What Are the Consequences of a DUI That Results in Death or Injury?

 Posted on July 30, 2020 in DUI

One of the things that police patrols are constantly doing is looking for signs of impaired drivers on the roads. Impaired and drunk driving are responsible for many traffic accidents and deaths each year in the United States. According to the latest data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 10,500 deaths from drunk driving accidents in this country in 2018 alone. Any type of DUI charge is serious, but charges are increased when a DUI incident results in the injury or death of another person. In these cases, the impact a DUI conviction could have on your life could be severe, so it is important to understand the consequences you may face in Illinois.

DUI Resulting in Injury

If you are charged with a DUI and that incident resulted in the bodily harm, injury or death of another person, it is likely that you will be charged with a felony DUI. In Illinois, all felony DUIs are referred to as aggravated DUIs. If you were charged with a DUI and you caused an accident that resulted in great bodily harm, permanent disability, or disfigurement to another person, you will be charged with a Class 4 felony. This means that you could face between one and four years in prison, up to $25,000 in fines, and a minimum two-year driver’s license revocation.

You can also face charges for driving under the influence with a child under the age of 16 in the vehicle and getting into an accident that causes bodily harm to the child. This is typically charged as a Class 2 felony, which carries a possible sentence of three to seven years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines. In addition to any other criminal penalties, Illinois law also imposes a mandatory $2,500 fine and 25 days of community service in a program that benefits children.

DUI Resulting in Death

Criminal charges become even more serious when there is a death that results from a DUI incident. In Illinois, a person who commits a DUI that results in the death of another person faces a Class 2 felony. A DUI incident resulting in death will typically result in a prison sentence unless “extraordinary circumstances exist and require probation.” If the accident resulted in the death of one person, the prison sentence can be anywhere between 3-14 years. If the death of two or more people were involved, the term of imprisonment is increased to 6-28 years.

Contact a Rolling Meadows, IL Aggravated DUI Defense Attorney

If you have been charged with an aggravated DUI, it is important that you seek professional legal help as soon as possible. A knowledgeable Arlington Heights, IL criminal defense lawyer will explain your rights and build a strong defense on your behalf to avoid a conviction. Scott F. Anderson, Attorney at Law, has more than 23 years of experience helping clients with all types of cases in the Illinois criminal justice system. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 847-253-3400.

Sources:

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812826

https://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a118.pdf