As Temecula drunk driving criminal defense lawyers, we were disappointed to see a story about an alleged DUI that resulted in injuries to nine pedestrians, including two toddlers. The Orange County Register reported Sept. 7 that Miguel Angel Sandoval, 43, is facing a charge of driving under the influence with injury, plus three sentence enhancements for causing great bodily injury. Sandoval was driving a Chevy Suburban on the evening of Sept. 6 when witnesses saw the SUV swerve across several lanes of traffic and onto the sidewalk alongside West McFadden Avenue in Santa Ana. There, he hit two pedestrians and kept going, striking seven more before coming to a halt. Sandoval himself was not injured, and was being held in Santa Ana city jail.
In all, the Register said, three adults and two children were injured, although none were killed. The most seriously injured were a two-year-old girl and her mother, who were struck first by Sandoval's vehicle. The two, who were not named in the article, were trapped under the SUV and dragged 50 feet along the road. Witnesses were able to rescue them. The woman suffered a broken leg, and the girl underwent surgery Sept. 7 for injuries not specified. The other child injured, also a two-year-old girl, underwent surgery for serious injuries. Injuries to the other victims were not considered life-threatening. Witnesses said Sandoval swerved while heading west on McFadden, just before Graham Lane. In all, he faces five to nine years in prison if convicted on all counts, plus a felony "strike" on his record.
In this kind of case, we recommend contacting our Costa Mesa DUI criminal defense attorneys as soon as possible. Regardless of any other circumstances, a defendant charged with the same crimes as Sandoval faces severe penalties, including prison time. A conviction on these charges would also mean losing his driver's license for five years, fines of up to $5,000, 18 to 30 months of court-ordered DUI school, habitual traffic offender status for three years and a permanent increase in his auto insurance rates. And because a conviction for felony drunk driving counts as a strike for the purposes of the three-strikes law, he would face increased penalties for any future felony criminal conviction. But even when the case is a very serious one, as with this one, that doesn't mean there is no hope of defending the charge. An experienced attorney can often find flaws in the case or mistakes by officers that can break down the prosecution's case.
Howard Law, P.C. performs this kind of analysis on every intoxicated driving case we handle, because we understand how serious a DUI conviction can be for our clients. In addition to the jail time or probation, clients frequently encounter trouble at work because of losing their driver's licenses, such as trouble keeping a job due to frequent lateness caused by the bus system. Losing a license can also add up to serious trouble for other personal obligations, like school or child care. Our Downey intoxicated driving criminal defense lawyers help clients prevent these and other disruptions to their lives by giving them the best possible defense to their charges of driving under the influence. In addition to finding mistakes by police officers, we can look for flaws in the evidence or inconsistencies in the officers' accounts. And if a client prefers a guilty plea -- something we prefer to do only after exploring other options thoroughly -- we can negotiate for a fair and reasonable penalty.
If you're charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol in California, you should call Howard Law, P.C. before you decide to just plead guilty. To learn more or set up a free consultation, contact us through the Internet or call 1-800-872-5925 today.
