While getting arrested for a Greenville DUI is scary under any circumstances, when someone has been hurt as a result of driving while under the influence, there is a greater cause for concern. If you caused an accident while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you need to be aware of the potential criminal charges you are facing and how they could potentially impact your life going forward.
In Greenville, a DUI charge can be made when you are under the influence with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or higher. While there are a myriad of penalties and fines that need to be dealt with for a first-time offender of a DUI charge, if someone was injured as a result of the crime, you could be looking at serious criminal charges.
When someone suffers bodily injury or death by your DUI actions, you are facing a felony charge on your record. Bodily injury under these circumstances is considered the risk of death, disfigurement, loss of limbs or impairment. While an accident that harms another is devastating on all levels, if it occurred as a result of driving while under the influence, it can become deadly.
If someone is hurt from a Greenville DUI accident, you could be penalized severely. You could be considered a felon and face monetary penalties as well as jail time for the charges brought against you. It does not matter if the DUI was your first offense or your fourth, if someone was greatly injured, you might face the possibility of having a felony on your permanent record. A felony for a DUI charge can also occur if you cause extensive property damage occurred.
How Much Jail Time Will I Get for a Greenville DUI Felony Charge?
If your DUI is a felony charge, you may be subject to a lengthy jail term. In Greenville, SC, a felony DUI charge constitutes a mandatory sentence from 30 days to up to 15 years when bodily injury occurs. This is in addition to a mandatory fine of $5,100 to $10,100 and the loss of your driver’s license for up to three years.
If death occurred from your Greenville DUI incident, you are looking at more severe charges against you. You could be sentenced to one to 25 years in prison as well as a fine from $10,100 to $25,100. While you will lose your driving privileges during your imprisonment, the suspension of your driver’s license will also occur for another five years following your release.
What Rights Will I Lose with a Felony DUI Charge in Greenville, SC?
Several things will change for you when you have a felony on your record from a Greenville DUI. You will struggle with the following when you have a felony conviction on your record:
- Employment: You could lose your job if you drive for a living or if your company has policies in place that prohibit criminal charges for its employees. It may be more difficult for you to obtain a job with a felony on your background as you will have to disclose this information on job applications and employers will see the charge when they run a background check on you.
- Voting: You will also lose your right to vote in all elections. Felons are prohibited from voting in a city, state, and national election. This will strip you of this freedom that is a basic right of all Americans.
- Guns: If you are a gun enthusiast, you will no longer be able to own a gun or purchase one for the rest of your life. Felons are prohibited from gun ownership and you will not pass the background test that gun retailers are required to perform to allow a gun sale.
- Deportation: If the U.S. is not your home country, you could be deported from your DUI felony charge. Even if all your family and friends reside in the area and not your home country, a felony is grounds for deportation.
- Housing: You could find yourself having trouble finding housing. Because you have to submit to a background check, a landlord could deny your housing because you are a convicted felon. This can make it had to find adequate housing for you and your family.
- Financing: Another issue that you may run into as a convicted felon because of a DUI charge for death or bodily injury include problems obtaining financing for a new home. If you are looking to buy a new home, you may not be able to go with the lender of your choice at the interest rate you prefer.
- Education: Colleges and university admission can become another pitfall for felons. If you are looking to further your education as a felon, you may also run into problems getting admitted to the school of your choice as you would not be considered a role model student with a felony charge on your record.
Schedule a Consultation with a Greenville DUI Lawyer Today
If you have injured someone as a result of DUI, you need legal help you can trust. You can count on the attorneys at the Bateman Law Firm. We are qualified to handle death and bodily injury DUI cases and can advise you on your legal rights under the law. Contact us today to setup a consultation to discuss your DUI case.