DUI with Serious Bodily Injury or Death
DUI charges, in general, are prosecuted aggressively in the state of Utah. Add to this already punitivie stance a victim who was seriously hurt or killed during the alleged DUI, and the potential penalties and ramifications will quickly escalate.
This is an extremely serious criminal offense and needs to be approached with an equal amount of focus and consideration if you are looking to keep these charges from turning your life upside down. Now is the time to take the steps necessary to clear your name and fight the allegations that have been brought against you.
Salt Lake City DUI with Serious Bodily Injury Attorney
With everything that comes with a DUI charge, having someone with your best interests in mind defending you throughout the entire lengthy and stressful experience is a vital part of your defense. Legal counsel will allow you to make certain that your are appraching the process in the correct manner.
Darren Levitt of Levitt Legal, PLLC is an experienced and dedicated criminal defense attorney who has been representing alleged DUI offenders for years and will provide knowledgeable and effective counsel. He will draw from this experience to develop a proper and effective defense strategy for your particular situation.
If you would like a client-focused attorney who will do everything he can to reduce or dismiss your charges, call Levitt Legal, PLLC at (801) 455-1743 or send an online message to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss the details or your case today. Darren proudly represents individuals accuse of DUI related offenses in and around the Utah counties of Box Elder, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, Cache, Weber, Davis, Summit and Wasatch.
DUI with Serious Bodily Injury or Death under Utah Law
Utah Code §41-6a-502 state that a person may not operate or be in actual physical control of a vehicle within this state if the person:
- has sufficient alcohol in the person’s body that a subsequent chemical test shows that the person has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of .08 grams or greater at the time of the test;
- is under the influence of alcohol, any drug, or the combined influence of alcohol and any drug to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely operating a vehicle; or
- Has a blood or breath alcohol concentration of .08 grams or greater at the time of operation or actual physical control.
Serious bodily injury, as defined in Utah Code §76-1-601, is bodily injury that creates or causes serious permanent disfigurement, protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ, or creates a substantial risk of death.
UPDATE: Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed HB 155 into law changing the legal blood alcohol level from 0.08 to 0.05. The bill will take effect December 30, 2018.
Penalties for DUI with Serious Bodily Injury or Death in Utah
A DUI with serious bodily injury will be charged as a third degree felony according to Utah Code §41-6-44. This offense, if convicted, comes with a presumptive sentence of up to five years in prison and / or fines of up to $5,000.
If a death is involved in the DUI transgression, Utah Code §76-5-207 states that the offender will be charged with a second degree felony. If convicted, a second degree felony comes with a presumptive sentence of up to 15 years in prison and / or up to $10,000 in fines.
For both situations, the court may also require:
- Screening and assessment;
- Intensive treatment or inpatient treatment for not less than 240 hours;
- Supervised probation after prison term or if prison term is not imposed;
- Ignition interlock system for 3 years;
- License suspension for up to 2 years.
Levitt Legal, PLLC || Salt Lake City DUI with Serious Bodily Injury Arrest Lawyer
If you or a loved one is dealing with a DUI w/ serious bodily injury or death in Salt Lake City, make the necessary move and contact Levitt Legal to discuss representation. As a criminal defense attorney who is committed to his clients, Darren Levitt can be counted on to provide transparent, easy to understand legal advice about your situation, along with the options that you have for fighting the charges.
With the uphill battle a serious DUI offense brings with it, only strong and knowledgeable legal counsel will allow you to achieve the outcome you desire. This is the time to make certain that your legal rights are protected, so call (801) 455-1743 to schedule a free consultation with Darren Levitt.
Darren represents individuals dealing with criminal allegations in and around the Utah cities of Perry, Honeyville, Murray, Riverton, Grantsville, Rush Valley, American Fork, Springville, Orem, Provo, North Logan, Providence, Ogden, Park City, Bountiful, Woods Cross, Midway and Wallsburg.