You can turn to legal professionals for dedicated support after an arrest for driving under the influence (DUI). It’s especially important that you get immediate help if the police accuse you of a felony offense. In this situation, a Lancaster felony DUI lawyer can explain your options, answer your questions, and offer the assistance you deserve.
A Lancaster DUI lawyer can explore all possible options to resolve the charges you face. Depending on your situation, an attorney could focus on getting your charges dropped to a misdemeanor, having the court dismiss the charges, or fighting for you in court.
We have decades of experience we can draw on to help you find a lawyer ready to assist with all your legal needs.
Why Hire a Felony DUI Lawyer in Lancaster, CA?
Hiring a criminal defense lawyer when you face felony DUI charges can improve your chances of successfully handling the allegations and moving on with your life. Felony DUI charges can have severe repercussions, so it’s crucial that you reach out for help immediately after an arrest.
An attorney can explain the steps you need to take, protect you, and help you avoid mistakes that could increase the chances of facing a conviction. You do not have to go through this challenging process alone.
How Do Lawyers Handle Felony DUI Accusations?
A felony DUI attorney in Lancaster can utilize several strategies to successfully handle these allegations. Depending on your situation, a lawyer may focus on:
Reducing a Felony DUI Charge
Can a felony DUI drop to a misdemeanor? In some cases, yes, the prosecution will agree to reduce the severity of a felony DUI accusation through a plea bargain. Accepting a plea bargain will result in lessened penalties.
Getting a Felony DUI Dropped
Your attorney may push the court to drop a felony DUI charge if the prosecution has insufficient evidence. The court may also dismiss the allegations you face if your lawyer can prove that the police violated your rights at any point during the legal process.
Fighting the Charges in Court
A lawyer can work diligently to build a strong defense after the police arrest you for a felony DUI. You can rely on your attorney to present evidence on your behalf, question witnesses, and fight to get a verdict in your favor.
Understanding What Leads to Felony DUI Charges
California treats most DUIs as misdemeanor-level offenses. So, when is a DUI a felony in California? Drivers may face felony charges if:
- They have three or more past DUIs on their records
- The police accuse them of causing an accident resulting in injuries
- The police accuse them of causing a fatal accident
Any of the above situations could result in more serious felony charges.
What Makes a Felony More Serious Than a Misdemeanor?
Felony charges result in more serious penalties than misdemeanor allegations. Drivers convicted of a felony may face time in prison instead of a local jail, and may also face higher fines.
Additionally, felony convictions will result in harsher restrictions on your driving privileges. Therefore, it’s essential that you take these charges seriously and reach out to a criminal defense lawyer for help immediately.
What Defenses Work for Felony DUI Allegations?
Several defenses may help you handle felony DUI charges. For example, your lawyer may focus on:
Arguing the Results of DUI Testing
Police officers often use the results of blood alcohol content (BAC) tests to justify DUI arrests. However, these tests may provide inaccurate results if police officers fail to follow the proper procedures when administering them.
The lab may also mishandle samples, resulting in incorrect results. Finally, these tests may yield false positives based on what you have eaten and certain medications. Even some medical conditions can cause you to fail a BAC test without drinking alcohol.
A lawyer may use all this information to dispute the results of a test and strengthen your defense.
Disputing the Causes of a DUI Accident
As we mentioned, most DUI charges only become felonies if the police accuse you of causing an accident that results in an injury or a death. Therefore, in this situation, your lawyer may focus on showing that someone else caused your accident.
Showing that someone else caused the crash may help you avoid a felony charge, though you could still face misdemeanor allegations.
Showing That the Police Stopped You Without Cause
Police officers should only pull you over if they have reasonable cause to believe you broke a law. If the police stopped you without reason, the court may have to drop your felony charges, even if you failed a BAC test.
Talk to a Lawyer After a Felony DUI Arrest in Lancaster, CA
You can take charge of your legal situation and immediately get to work on a solid defense by contacting a Lancaster felony DUI attorney after an arrest. An attorney will explain each step you need to take, provide the support you deserve, and stand by you throughout any legal challenges you face.
Our team can help you get in touch with a law firm that has the experience, training, and resources to aggressively handle your defense. Reach out to us now to protect your future.
