What is considered a Felony DUI in Santa Cruz County?

The County of Santa Cruz considers a DUI a felony when it involves an injury or accident in which the driver is suspected of DUI. The person injured may be:

·         A passenger in the driver’s car

·         A driver/passenger in another car

·         A pedestrian

A DUI with injury is an extremely serious charge. The penalty for DUI with just one injury ranges from 90 days to one year in the county jail. However, the Prosecutor must prove that the driver being charged was intoxicated and was a cause of the injury. A good example is an intoxicated driver who is rear-ended by another car. Although intoxicated, the driver is not the cause of any injuries suffered in the accident.

The most serious DUI is when it results in a fatality. It is considered even more serious if the driver had prior DUI convictions.  The Santa Cruz DUI Defense firm will make every attempt to defend the driver by proving that he/she was not intoxicated beyond the legal definition of intoxication and therefore not a legal cause of the injury. An attentive DUI attorney will use expert investigators who will look for all possible evidence that the driver is not a legal cause of the accident.

To help reduce sentencing for a DUI with an accident, it is suggested that clients with alcohol or drug abuse problems get in-patient substance abuse treatment. Treatment can be extremely critical in terms of avoiding high bail and getting all possible consideration from the court in the event that the client is found guilty.

Contact Us Now!

If you or someone you know is involved in a DUI involving an accident, you should immediately contact a Santa Cruz DUI defense attorney to set up an consultation to discuss possible options. Our DUI attorneys have an intensive background in representing clients charged with DUI in Santa Cruz County.  Having a reputable DUI defense attorney on your side is crucial to fighting your DUI charges.