Under Pennsylvania DUI law, an offender involved in a DUI accident can face enhancement, meaning that they can be charged at a higher tier resulting in much stricter penalties, including mandatory jail time. Unfortunately, the way the law is written, the accident does not even have to be your fault – the fact that you were involved in a motor vehicle accident while impaired allows you to be charged at a higher tier.
DUI Accident Charges and Penalties
Most DUI offenders are fortunate enough to avoid damaging property and injuring themselves or others. But if you are involved in a DUI-related automobile accident in Lancaster County, you may face serious felony and misdemeanor charges, including:
- Aggravated assault while DUI, a 2nd Degree Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Occurs when person causes serious bodily injury to another person as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Aggravated assault by vehicle, a 3rd Degree Felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. Occurs when a person causes serious bodily injury to another person by reckless or gross negligent conduct, or while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Hit and run accident involving death or personal injury, occurs when driver is involved in an accident resulting in injury or death to another person, and the driver fails to render aid to the injured person and provide information. Charges and penalties vary, depending on the severity of injury.
Don’t Face DUI Charges Alone
If you were involved in an accident that resulted in injuries and also face DUI charges, you need skilled representation since defending a DUI accident is not as simple as a standard DUI charge. An experienced Lancaster County attorney like Steven Kellis will examine the facts of your case and work hard to get the charges reduced or eliminated entirely. With more than twenty years of experience defending DUI accident cases, Mr. Kellis focuses his law practice solely on Pennsylvania DUI law. Contact the law office of Steven Kellis today to schedule your free initial case evaluation.