Practice Areas

• Homicide
• Violent Crime/Felony
• White Collar Crime
• Juvenile Defense/Youthful Defenders
• Misdemeanor Offense

Blog

News

Library

What to do if You Have Been Arrested for DUI in California

It is important to understand that being arrested for DUI in California can be a serious and life-altering event. If you caused an accident while intoxicated, and injured or even killed another person, you could be facing heavy punishment.

When someone is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, they are endangering those around them. When these drivers injure or kill someone else in a car accident, whether it is a passenger, another driver, or even a pedestrian, they are usually charged with California Felony DUI .

Felony DUI or Vehicular Manslaughter charges are very serious. If convicted, you will face jail time (up to life in prison), heavy fines, paying restitution to victims of the accident, having your license revoked, and much more. This does not even account for the effect a conviction will have on your family and your friends.

Getting ahead of the curve in a California Felony DUI case is crucial. You have to act quickly to give yourself the best chance at proving your innocence, because the deck is already stacked against you after an arrest.

Your first step after being arrested for California Felony DUI should be to write down everything you can remember about the incident and your arrest. The human memory is fallible over time, and recording the facts of your case will help you deliver accurate and positive testimony.

The information you record can include, but is not limited to, the arresting officer's name, the results of your breathalyzer or blood test, any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your behavior, the details of the accident, and even the weather or timeframe of the incident.

Next, it is important that you contact a Ventura criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. You need to act quickly in fighting against your charges, and any missed milestones or court dates could be fatal to your case.

An experienced lawyer can not only ensure your defense proceeds correctly, but they also can investigate the accident, interview the police, file motions on your behalf, and even argue in court against a guilty verdict. Having a lawyer on your side is a huge advantage.

If you or a loved one has been arrested in a serious DUI case, call the Ventura criminal defense attorney at Bamieh & Erickson today. We represent cases across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, fighting to maintain the time-tested principle that people are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Free Consultation