You’ve likely heard the saying since middle school: “Don’t drink and drive”. That’s because driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs greatly influences your ability to drive safely. Driving under the influence doesn’t just affect the people who are driving drunk or high. The people it affects most are the innocent victims who have their lives turned upside down in an instant.
The DUI injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in Phoenix have significant experience in helping clients who have been victims of DUI accidents. If you need help filing a claim for one of these awful, life-changing accidents, we are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Our offices are conveniently located in Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in person, over the phone, or via video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more about how an Arizona DUI victim lawyer can help.
On This Page: What is driving under the influence?, How are DUIs different from other accidents?, FAQ’s, Penalties, Contact Us
Here at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like getting a rental car very soon and finding a nearby doctor or psychiatrist who can help get your life back on track. Even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the nearby Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
If you are unsure whether or not you can afford a drunk driving victim lawyer, don’t worry. We only get paid when you settle. Check out our Attorney Fees Calculator to find out more.
What is Driving Under the Influence In Arizona?
Arizona is a no-tolerance, or 0 tolerance, state for DUI offenses. This means that you can be arrested for driving under the influence even if you have a BAC of less than 0.08, if you are driving recklessly. Arizona law makes it unlawful for a person to drive or be in actual physical control of a vehicle if they are doing any of the following:
- While under the influence of intoxicating liquor, any drug, a vapor-releasing substance containing a toxic substance, or any combination of liquor, drugs, or vapor-releasing substances if the person is impaired to the slightest degree
- If the person has at least a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 within two hours of driving or being in control of the vehicle
- While there is any drug (from a long list) or its metabolite in the person’s body
- If the vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle that requires a person to obtain a commercial driver’s license and the person has an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher
Driving under any of these conditions is considered driving under the influence, or DUI.
How Are DUI’s Different From Other Types of Accidents?
The big difference is that driving under the influence breaks the law in Arizona. When you are the victim of a DUI accident, and you file a claim, you are filing a claim for a criminal case. You will have a criminal case against the driver, and perhaps a case against the bar that served them.
This is different than other accidents, like a rear-end, freeway, illegal left turn, or head-on collision. While these types of accidents are certainly dangerous and traumatizing for the victim, they are civil cases rather than criminal ones. In these scenarios, the at-fault driver placed others in danger because of their negligent actions, or through distracted driving. However, they did not break Arizona law to do so.
In other words, the at-fault drivers in those accidents will face a fine for damaging your property and injuring you. The at-fault driver in a DUI case faces jail time, fines, as well as other punishments for breaking the law. This is why people who are driving under the influence are more likely to commit a hit-and-run accident; they have more motive not to be caught.
Frequently Asked Questions for DUI Victims
Will I Have to Appear In Court?
Chances are very low that you will have to appear in court. Even though driving under the influence is a criminal case, rather than a civil case like trucking accidents, and t-bone crashes, most cases are settled by a plea bargain. Our drunk driving victim lawyers try to settle every case out of court to save our clients time, money, and effort. On the extremely rare occasion that you will have to appear in court, we will help prepare you.
What Rights do I Have as the Victim of a DUI?
As the victim of a crime, you have the rights to Safety, Knowledge, and Due Process.
Safety
As a victim of a crime in Arizona, you have the right to:
- Keep your contact information confidential
- Be notified of scheduled and unscheduled release dates and escapes
- Be kept separate from the defendant
- Petition the defendant’s release
- Be present and informed of all criminal proceedings when the defendant has the legal right to be present
- Speak with the prosecutor
- Be treated with dignity and respect
Knowledge
As a victim of a crime in Arizona, you have the right to be informed:
- Of all of your rights as a victim, as well as the knowledge of how to assert those rights
- Of services that are available to you, including crisis intervention, medical and emergency services, victim assistance programs, and domestic violence resources
Due Process
As a victim of a crime in Arizona, you have the right to participate in the criminal justice process, which includes the ability to:
- Receive notice of all court proceedings
- Be heard at all release, plea, and sentencing proceedings
- Have the court order restitution/financial compensation
- A speedy trial
You have the right to request:
- A copy of the conditions of the accused’s release
- Notice of release on bond
- Notice of all court proceedings
- That your personal property be returned
- To be advised of the sentence imposed
- Notification of any probation revocation or proceeding
What Is Arizona’s Process for a DUI Case?
For most DUI cases, the process is as follows. If you have been in a hit-and-run accident, there will be a search for the at-fault driver prior to these steps:
- Arrest: a police officer shows up at the scene of the accident and arrests the at-fault driver (defendant).
- Initial Appearance: the defendant appears before a judge. They are informed of their right to an attorney and conditions for bail are set.
- Filing of Charges: the defendant meets with an attorney and determines whether or not to take a plea bargain (an agreement to accept fault and waive the right to a trial in exchange for a reduced sentence or fine).
- Arraignment: A judge reads the defendant the charges and a court date is set.
- Plea Agreement: All parties (including you as the victim) must agree to the terms of the plea bargain, which is written out in this stage. Most cases never go to court because the majority of defendants take a plea bargain.
