Felony With an Injury

San Diego Felony DUI With An Injury Lawyer

DUI Law in California

In California, a DUI is a felony when a person drives under the influence and caused another person to be injured. Similar to misdemeanor DUIs, the prosecutor can bring various charges depending on whether an individual was under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or both. In California, if you were driving under the influence of alcohol, then you will be charged with Vehicle Code section 23153, subdivisions (a) & (b).

It is unlawful for a person, while under the influence of any alcoholic beverage to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law, or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver.

It is unlawful for a person, while having 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood to drive a vehicle and concurrently do any act forbidden by law or neglect any duty imposed by law in driving the vehicle, which act or neglect proximately causes bodily injury to any person other than the driver. 

In any prosecution under this subdivision, it is a rebuttable presumption that the person had 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of driving the vehicle if the person had 0.08 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or her blood at the time of the performance of a chemical test within three hours after driving.

Arrested for DUI? Get advice and guidance from our San Diego first-offense DUI attorney in a free case evaluation. Call us at (888) 412-6491 to schedule an appointment or contact us online

What Does This Actually Mean?

Many individuals believe a DUI is just one crime. But, in San Diego, an individual arrested for DUI will typically face two Felony DUI charges. An individual will often hear these charges referred to as the (a) count and the (b) count.

23153(a)

A common misconception is that you cannot be charged with a DUI if your BAC is below .08%. In California, you can be charged with a DUI even if you BAC is below .08%. In order to convict you of a felony DUI with injury offense, the prosecutor must prove four elements:

  • You drove;
  • You were under the influence when you drove;
  • You committed an illegal act or neglected a duty the law imposed while you were driving and
  • under the influence; AND
  • Another person was injured as a result of the illegal act or neglect.

Drove

The prosecutor must prove that you actually drove your vehicle. But, what does it mean to drive in California? The courts have defined driving as the vehicle moving, no matter how slight the movement.

Typically an officer will observe the vehicle moving, which will satisfy this element. But, courts also permit prosecutors to use circumstantial evidence to prove driving. Circumstantial evidence of driving includes facts that indicate you were driving, such as the engine is on, seated in driver seat, keys in the ignition, head lights illuminated, etc.

Driving Under the Influence in California

Alcohol

California courts have held that you are under the influence if your physical and mental abilities are impaired to such a degree that you no longer have the ability to drive with the caution characteristic of a sober person of ordinary prudence under the same or similar circumstances. In other words, the prosecutor will use any fact showing you were driving poorly, such as swerving, speeding, an accident, etc.

Drugs

The prosecutor must prove that you were under the influence of drugs. California Courts define under the influence of drugs the same as being under the influence of alcohol. You can be charged for driving under the influence of illegal drugs. But, many individuals believe you cannot be charged with DUI for taking prescription drugs as prescribed or over-the counter-medication. But, you may be charged with DUI of drugs regardless of whether the drug you took is illegal, prescription (even if taken as prescribed), or over-the-counter.

Injury and Illegal Act/Neglected Duty

A prosecutor may bring felony DUI charges if someone other than yourself was injured, regardless of how minor the injury. Additionally, the prosecutor must prove that you either (1) committed an illegal act other than driving under the influence or (2) you were otherwise negligent in how you drove.

The prosecutor may be able to show you committed an illegal act if you were speeding, failed to stop at a red light or stop sign, make an illegal turn, etc. For negligence, the prosecutor must show that you failed to use the reasonable care to prevent a reasonably foreseeable harm to another.

23153(b)

A common misconception is that you cannot be charged with a DUI if your BAC is below .08%. In California, you can be charged with a DUI even if you BAC is below .08%. In order to convict you of a felony DUI with injury offense, the prosecutor must prove four elements:

  • You drove;
  • Your BAC was .08 or higher at the time of driving;
  • You committed an illegal act or neglected a duty the law imposed while you were driving and
  • under the influence; AND
  • Another person was injured as a result of the illegal act or neglect.
     

Drove

The prosecutor must prove that you actually drove your vehicle. But, what does it mean to drive in California? The courts have defined driving as the vehicle moving, no matter how slight the movement.

Typically an officer will observe the vehicle moving, which will satisfy this element. But, courts also permit prosecutors to use circumstantial evidence to prove driving. Circumstantial evidence of driving includes facts that indicate you were driving, such as the engine is on, seated in driver seat, keys in the ignition, head lights illuminated, etc.

