Accused of drunk driving in Montgomery County? Our Montgomery County drunk driving lawyer can defend your rights. Allow our lawyer to fulfill that role for you.
Our criminal defense firm in Montgomery County can defend you to the fullest extent possible, including negotiating a plea deal or defending you in the courtroom.
Drunk Driving Is a Serious Offense
As 38 Pa. C.S.A § 3802 explains, the definition of “driving under the influence” (DUI) is quite broad in Pennsylvania. It could mean any of the following:
- Driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit (0.08% for those over 21, 0.02% for those under 21)
- Driving after drinking enough alcohol to impair one’s judgment, regardless of blood alcohol content
- Driving with any detectable amount of any controlled substance in the bloodstream
These rules apply to drivers of any sort of motorized vehicle, including cars, motorcycles, buses, trucks, and boats.
What happens if you are caught driving drunk? Penalties vary depending on:
- Whether or not this was your first offense
- How much alcohol was in your system
- Whether or not you caused property damage, and if so, how much
- Whether or not you hurt anyone, and if so, how badly they were injured
- Whether or not you resisted taking a BAC test
Drunk Driving Penalties
Section 3804 of the above statute shows that minor or first-time offenses result in a minimum of six months on probation, a maximum fine of $300, and mandatory attendance at an alcohol highway safety course. For more serious or repeat offenses, the penalties increase to a minimum of one year in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.
Being convicted also means you lose your driver’s license for a period of time. This could make it difficult for you to get to and from work, shop for household essentials, and pick your children up from school.
For a free legal consultation with a drunk driving accidents lawyer serving Montgomery County, call (610) 680-7842
How Our Drunk Driving Attorney Serving Montgomery County Protects You
McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. wants to protect people like you from the penalties associated with drunk driving. Our lawyer serves clients in Montgomery County and beyond by doing the following with the utmost professionalism and care:
Investigating Your Case
Our team starts by conducting an investigation of our own rather than relying solely on what the police have to say. We can:
- Review the police’s actions and reports
- Speak to you, eyewitnesses, and people who know you (character witnesses)
- Request video footage that might have captured your actions, such as traffic cams or surveillance footage
From this and other sources of evidence, we can make sure the police did not violate your rights, determine how events really unfolded, and figure out how best to approach your defense.
Getting the Charges Dismissed
This is the best-case scenario. If we uncover strong evidence that you are not guilty or that your rights were violated, the prosecution may agree with our request to drop all charges immediately. You would be allowed to go home with no further trouble.
Striking a Plea Deal
A plea deal could mean several things. For example, we could convince a judge to reduce the charges against you from drunk driving to obstruction of a public passage. As explained at 18 Pa. C.S.A § 5507, obstruction is at most a third-degree misdemeanor (and is usually a summary offense), so the penalties you face if convicted would be lighter.
Alternately, if you agree to plead guilty to the drunk driving charge, the judge may agree to give you the lowest possible sentence, such as accepting probation and community service instead of jailtime.
Everyone’s case is different, so we work closely with clients to determine what the right course of action may be for them.
Going to Court
Not all cases end in a successful plea deal. In some cases, we must represent clients in the courtroom and fight on their behalf for a just verdict. Your Montgomery County drunk driving lawyer can prepare your case for trial and present it before a judge and jury by:
- Submitting evidence as trial exhibits before the trial begins
- Questioning witnesses for the defense
- Cross-examining witnesses for the prosecution
- Making opening and closing remarks
- Filing legal briefs and other materials as the judge requests them
- Monitoring the prosecution’s courtroom behavior and objecting if they try to violate your rights
Going to trial is an intimidating prospect for many people. If it happens to you, just know that we will be by your side the entire time.
Addressing Your Concerns
We know how distressing it is to face a serious, stigmatized charge like drunk driving. Our team—including our attorney, David McKenzie—wants to make the experience as clear and as smooth as possible by:
- Providing frequent updates: Whenever there is a big change or development in your case, we let you know right away.
- Giving you your lawyer’s number: As soon as you become our client, we give you your attorney’s contact information. This way, you can contact us any time you need to with questions or concerns.
- Answering all your questions: Whether you need to better understand your rights or want to know more about part of the legal process, we can provide the answers you seek.
Our clients recognize and appreciate our efforts to be accessible. Dana Clemons, one of our former clients, put it this way: “McKenzie Law Firm was available for all our questions. Reassured us during our hearing. Was a true advocate for us. Would recommend him to everyone.”
If this is the type of representation you want for your drunk driving case, we would be more than happy to provide it.
Montgomery County Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (610) 680-7842
Our Lawyer Can Defend Your Rights in Southeastern Pennsylvania
No matter who you are or under what circumstances you were arrested, you have rights. Call McKenzie Law Firm, P.C. at (610) 680-7842 to find out how our drunk driving lawyer can protect you throughout your case. We want everyone in Montgomery County to get the legal protection they deserve.
Call or text (610) 680-7842 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