- Trial: In the rare event that your case goes to trial, you/ your attorney will have to prove that the defendant was driving under the influence. From there, a jury will determine whether they are innocent or guilty.
- Sentencing: Whether a plea bargain is struck or not, a judge will determine sentencing for the defendant.
- Appeal: if the case went to trial, the defendant has 20 days to appeal the case.
What Are the DUI Penalties in Arizona?
A person convicted of driving under the influence for the first time…
- Will be sentenced to serve no less than 10 consecutive days in jail and is not eligible for probation or suspension of execution of sentence unless the entire sentence is served.
- Will pay a fine of no less than $250.
- May be ordered by a court to perform community service.
- May pay an additional assessment of $500 to the prison construction and operations fund.
- May pay an additional assessment of $500 to the public safety equipment fund.
- May be required by the department, on report of the conviction, to equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device which will prevent the vehicle from starting unless the occupant breathes into it
If a person is convicted of driving under the influence for a second time within 84 months of the first conviction (or under certain other circumstances), the person…
- Will be sentenced to serve no less than 90 days in jail, 30 days of which shall be served consecutively, and is not eligible for probation or suspension of execution of sentence unless the entire sentence has been served
- Will pay a fine of no less than $500
- Will be ordered by a court to perform at least 30 hours of community service
- Will have his or her driving privilege revoked for one year
- Will pay an additional assessment of $1,250 to the prison construction and operations fund
- Will pay an additional assessment of $1,250 to the public safety equipment fund
“Extreme” DUI is the condition of having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or more (i.e., about twice the legal limit or higher) within two hours of driving or being in control of a vehicle. A person who commits extreme DUI…
- Will be sentenced to serve no less than 30 consecutive days in jail and is not eligible for probation or suspension of execution of sentence unless the entire sentence is served
- Will pay a fine of not less than $250
- Will pay an additional assessment of $250
- May be ordered by a court to perform community service
- Will be required to equip any motor vehicle they drive with a certified ignition interlock device
- Will pay an additional assessment of $1,000 to the prison construction and operations fund
- Will pay an additional assessment of $1,000 to the public safety equipment fund
A driver who has a second extreme DUI conviction within 84 months of the first one…
- Will be sentenced to serve no less than 120 days in jail, 60 days of which shall be served consecutively, and is not eligible for probation or suspension of execution of sentence unless the entire sentence has been served
- Will pay a fine of no less than $500
- Will pay an additional assessment of $250
- Will be ordered by a court to perform at least 30 hours of community service
- Will have his or her driver’s license suspended
- Will pay an additional assessment of $1,250 to the prison construction and operations fund
- Will pay an additional assessment of $1,250 to the public safety equipment fund
What is Aggravated DUI?
Aggravated DUI occurs when a person…
- Commits a DUI violation while their driver’s license or privilege to drive is suspended, canceled, revoked, or while a restriction is placed on the person’s driver license or privilege to drive as a result of violating the DUI laws
- Within a period of 84 months commits a third or subsequent violation of the DUI laws
- While a person under 15 years of age is in the vehicle and commits a violation of the DUI laws.
- Commits a DUI offense after being ordered to install an ignition interlock device
A person convicted of aggravated DUI will not get a new driver’s license within one year of the date of the conviction and must equip any motor vehicle the person operates with a certified ignition interlock device. The person must pay an additional assessment of $250. They will pay a fine of no less than $750 and an additional assessment of $1,500 to the prison construction and operations fund. They will pay an additional assessment of $1,500 to the public safety equipment fund.
How Many Car Accidents are Caused By Drunk Driving in Arizona?
Of the 129,750 car crashes in Arizona in 2019, 4,907 of them were drunk driving accidents, which accounts for nearly 4%. Of those, 85% occurred in Maricopa County.
How Much More Likely are You to Crash while Drunk?
Let’s talk about this in terms of beer. Everyone’s tolerance is different, but generally speaking, 2 beers puts you at a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of 0.04- half the legal limit. Let’s say you have 2 more beers to put your BAC at 0.08 (the legal limit). At this point, a driver is 11 times more likely to get into a crash than a person not driving under the influence.
Let’s have 2 more beers- a 6 pack. Your BAC is now at least 0.10, and you are 48 times more likely to crash than someone who hasn’t drank.
You’ve had a 6 pack already- say you have 2 more beers. Your BAC is now approximately 0.15, you are 380 times more likely to have an accident than someone not driving under the influence, and if you drive you are committing extreme DUI.
Contact an Experienced Arizona DUI Victim Lawyer
The DUI injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in Phoenix have over 15 years of experience in helping clients who have been victims of drunk driving. If you need help filing a claim, our team of DUI victim lawyers is here to help you get the compensation you deserve. Our legal team has the necessary skills, knowledge, and familiarity with the nearby Phoenix courts to help you get the best settlement possible. Contact an Arizona DUI victim lawyer near you today.
Understanding DUI Charges and Additional Resources Near You in Arizona
Here are some of the most common questions our drunk driving victim lawyers get about DUI accidents and some additional resources.
What our Clients Say About Us
We Can Help
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for their personal injuries from DUI accidents in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you have been in a DUI accident, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
