DUI charges are always serious, but when an accident results in injury or death, the consequences escalate to an entirely different level. These cases move beyond standard impaired driving allegations and into crimes that carry long prison sentences, financial restitution, and lifelong stigma.
Prosecutors often treat them as among the most severe offenses tied to driving, and courts respond accordingly.
Washington law imposes some of its toughest penalties when alcohol or drug impairment is linked to a crash that harms others, making the stakes dramatically higher for anyone facing these charges.
Vehicular Assault
If impaired driving causes serious injury, the driver may face vehicular assault charges. Convictions can bring years in prison, long license suspensions, and large fines. Prosecutors must prove both impairment and a direct link between the impairment and the injury.
Vehicular Homicide
When a DUI crash results in death, the charge becomes vehicular homicide. Sentences are severe, often spanning decades, with added restitution to victims’ families. The financial and emotional consequences can be overwhelming.
Social and Civil Consequences
These cases often attract significant media coverage. Public opinion can place pressure on prosecutors to push for maximum penalties. Families of both defendants and victims experience lasting pain, while civil lawsuits often follow criminal convictions.
Defense Options
Defenses may involve challenging blood or breath test results, questioning the accuracy of field sobriety tests, or arguing that other factors caused the crash. Testing equipment can produce errors if it wasn’t calibrated correctly, and officers may not always follow the proper procedures when administering the tests.
Field sobriety tests are especially vulnerable to mistakes. Stress, medical conditions, or even poor weather can cause a driver to stumble or lose balance, which does not necessarily prove impairment. Highlighting these issues can help show that the evidence is not as clear-cut as the prosecution suggests.
Prosecutors must still prove beyond a reasonable doubt that impairment directly caused the injury or death. If another factor, such as road conditions, mechanical problems, or the actions of another driver, contributed to the accident, that may create enough doubt to change the outcome of the case.
Protecting Your Rights in Snohomish County
When life and freedom are at stake, a defense attorney can review the details, highlight weaknesses in the state’s case, and work toward the best possible outcome.
If you are facing DUI charges involving injury or death, call Snohomish Law Group at 425-517-3847 to speak with Scott Lawrence today.
