Getting into an accident can be very frightening. After a crash, there can be injured people, damaged cars and the chaos of an accident scene complete with police officers. In many situations, officers will explore the possibility that the accident was caused by a drunk driver.
If they have reason to believe that alcohol did play a factor in a crash and you are the one accused of causing the accident while under the influence of alcohol, you could be facing some serious penalties. Not only could you be held financially liable for the injuries of any other motorists, but you could also be charged with a felony DWI offense.
Drunk driving offenses are taken very seriously in Minnesota; especially those that result in an accident. Anyone who is drunk and injures someone else can be facing very harsh penalties that are intended to punish people and send a message to others.
To begin with, there are financial repercussions. This can include fines, civil litigation penalties and increased insurance rates. Felony DWI convictions can cost a person tens of thousands of dollars.
There are also other non-financial consequences of being convicted of causing an accident while intoxicated that are arguably more upsetting. A person’s reputation, job, parental rights and freedom could all be in jeopardy if convicted of a felony offense.
If you are facing felony DWI charges in Minnesota, it can be crucial to defend yourself in order to avoid or minimize exposure to the severe penalties of a conviction. However, doing so without legal representation could lead to costly errors and oversights that can jeopardize your case.
The attorneys at Sheridan and Dulas PA are familiar with DWI laws in Minnesota and we have experience defending people against these allegations in court. We know that there are ways to seek dismissal or reduction of charges, and we are prepared to fight for those resolutions on your behalf. For more information on our approach and our firm, please visit our website.