Truck and Car Accident Injury Resulting from DUI
Sterling Heights attorneys also serving Warren
Truck and car accidents often involve factors such as driving under the influence (DUI), which complicates matters for DUI defense attorneys representing clients against these charges. A DUI accusation against the person at fault can also strengthen your case if pursuing personal injury compensation as an accident victim. Boyer Dawson & St. Pierre handles both civil and criminal cases for truck and car accidents complicated by accusations of DUI. Clients benefit from our 45 years of experience in these areas of law.
Michigan DUI accidents
According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), 28 percent of Michigan traffic accident fatalities in 2009 involved driver blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. In addition, 34.4 percent of Michigan 2009 traffic fatalities were alcohol related in some way.
Anyone charged with a DUI faces much tougher challenges when accident, injury, or death results from a motor vehicle accident. DUIs involving serious injury are subject to felony charges, with maximum penalties of five years in prison and fines of $5,000. When death results from a DUI accident, drunk drivers are subject to maximum DUI penalties of 15 years in prison and fines upwards of $10,000.
Stricter laws for truck drivers
Michigan laws for commercial drivers are more stringent than for other drivers. A commercial truck driver may lose the right to drive because of a DUI accident conviction, whether driving a commercial or regular vehicle, which, in addition to other potential penalties, usually means a career change is required.
DUI accidents are inherently complex because, in addition to a criminal lawsuit, you may also be subject to a civil lawsuit, especially if insurance is inadequate to cover damages or the victim seeks high recovery amounts based on serious injury or death.
Truck drivers and trucking companies carry higher liability insurance than regular motorists because the potential repercussions involving truck collisions are much more severe than impacts involving regular motor vehicles.
If involved in a DUI truck accident, whether you are the person charged with drunk driving or an accident victim, it is vital to consult a DUI defense attorney or truck accident attorney to protect your rights.
Arrange a free consultation with an experienced accident lawyer
Our lawyers evaluate the prospects of defending or pursuing a case in a free consultation. Contact Boyer Dawson & St. Pierre for help in Sterling Heights, Warren, or elsewhere in Michigan by phone at: 248-841-4665 or contact us online.
