Bridgeview Felony DUI Lawyer Assists Motorists Facing Serious Charges
Illinois firm handles cases involving allegations of aggravated drunk driving
Every drunk-driving charge should be taken seriously, but if you’re facing an aggravated DUI count, the consequences could be much more severe. This is a felony count that is more likely to trigger serious penalties, including incarceration, heavy fines and long driver’s license suspensions. At Skinner Law Firm, P.C. in Bridgeview, attorney Steven E. Skinner II is an accomplished Illinois criminal defense lawyer with the legal and practical knowledge to take on prosecutors in aggravated DUI cases. Whether the enhanced charge was brought in your case because of an accident, your alleged blood-alcohol level or a previous drunk-driving conviction, we are dedicated to achieving the best result possible.
What is a felony DUI?
Under Illinois law, anyone who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is guilty of a DUI. Various circumstances can lead prosecutors to charge someone with aggravated DUI as opposed to the standard misdemeanor charge, including:
- Accident causing serious injury or death — Getting into an accident while illegally intoxicated makes the prospect of a conviction much worse. In DUI cases where someone suffers serious bodily harm, disfigurement or permanent disability, the charge is classified as a Class 4 felony that could result in at least one, and perhaps as many as 12, years of incarceration. The minimum sentence for a fatal DUI case is three years.
- Multiple offenses — Someone who has already been convicted of a second offense DUI will be charged with aggravated DUI with each subsequent arrest. A case that would result in a third or fourth DUI conviction is charged as a Class 2 felony, and the counts get more serious for motorists being prosecuted for a potential fifth or sixth conviction.
- Excessive intoxication — As in other states, Illinois considers a motorist to be unlawfully intoxicated if their blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) is .08 percent or higher. However, the average person arrested for drunk driving has a much higher level of impairment. Extra penalties, including mandatory incarceration, are applied if a defendant’s BAC meets or exceeds .16 percent.
You could also face enhanced charges and penalties if you are involved in a DUI accident that takes place in a school zone or a collision where a child passenger is hurt, and there is additional punishment for drunk drivers who are operating their vehicle without a valid license.
Will I go to jail for a felony DUI?
There is a serious likelihood that you could be sentenced to time in jail or prison should you be convicted of aggravated DUI. A wide range of factors can affect the sentencing process. For example, if you are facing a felony count because you have two previous convictions, a third conviction would result in a minimum 90-day jail sentence if your BAC was .16 percent or higher. Many types of aggravated DUI cases are regarded as Class 4 felonies, which carry a potential prison sentence of one to three years. In every case, attorney Steven E. Skinner II is a strong advocate who looks to minimize the disruption that a drunk driving charge causes to a client and their family.
Contact an Illinois defense lawyer for a free consultation about your felony DUI charge
Skinner Law Firm, P.C. in Bridgeview represents clients accused of felony DUI throughout Chicagoland and other Illinois locations. To make an appointment for a free initial consultation, please call 312-635-6459 or contact us online.
