DUI Accidents

Savannah DUI Accident Attorneys

Providing High Quality Legal Representation When You Need It Most

A DUI charge is already a significant problem on its own, with the potential for jail time, fines, a suspended driver’s license, and other consequences. However, the situation is only worsened when a DUI accident occurs. The penalties also substantially increase if the accident resulted in injuries or property damage.

Our Savannah DUI accident lawyers recognize that defendants are fighting for their freedom and their record. Scheer, Montgomery & Call, P.C. has served people throughout Chatham, Bulloch, Liberty, and Effingham Counties since 2009. We also have individual lawyers with in-depth experience obtaining successful client outcomes.

If you have been arrested for a DUI accident, our attorneys are ready to assist you with your legal needs. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free consultation, allowing us to thoroughly evaluate your legal needs.

What are Common DUI Accident Scenarios?

Some accidents may be as minor as a fender bender. However, when DUI is involved, it’s always a serious situation, and that seriousness escalates with cases like these:

Vehicular Homicide

Vehicular homicide occurs when someone causes the death of another person through any kind of illegal driving activity. If the illegal activity is DUI, then the charge will likely be brought in the first degree.

First-degree vehicular homicide is a felony, and a conviction can lead to 3 to 15 years in prison. Furthermore, if multiple DUIs have made the person a habitual violator, the prison time range can be 5 to 20 years.

Serious Injury by Vehicle

Serious injury by vehicle happens when a driver causes life-altering injuries through DUI or reckless driving. Under Georgia law, injuries qualifying as “serious” include permanent disfigurement, loss of body functionality, or organic brain damage.

Serious injury by vehicle is always charged as a felony. If convicted, offenders face a sentence of 1 to 15 years in prison. A defendant’s driver’s license will be suspended for 3 years, with no possibility for early reinstatement.

Feticide by Vehicle

Feticide by vehicle is charged when a driver acts unlawfully to cause an accident that results in the death of a pregnant woman’s unborn child. Feticide by vehicle is also a felony offense, with potential prison terms ranging from 3 to 15 years per charge.

Hit-and-Run

A hit-and-run occurs when a driver leaves the scene of an accident without fulfilling their legal obligation to stop and exchange information with the other driver. Hit and run laws apply whether or not an accident causes injuries or fatalities, even for incidents as seemingly minor as a fender-bender.

If no injuries occur, hit-and-run is typically treated as a misdemeanor, with penalties including up to 12 months in jail and fines of up to $1,000. However, if the accident results in injury or death, hit-and-run becomes a felony.

What are Other Potential Consequences for DUI Accident Defendants?

The potential consequences for defendants in a DUI accident case don’t stop with the scenarios and sanctions outlined above. There is also the suspension of a driver’s license, the likely increase in auto insurance premiums—or the loss of coverage altogether —the installation of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle, and public notice given to local newspapers of the conviction.

After a DUI accident conviction, you may also face job loss and struggle to find future employment. Most employers run background checks and are hesitant to hire individuals with criminal backgrounds. Individuals who hold professional licenses, such as those who work in healthcare or education, may have their licenses suspended or revoked.

Furthermore, there may be personal injury lawsuits. Those will be adjudicated in civil court, but the outcome of these lawsuits may hinge on how the criminal case is resolved. Additionally, you may face social repercussions from family, friends, and co-workers, especially if someone was injured in the accident.

Do Georgia Prosecutors Ever Reduce DUI Accident Charges?

Although Georgia prosecutors take a tough stance on DUI accidents, they are sometimes willing to reduce charges. It is worth noting that although DUI accident cases are rarely dismissed, some charges may be reduced depending on the facts involved.

Often, DUI accident charges are reduced through plea negotiations between defense lawyers and prosecutors. If the prosecutor feels they have a weak case, they may be open to reducing charges.

Some of the factors that prosecutors evaluate when trying to decide whether charges should be reduced include:

  • The police officer lacked probable cause
  • The police officer failed to follow proper procedures
  • The defendant’s prior criminal history
  • If the accident was a first offense DUI
  • Issues with field testing, breathalyzer, or blood test results

If the prosecutor decides to reduce the charges, they may lower them to reckless driving, which has less severe penalties than a DUI. One of the most significant benefits of hiring a DUI lawyer is that they can present a strong case to the prosecutor, explaining why the charges should be reduced or dismissed.

