Experienced criminal defense attorneys have noticed a devastating trend: many people don’t take DWI seriously enough. Driving under the influence of alcohol and other intoxicating substances such as drugs or certain medications can have life-altering consequences. Tijerina Law Firm is here to help you navigate the legal aspects of being charged with a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), but also to help you understand the risk of driving while drunk or intoxicated in the first place! Take a few minutes to read this – it could change your life.
The Consequences of DWI
Driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or some medications just isn’t worth it.
The NHTSA reports some shocking statistics. Every day, almost 30 people in the United States die in drunk driving crashes—that’s one person every 48 minutes in 2017. Drunk driving crashes claim more than 10,000 lives per year.
Any time that you consume drugs or alcohol, your ability to make decisions is impaired. The NHTSA explains that as alcohol levels rise in your system, the negative effects on the central nervous system increase too. Alcohol is absorbed directly through the walls of the stomach and small intestine. Then it passes into the bloodstream where it accumulates until it is metabolized by the liver. Alcohol level is measured by the weight of the alcohol in a certain volume of blood. This is called Blood Alcohol Concentration, or BAC. At a BAC of .08 grams of alcohol per deciliter (g/dL) of blood, car accident risk increases exponentially. Because of this risk, it’s illegal in all 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher. However, even a small amount of alcohol can affect driving ability. In 2017, there were 1,837 people killed in alcohol-related crashes where drivers had lower alcohol levels (BACs of .01 to .07 g/dL).
When you drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs, you risk your own life and the lives of others. You also risk serious, life-altering injuries and the exorbitant medical bills and financial losses from unemployment that can follow. Finally, of course, you risk being arrested and charged with the serious offense of DWI.
The Consequences of DWI Criminal Charges
The state of Texas takes DWI charges very seriously. According to DrivingLaws, DWI charges in Texas can result in jail time of up to ten years. Think about ten years in prison, is it worth it? You also risk having your driver’s license revoked for up to two years and fines of up to $10,000.
Next time you think about driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, think twice! It’s not worth it.
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of facing charges or other repercussions of DWI, contact Tijerina Law Firm for fair and comprehensive legal representation. Tijerina Law Firm has 12 years of experience representing individuals and families facing criminal charges. Remember, there is only a limited amount of time to contest a DWI charge in the McAllen, Texas area, so set up your free 30-minute consultation today by calling (956) 261-5609 or contacting us online.
4016 N. 22nd Street
McAllen, Texas 78504
Phone: (956) 261-5609
Phone: (512) 900-1126