Under the influence of Alcohol

Vehicle Code section 23153(b) is commonly referred to as the per se count because the law presumes you were under the influence if you had a BAC of .08 or higher. A prosecutor will use a breath or blood test in order to prove your BAC was .08% or higher. The prosecutor must also prove that your BAC was .08 or higher at the time of driving.

Many BAC tests occur thirty minutes or more after you were stopped, so how does the prosecutor prove what your BAC was at the time of driving? The law presumes you had the same BAC at the time of driving if the breath or blood test was done within three hours of driving. But, the prosecutor must prove what your BAC was at the time of driving if the test was completed over three hours after the time of driving.

Injury and Illegal Act/Neglected Duty

A prosecutor may bring felony DUI charges if someone other than the DUI driver was injured, regardless of how minor the injury is. Additionally, the prosecutor must prove that you either (1) committed an illegal act other than driving under the influence or (2) you were otherwise negligent in how you drove.

The prosecutor may be able to show you committed an illegal act if you were speeding, failed to stop at a red light or stop sign, make an illegal turn, etc. For negligence, the prosecutor must show that you failed to use the reasonable care to prevent a reasonably foreseeable harm to another.

Penalties

Felony
When dealing with a felony DUI with injury offense, the question of penalties is not simple. This is because the penalties will depend on the distinct facts of each individual case. Typically, the following penalties are imposed by the court for felony DUI with injury:

  • Two to four years in state prison;
  • An additional consecutive year in prison for each injured person, up to three years;
  • An additional 3 to six years in prison if anyone, other than yourself, suffered great bodily injury;
  • Three to five years of formal probation;
  • $1000-$5000 in fines and assessments;
  • 18-month or 30-month court-approved California DUI school;
  • Habitual Traffic Offender Status for Three years;
  • Five year California License Revocation;
  • A strike on your criminal record under California’s three strike law if anyone, other than
  • yourself, suffered great bodily;
  • Restitution to any injured victims;
  • Installation of an Ignition Interlock Device for up to three years; and
  • Insurance Ramifications.
     

In addition, the court may impose higher penalties if there are additional aggravating facts, such as, high blood-alcohol, accident with injury, child in the car, among others. For a discussion on the aggravating factors, see the DUI enhancements section.

Misdemeanor

DUI with injury is considered a wobbler offense, which means an individual may be charged as a felony or misdemeanor. When dealing with a misdemeanor DUI with injury offense, the question of penalties is not simple. This is because the penalties will depend on the distinct facts of each individual case. Typically, the court may impose the following penalties for a misdemeanor DUI with injury:

  • Five days to one year in jail;
  • Three to five years of summary probation;
  • $390-$5000 in fines and assessments;
  • A three, nine, eighteen, or thirty-month court-approved California DUI school;
  • One to three-year license suspension;
  • Restitution to any injured victims;
  • Installation of an Ignition Interlock Device for up to three years; and
  • Insurance Ramifications.
     

In addition, the court may impose higher penalties if there are additional aggravating facts, such as, high blood-alcohol, accident with injury, child in the car, among others. For a discussion on the aggravating factors, see the DUI enhancements section.

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Our FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 888-412-6491 today!

  • I was not drunk. Can I be charged with DUI for smoking marijuana or taking prescription medications?
    If you were arrested for DUI but didn’t have alcohol in your system, you can still be charged with DUI. There are a number different charges associated with misdemeanor and felony DUI. You can be charged with an (f) count if you consumed any intoxicating drugs, regardless of whether they are illegal or prescription. But, if you were under the influence of both alcohol and drugs, then you can be charged with an (e) count for driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
  • Aren’t the police supposed to read me my Miranda rights?
    It seems like common sense that an officer must read you your Miranda rights. Although this is true in a situation where you are being interrogated, for purposes of DUI, you don’t have that same right. Many times an officer will ask you questions prior to administering field sobriety tests and placing you under arrest. These questions have been classified as “pre-investigatory” questions and are not subject to Miranda. Therefore, it is important you speak with an experience DUI Defense Firm to know whether or not the failure to read you your rights will affect your case.
  • I was involved in an accident and someone was injured. Will I be charged with a Felony?
    Maybe. You can be charged with Felony DUI whenever anyone other than yourself is injured. Even if the injuries were to a friend and their injuries are minor, you can still be charged with a felony. Penalties for a Felony DUI can be severe because your can face time in prison.

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