What are Some of the Legal Defenses Attorneys Use to Fight DUI Accident Charges?

Criminal attorneys are well-versed in the nuances of state DUI laws when building a legal defense for their clients. Your attorney will first analyze the evidence, including dash and body cam footage of the stop and field sobriety tests. They will also review all test results to ensure that procedural errors did not occur.

Some of the most common legal defenses used by attorneys to fight DUI accident charges include:

  • Challenging the Initial Stop: Law enforcement officers must have probable cause to initiate a traffic stop. If probable cause did not exist, then your attorney can file motions asking that all evidence be excluded, which would significantly weaken the state’s case
  • Violation of Constitutional Rights: If the police violated your constitutional rights, your attorney may be able to argue that the case should be thrown out. Violations include unlawful search and seizure, or the use of a coerced confession
  • Inaccuracy of Field Sobriety Tests: Field sobriety tests (FSTs) are well known for their inaccuracies and are subjective based on the officer’s opinions. Factors that can negatively affect FSTs include physical conditions, medication, and lighting conditions
  • Disputing a Breathalyzer or Blood Test: In many cases, breathalyzers or blood tests are administered incorrectly, leading to false positives. Additionally, breathalyzers are often not adequately maintained or calibrated
  • Improper Testing Procedures: An attorney may determine that the officer did not correctly administer FSTs or the breathalyzer test
  • Medical Conditions: Specific medical conditions, such as diabetes and GERD (acid reflux), or the use of prescription drugs, can result in defendants testing high for blood alcohol concentration (BAC)

What DUI Defense Services Does Your Law Firm Offer to Clients?

Our Savannah DUI accident lawyers provide a comprehensive range of legal services to our clients. When you come to us for help, we will work to develop a custom defense strategy to achieve a successful outcome for your case. The DUI defense services we provide include:

  • Aggravated DUI
  • CDL DUI
  • DUI Accidents
  • DUI Field Breath & Blood Tests
  • DUI License Suspensions
  • Felony DUI
  • Multiple DUIs
  • Underage DUI

Get the Legal Help You Deserve

Let us help you navigate your legal challenges. Schedule a no-obligation consultation with our experienced attorneys today, and take the first step toward justice.

What Sets Your Law Firm Apart From Others?

If you are facing a DUI accident charge, you need a law firm that is willing to challenge the prosecution and fight to have your charges dismissed or reduced. Our legal team comprises a former state prosecutor and other professionals with extensive experience in law enforcement and related fields.

The Difference Is in Our Dedication

The Scheer, Montgomery & Call P.C. Promise

  • Integrity in Every Action: The foundation of excellent legal work is built on honesty, transparency, and ethical practices, ensuring that your case is handled with the utmost respect and professionalism
  • Committed to Delivering Results: We go beyond expectations to achieve successful outcomes, leveraging our deep expertise in various practice areas to fight for what’s best for you, whether through negotiation or trial.
  • Your Success, Our Priority: We put our clients first, dedicating ourselves to understanding your unique needs and providing personalized legal solutions that align with your goals, every step of the way
  • Decades of Trusted Legal Experience: With over 40 years of combined legal experience, Scheer, Montgomery & Call, P.C. brings expert knowledge and proven strategies to fight for your rights and secure the best possible outcomes.

The Experienced and Honest Lawyers You Need

All of this is to say that defendants need a highly experienced attorney who will provide them with candid advice about their situation and the best course of action to take. At Scheer, Montgomery & Call, P.C., we’re willing to tell hard truths to our clients. It’s not always easy for people to hear, but the flip side is this—when we take on a case, our clients can be confident that we truly believe something positive can be accomplished.

The attorneys and staff in our Savannah office do everything possible to obtain an acquittal, dismissal of charges, or, at the very least, a reduction of consequences. Contact our Savannah DUI accident lawyers today at 912-233-1273 to schedule a free consultation so we can determine your legal options.