Drink driving accidents
Drink driving accidents are an unfortunate occurrence on our roads. They can cause serious injury and pain right through our communities. As a consequence, drink driving is treated seriously by the law, with strong drink driving penalties applying and limited tolerance.
Legal implications of drink driving accidents
When drink driving accidents occur, the police must be involved. Thus, if you are involved in a drink driving accident, in addition to the usual matters that must be taken into account when you have an accident on the road, you must consider the legal implications, such as drink driving penalties.
Drink driving offences
There are various offences that you may be charged for, including driving or attempt to drive a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs; driving or attempting to drive with excess alcohol; in charge of a vehicle while unfit through drink or drugs, and in charge of vehicle with excess alcohol. Other related offences exist for failing to submit to a breath test.
Drink driving penalties
The penalties for drink driving are high and increase with subsequent offences. Drink driving penalties vary depending on the particular offence you are charged with, and aggravating and mitigating circumstances. If you were involved in an accident while drink driving this may be treated as an aggravating factor by the sentencing magistrate, leading to a harsher penalty. A minimum of 12 months’ disqualification applies for all drink driving offences. Penalties of up to a £5,000 fine and/or up to six months’ imprisonment can be imposed and an unlimited ban. You will also receive a criminal record.
Drink driving and insurance
If you are involved in an accident whilst drink driving, this may render your insurance invalid. It may also affect any claim for compensation that you wish to make for damage to property or personal injury. It may also affect your liability to compensate other parties involved. This is so even if the accident was otherwise not your fault.
If you would like to obtain legal advice on drink driving accidents and drink driving penalties, then Contact Law can put you in touch with a local specialist motor offences solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding a local motor offences solicitor please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.
- Last Updated on 02/03/2010
