Most people are charged with an OUI after being stopped by police or at a roadside checkpoint. Many OUI arrests also occurred after an accident. When police respond to the scene of an accident, they will often evaluate all drivers involved for drug or alcohol impairment.
Since there is a high occurrence of accidents among drunk drivers, law enforcement can become overzealous and arrest those that are innocent. Testing done by officers is not error-proof, and being in a stressful situation can make it hard for suspects to pass field sobriety tests.
An OUI with an accident is not included in the list of aggravating factors in Maine like it is in some states, however, that does not mean that it will not be considered when determining the extent of a charge.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled OUI & criminal defense attorneys today.
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What are the penalties for an OUI Accident in Maine?
Each year, alcohol related accidents cost about $37 billion, adding to the importance of law enforcement ending the issue. Property can pertain to the car of another person involved, or even a home when a driver veers off the road and comes crashing through a gate.
Damage to property will add complications to an already complex matter, causing those involved to have to deal with both charges and the cost of repairing the property.
Depending on insurance coverage, some or all of the cost may be covered. An accident can also lead to a fatality, which can leave those accused facing charges for vehicular manslaughter. When a fatal car accident occurs, those involved in it will need to submit to testing of their blood alcohol content.
OUI Accident Property Damage Penalties in Maine
In Maine, there is no specific penalty that applies to causing property damage because of intoxication. Instead, you can face separate charges for OUI and for the damage you caused. A regular OUI is a Class D offense and can be upgraded to a Class C if you have had 2 or more prior convictions in the past decade. The minimum penalties for OUI include:
- 90 days of driver’s license suspension
- A minimum fine of $500
- 48 hours of jail time if aggravating factors are present
If you cause an accident or any sort of property damage, you could also face charges for Driving to Endanger. Also known as reckless driving, Driving to Endanger penalties can result in the following:
- 30 days to 2 years of driver’s license suspension; or
- A minimum fine of $575
When damage to property occurs, you may also have to deal with your insurance company. Damage to other vehicles or public or private property will require repair. If you are convicted of driving under the influence, this will likely be used against you in order for the other party to get compensation. Not only will this make your insurance rates go up, you could be held liable for an accident that was not your fault.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled OUI & criminal defense attorneys today.
OUI Accident Injury Penalties in Maine
The most serious accidents will result in injury or even death. Maine law does specify additional penalties for drivers who are intoxicated and cause injury to other drivers or passengers. For an accident that results in serious injury, you will face Class C OUI charges. For an accident that results in the loss of life, you will face Class B charges. The penalties for these charges include:
- Class C: A minimum of 6 months of jail time, 6 years of license suspension and a fine of $2,100.
- Class B: A minimum of 6 months of jail time, 10 years of license suspension and a fine of $2,100
What’s Next After an OUI arrest?
Contact an OUI Accident Lawyers in Maine
There are several defenses that can be used to fight OUI charges. If your attorney can challenge that you were intoxicated, the accident you are charged with causing may be ruled just that, an accident. One of the best ways we fight OUI offenses is by challenging the sobriety test results. Our lead OUI defense lawyer is certified as a Breath Alcohol Technician, meaning he is qualified to teach police how to use sobriety testing equipment.
He knows how these tests can fail and how errors can be made. In most OUI arrests, the sobriety test results are the strongest evidence that the state has against you. If your OUI defense attorney is able to place doubt on the validity of those results, the charges against you will become very weak.
Call us now to find out more about how we can use our experience to help you. Being charged with drunk driving is serious enough. If you are facing charges of causing an accident while driving under the influence, the penalties could be even harsher.
Call 207-571-8146 or contact us online to schedule a consult with one of our highly skilled OUI & criminal defense attorneys today.
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