DUI Cases with Injury in Moundsville, West Virginia

When you find yourself behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you pose a significant risk not only to yourself but also to everyone else on the road. In West Virginia, a DUI offense is taken very seriously, and if it results in injury, the consequences can be severe. This is when you need legal assistance from a Moundsville DUI lawyer.

West Virginia DUI Law Amendment (June 2015)

In June 2015, West Virginia amended law 17C-5-2, which separated DUI charges into two categories:

1. DUI with Severe Physical Injuries
2. DUI with Minor Injuries

Definition of Injuries

• Minor Bodily Injury: Includes physical pain, illness, and injuries to body parts.
• Severe Physical Injury: Encompasses lifelong disfigurement, life-threatening conditions, and prolonged malfunction or dysfunction of an organ.

If you are charged with a DUI involving physical injuries, it is crucial to hire a Moundsville DUI lawyer in West Virginia immediately. The Mountaineer Criminal Law Group can handle your case and work towards reducing or dismissing the charges.

Detecting Bodily Injuries

When an accident involves a DUI charge, the prosecution focuses on collecting medical reports of all injured parties to prove the impaired driver’s risk to everyone on the road. If the driver is injured, authorities wait until they are fit for arrest. Once the driver is released from the hospital, they may face charges for DUI with injury. If you or a loved one is involved in such an accident, don’t delay in hiring a Moundsville DUI lawyer. We will manage the case while you recover from your injuries.

Penalties for DUI with Injury

The severity of the injury determines the penalties for DUI cases involving injuries:

• Minor Physical Injuries:
• Mandatory jail time of 24 hours up to one year
• Fines ranging from $200 to $1000
• Severe Physical Injuries:
• Classified as a felony
• Jail time ranging from two to ten years
• Fines between $1000 and $3000

If the injured person dies within a year, the charges may escalate to negligent homicide.

Contact a Moundsville DUI Lawyer

The outcomes of a DUI with injuries are serious, often leading to long jail terms and substantial fines. If you face such charges, consult an experienced  Moundsville DUI lawyer from Mountaineer Criminal Law Group. With a team well-versed in handling DUI cases, we can represent you effectively in court. Call us (304) 381-3656 for a consultation today.