When many people think of drunk driving cases, they automatically consider the criminal aspect of it. This is often the most pressing matter for the defendant, but it might not be the only legal case they have to deal with.
Drunk driving crashes can lead to civil cases if the person who was struck suffered an injury. These cases can lead to considerable financial difficulties if the complainant is awarded compensation.
Sometimes, people think that the double jeopardy point in the U.S. Constitution applies to these cases, but it doesn’t. Double jeopardy means that a person can’t face a criminal charge for an incident more than once. In the case of a drunk driving crash, the person can face a criminal case and a civil case.
The criminal case is meant to punish them for breaking the law. The civil case is meant to determine whether the person should have to cover the financial damages the victim suffered because of the drunk driving crash.
What happens in one of these cases won’t impact the outcome of the other case. For example, you can be found guilty of drunk driving but not liable for the civil case. Because of this, you need to ensure you have suitable defense strategies for each case.
Anyone who’s facing drunk driving charges in connection with a crash should remember that there’s a chance they’ll also face a civil case for the matter. These cases are fully independent, but many points might apply to both. Since these are serious matters, you should ensure that you start working on your side of the case as quickly as possible so you don’t have to rush through your defense.
Fields marked with an * are required
"*" indicates required fields
225 Broadway, Room 850
New York, NY 10007
phone: 212-257-8321