. A DWI accident with injury carries felony criminal charges in Frisco, with substantial fines and a permanent criminal record in addition to potential time behind bars.
A DWI accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg will fight to get your charges reduced or dismissed, and help you achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
Call 214-696-9253 today for a free consultation and case review. We will come to you if necessary.
You Face Fines & Potential Prisons Time for a DWI Accident With Injury
Any drunk driving accident can send you to jail but, if someone got hurt or died, you will face felony criminal charges – potentially even intoxication assault or intoxication manslaughter.
Even the most basic, first-offense DWI charge carries up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine. Subsequent offenses carry even harsher penalties and, if you had any aggravating circumstances, your penalties could double.
Aggravating circumstances include:
- Open container in the car
- A minor passenger in the car
- Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15 or more
- Causing an accident
- Causing an accident with property damage
- Causing an accident with injury or fatality
In addition to potential fines of up to $4,000 and prison time up to 10 years, you must pay court fees and costs. You will lose your driver’s license for up to two years, after which you must pay an annual fee of up to $2,000 for three years to get your license back and keep it active.
You face probation, community service, substance abuse counseling, and the possibility of having to install an ignition lock on your car – all at your expense.
A conviction will stay on your record permanently, with no chance of having the charges sealed or expunged in most cases. This can prevent you from getting a job, renting a house, getting a professional license, or getting into a good school.
If you cause an accident with property damage, injuries, or a fatality, your potential penalties will be much worse.
DWI Accident with Property Damage
The level of charges you face will depend on the type and value of the damages you caused. You will face a minimum of a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $10,000 and two to 10 years in prison. You may also face additional felony criminal charges, such as criminal mischief or reckless damage.
DWI Accident with Injuries – Intoxication Assault
This offense carries third-degree felony charges, punishable by:
- Two to 10 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
However, if you have aggravating circumstances, or if the injured party was a first responder, you will face second-degree felony charges, punishable by:
- Two to 20 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
DWI Accident with Fatality – Intoxication Manslaughter
This offense carries second-degree felony charges, or if the victim was a first responder, you will face first-degree felony charges, punishable by:
- Up to 99 years in prison
- Up to $10,000 in fines
The prosecutor will likely offer you a deal, usually with a reduction in your potential time behind bars. However, you will not avoid the other penalties if you agree to plead guilty.
Before you accept a deal or enter a plea to your drunk driving accident charge, talk to a DWI accident injury lawyer to explore your options.
How a Frisco DWI Accident or Wreck with Injury Lawyer Can Help
Attorney Randy Isenberg has more than 35 years of experience, with time spent as chief felony prosecutor and a state court judge. Our legal team puts this experience to work for you. Our comprehensive legal services are designed to achieve the best possible results for you.
Our services to you include:
Providing Proactive Communication
Our legal team will be there throughout the process, answering your questions and helping you evaluate your options. We offer updates on your case and represent you at every court date as well as at your DMV driver’s license suspension hearing.
Investigation of Your Case
Our legal team investigates the circumstances of your case, obtaining evidence and information that we use to build your criminal defense. We look for mistakes made by the police, problems with chemical testing for BAC, and any other information we can use in court.
Developing Comprehensive DWI Defense Strategies
Based on the facts and evidence we uncover, we determine the best defense strategies for your case. We negotiate with the prosecutor in an attempt to get your charges reduced or dropped. Or, if necessary, we prepare your case for trial.
The prosecutor has a high burden of proof to meet to get a conviction. We have many options for your defense, including:
Challenging BAC testing – the police and testing technicians must follow strictly mandated procedures for administering blood and breathalyzer testing. Any deviation from these procedures provides us with an opportunity to question the validity of the test results.
Challenging BAC test results – BAC breath and blood testing both pose the risk of false-positive results. Medications, mouthwash, and even some food and drink can interfere with the accuracy of breath testing. Mishandling of your blood sample in the lab can also affect the accuracy of test results.
Questioning causation – the prosecution must establish that you drove while legally intoxicated. But they must also prove that your drunk driving caused the DWI wreck in question and that the accident caused the damage or injuries that resulted. We have many options for challenging these assertions as made by the prosecutor.
Whatever legal strategies we use in your defense, rest assured that our legal team will fight tirelessly on your behalf, protecting your legal rights and working to achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
Free DWI Accident, Wreck or Injury Consultation
Before you agree to a plea deal with the prosecutor or provide any statements to the police, learn more about how a criminal defense lawyer at the Law Offices of Randall B. Isenberg can help. Even the most persuasive evidence does not guarantee a conviction.
To help you make the right decision for your future, take advantage of our free consultation and case review.
Call us today 214-696-9253 to learn more.
