Drunk Driving Felony Record

In many cases, being convicted of drunk driving will result in a misdemeanor. Across the United States, first-time offenders will face this charge (assuming that there are no aggravated charges associated with their case). While this is a serious charge, it is far worse to have a felony on your criminal record. That’s why you should do everything in your power to avoid a drunk driving felony from showing up on your criminal record—and it starts with hiring an experienced DUI defense attorney.

Whether you were involved in a drunk driving accident and a person was injured or even killed, it’s likely that you’ll be facing a drunk driving felony charge. Many states have enacted this law as a way to underline the seriousness of drunk driving.

If you were arrested for drunk driving and there was an accident and another person was injured, you will be sent to state prison if you are convicted of this crime. In the unfortunate event that another person was killed in an accident, and you were the alleged drunk driver, you could be facing manslaughter or even murder charges. Again this is an effort to provide more extreme punishments to those who drink, drive and cause an accident, which involved injury or death.

Depending on your state’s laws, you could even be charged with assault with a deadly weapon. If the person was injured or killed, the state views the deadly “weapon” as the vehicle you were driving.

You could also be charged with a drunk driving felony if you have multiple drunk driving convictions already on your criminal record. Typically, most states have a “three strikes and you’re out” rule. On the third strike, you could be charged with a felony instead of a misdemeanor.

A felony charge carries far worse penalties than a misdemeanor. It also stays on your criminal record and can haunt you for the rest of your life. From filling out job applications to finding an apartment, a felony can have a devastating effect on your future.

But there is hope. With the right DUI defense attorney, you have a chance of having your charge reduced or even dismissed depending on the facts surrounding your case.