Tampa Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
Drunk driving accidents are all too common in Florida. Roughly one in three traffic fatalities involves a substance-impaired driver. Ranked third in nation for highest number of drunk driving accidents (superseded by only Texas and California), Florida law enforcement is extremely strict in its enforcement of DUI laws and drunk driving accidents are prosecuted vigorously by the department of justice.
The fact is, if you have been involved in a traffic accident and an officer suspects you are under the influence, you may be arrested and the prosecution will take the possibility of a DUI into consideration when determining charges. The penalties for a DUI conviction involving an accident in which someone is injured are substantial. In addition to the statutory penalties relating to a DUI conviction, you may also be facing additional fines and jail time, and possible felony charges. If convicted, it will remain on your criminal record indefinitely.
Do I Need a Tampa Drunk Driving Accident Attorney?
At difficult times like these, it is imperative that you retain a qualified attorney dedicated to DUI accident defense like those at the law firm of Katz & Phillips, P.A.
Penalties relating to accidents with injuries or property damage:
- First-Degree Misdemeanor (involving property damage or personal injury): not more than $1,000 fine, and not more than 1-year imprisonment (in addition to statutory DUI penalties)
- Third-Degree Felony (causes serious bodily injury while driving under the influence): not more than $5,000 fine, and not more than 5 years imprisonment (in addition to statutory DUI penalties)
- DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide (second-degree felony): not more than $10,000 fine, and 15 years imprisonment (in addition to statutory DUI penalties)
- DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide-Leaving the Scene (first-degree felony): not more than $10,000 fine, and 30 years imprisonment (in addition to statutory DUI penalties)
Felony convictions in particular bring devastating permanent sanctions. For example, in the state of Florida you would be prohibited from owning a firearm, prohibited from obtaining an occupational license (including physicians, lawyers, massage therapists, florists, and others), and loss of the right to vote and stand on a public jury.
Fighting Your DUI Accident Charges in Tampa
It is, however, difficult for the prosecution to meet the burden of evidence required to prove that you were in fact involved in a drunk driving accident in Tampa. A competent Tampa DUI attorney can help your DUI defense by:
- Challenging the results of chemical blood alcohol level tests
- Challenging the validity of a field sobriety test
- Challenging the conditions during which you were taken into custody
- Challenging police or prosecutorial negligence
Call Our Tampa Drunk Driving Accidents Law Firm
At the law firm of Katz & Phillips, P.A., some of our attorneys have past experience in criminal prosecution and are intimately familiar with a district attorney’s strategy. We use this knowledge to our clients’ advantage, putting together a specialized and aggressive defense on our clients’ behalf.
We have decades of collective experience assisting clients in the Tampa area. If you have been arrested for a drunk driving accident in Tampa, call our offices today for a free consultation with one of our DUI attorneys. We will evaluate your case with you and discuss your options. There is no obligation, call today: .