DWI Accident Defense Lawyer
Were you arrested for a DWI?
Being arrested for DWI after being in an accident are the unfortunate combination
of two traumatic events. This is a common type of DWI case in New York
City. When the NYPD arrives at the scene of an accident, one of the first
things they do is see if any of the drivers appears to be under the influence
of drugs or alcohol. This is because the NYPD believes that driving in
New York City is so difficult, that drunk drivers are almost surely to
crash more often than a sober driver. Appearing to be under the influence
can happen if the police think you are slurring your words, unable to
walk in a steady manner, acting in an unusual manner, if you smell like
alcohol, or if there are any open containers in your car. They may also
consider the nature of the accident such as by considering who was at
fault and how clear the issue of fault is. For example, we had a client
who was arrested for driving the wrong way on second avenue which is,
in terms of making a glaring mistake, about as bad as it gets.
If the accident is very serious, a suspected drunk driver may not be questioned
because the first priority might be to get them to a hospital. While at
a hospital, blood may be taken or the driver (if alert) may be asked to
blow into a portable breathalyzer if intoxication is suspected.
A DWI accident case can be much more serious. Although with relatively
minor injuries, it is generally in the same way as any other DWI case,
serous injures are a different story. Severe injuries or the death of
any driver or passenger involved in the accident will typically lead to
felony charges and the risk of coverage in the media.
Even if the injuries are minor, the District Attorney is under pressure
to aggressively prosecute drivers who are drunk and in an accident under
the idea that the crime is more egregious and the driver is a greater
danger to society.
We Fight For You.
Going to court following an arrest for DWI following an accident can be
daunting. The prosecutor’s goal is to penalize you to the maximum
extent. You face a possible jail sentence even for a first arrest misdemeanor
DWI. The judge is there to make sure the process is fair, but is not there
to defend you. Fortunately you don’t have to go it alone. Picking
the right attorney is crucial. Lance Fletcher, a former Manhattan Prosecutor,
has successfully defended hundreds of DWI cases over a career spanning
over fifteen years. He has defended clients in various New York courts
including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. He
has also defended DWI cases at various stages including at the arraignment
and up to an including trial. Lance Fletcher will fight the charges, evidence,
and explore every and all ways to get your case dismissed. If getting
your charges reduced is a possibility, we will explore that as well. If
you or a loved one has been arrested for DWI in New York City, contact us today.