A man was hospitalized with major injuries when he was ejected from his car following a rollover accident that occurred on the 10 freeway.  The woman who was driving the other car in the accident was booked into jail on suspicion of DUI.

The man was ejected from the car as it ran up an embankment on the shoulder of the freeway near the Lincoln off-ramp.  The woman who was arrested was speeding and “driving erratically”, and lost control when she was trying to avoid hitting another vehicle.

Whenever a DUI-related accident results in injuries, the suspect is booked for felony DUI and the bail is set according to the felony-level charge.  Depending on the court that the case goes to, the extent of the victim’s injuries and the facts of the case, the prosecutor may file the case as a misdemeanor or keep it as a felony.

Being charged with a DUI in Los Angeles is a complex and multifaceted case.  Not only are there immediate steps to be taken with the DMV, but also criminal court proceedings that are completely separate and unrelated from those with the DMV.  If you have been arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles, you must contact the DMV within 10 days from the date of arrest to request an Administrative Per Se (APS) hearing and have a stay placed on the automatic suspension of your driver’s license.

If convicted of a DUI in criminal court, you are facing the possibility of county jail time or Cal Trans work, fines and fees to the court, a drinking and driving program that can range from 3 months to 18 months, probation and the installation of an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) on your car.  A step-by-step approach to a DUI arrest can be found by clicking here.

If you or someone you know has been arrested for, or charged with, a DUI in Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Burbank, Airport, Downtown, Hollywood or North Hollywood, it is crucial to contact attorney Ross Erlich within the first 10 days of your arrest.  There are many factors to consider in evaluating your case, including, but not limited to, time of chemical test, probable cause to initiate a traffic stop, what was said to you at the time of detention, chemical test results, field sobriety tests, weather conditions, lighting, what you had to eat that day, were you taking medications, when was the last time you slept…  The list goes on.

Do yourself a favor and consult with an aggressive and experienced Los Angeles DUI attorney and contact Ross Erlich today.