Bowie DUI Defense Attorney Handling Cases Involving Enhancements for Bodily Injury

Protecting the rights of those accused since 1981

Facing charges of driving under the influence (DUI) is serious enough, but if the incident involves the injury or death of another person, there are additional consequences called enhancements or aggravating factors. A drunk driver who injures another person may also face separate, additional charges for a crime against the person, which has penalties of its own, or be sued in civil court.

At Carey Law Office, it is our mission to safeguard the rights of our clients who have been charged with a DUI. We handle complex cases daily, including those involving accusations of felony crimes, and will put our experience to work for if you are facing alcohol- or drug-related enhancements. Contact us in Bowie or Crofton to schedule a confidential consultation today.

What are enhancements when it comes to DUI?

In Maryland, if you commit a crime while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you can face additional charges, fines, or penalties. For example: If an intoxicated woman gets behind the wheel of her car, and hits her soon-to-be-ex-husband and his new girlfriend, accidentally causing serious injury to both, she could be charged with “Life-threatening injury by motor vehicle or vessel while under the influence of alcohol,” which is a misdemeanor subject to up to two years in jail and a fine up to $3,000. With a prior DUI conviction, she might get five years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Or, let’s say the woman in question starts to fall asleep on the road, and steers her vehicle into oncoming traffic. She causes a crash, killing the other driver. She may now be charged with vehicular manslaughter by gross negligence; this implies that the driver KNEW her behaviors were reckless or negligent – i.e., drinking and then getting behind the wheel – but she did it anyway. The penalties for a gross negligence conviction are steep: up to 10 years in prison, and $5,000 in fines, with a felony conviction on your record.

Drunk driving with a child in the vehicle

Another aggravating factor in a DUI conviction includes the penalty enhancement for a driver who is arrested for DUI or DWI with a child in the car. Per MD Transp Code § 21-902 (2022), the enhanced penalty for a first-time offender increases the fine from up to $500 to a possible fine of $2,000 and up to two years in jail if he or she is arrested with a minor in the vehicle. For subsequent offenses, the fines and jail time increase.

Consequences of DUI conviction

Aside from the fines and jail time that are part of any DUI conviction, there are additional consequences you may endure. You will have your driver’s license revoked by the MVA, and your insurance rates will almost certainly go up. You could be required to install an ignition interlock device (IID) at your own expense. If you are convicted of a felony, you could lose your job, your professional license or your security clearance. You will lose your right to own a firearm or run for public office, and may be ineligible for housing or educational assistance.

How can a Bowie DUI defense lawyer help me?

If you have been arrested for a DUI and there were aggravating factors, such as an injury or a minor child in your car, you can face significant consequences. Now is the time to contact an experienced Bowie DUI/DWI defense attorney. At Carey Law Office, we investigate every part of your case to develop the strongest defense for you. Our goal is to get your charges dismissed when possible, or reduced to more manageable penalties. We will also represent you in MVA hearings to ensure that your license is restored quickly.

Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney is vital to the success of your case when you have been charged with a crime.

Work with a skilled Bowie and Crofton DUI defense lawyer who will fight for you

Bodily injuries and other extenuating factors can increase the penalties of a DUI conviction. Do not try to face these criminal charges on your own. At Carey Law Office we are here to help you protect your future. You are welcome to call 301-464-2500 or complete our contact form to schedule a consultation today. We will get through this together.