Driving under the influence (DUI) is a felony in the state of Virginia and can have devastating consequences on your personal life.
After being charged with DUI, it is important to understand how this can affect not only your freedom, but also your employment, immigration, and family relationships.
A DUI conviction can have serious legal consequences, including fines, jail time, and the loss of your driver's license.
In addition, you can lose your job, get in trouble with immigration authorities if you are a non-citizen, and even have difficulties with child custody.
The best way to avoid these difficulties is to get the charges dropped. An experienced Virginia DUI personal injury lawyer can help you understand your options and take the necessary steps to protect your rights and interests.
How home and family safety is affected
Conviction on a DUI charge in Virginia can have a major impact on safety in the home and family.
One of the main ways this can happen is through the loss of probation.
If you are convicted of a DUI charge, you will likely be given a sentence that includes prison or probation. If you are sent to jail, your home and family will be affected by your absence.
If you are placed on probation, it is likely that restrictions will be placed on your ability to leave your home and see your family, which can have a significant impact on family dynamics.
Financial costs and insurance issues
The financial costs and insurance problems you may face after being convicted of a DUI in Virginia can be significant.
Some of the common financial costs include:
- Fines: The fines imposed for a DUI charge in Virginia can be very high, and can exceed $2,500.
- Legal Costs: Legal costs associated with a DUI charge may include attorney's fees, trial costs, and any other defense-related expenses.
- License Costs: A person convicted of DUI may have to pay a license reinstatement fee.
- Costs of alcohol education: Some states require persons convicted of DUI to attend and pay for alcohol education programs.
- Costs of installing an ignition interlock device: Some states require persons convicted of DUI to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicles.
As for insurance issues, if you become convicted of DUI you may have difficulty finding affordable auto insurance. Often, insurance companies consider people convicted of DUI to be a higher risk and therefore charge them higher rates.
In addition, if you are convicted of DUI you may have difficulty obtaining employment or performing at your current job, as some companies may consider a DUI a conduct problem.
Impact on Employment and professional career
A driving under the influence (DUI) charge can have a significant impact on your employment and career. You may lose your job or find it difficult to get a promotion or probation at work.
In addition, a DUI conviction can affect your ability to gain employment in the future, as many companies conduct criminal background checks before hiring an employee.
In some cases, a DUI charge can have a direct impact on the job, especially if your job involves driving a vehicle or if your job is regulated by a license. For example, if you are a truck driver, a DUI conviction could jeopardize your commercial driver's license and, therefore, your job.
In addition, a DUI charge can also have consequences in the field of higher education and vocational training. For example, a DUI conviction could prevent you from obtaining certain professional certifications or licenses.
It is important to work with an experienced Virginia DUI personal injury lawyer to understand your options and protect your rights and interests.
Cost of a DUI in your immigration case
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made it clear that a DUI conviction will be considered grounds for deportation. This includes those who are not U.S. citizens but are here on visas or green cards (valid identification cards issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).
Even if your DUI charge was reduced to reckless driving, or even dismissed altogether, ICE can still decide to deport you if they discover your conviction during their vetting process for any other purpose, such as applying for citizenship or returning from abroad after a long time of travel without authorization from immigration authorities.
How a personal injury lawyer can help in a Virginia DUI case
In short, a DUI charge can have devastating consequences on your personal and financial life. However, there is hope and by working with an experienced Virginia DUI attorney, you can fight a DUI and protect your personal and financial life.
To avoid these problems, the best possible solution is to fight a DUI and work together with an experienced Virginia DUI lawyer.
An experienced attorney can help you understand your options and take the necessary steps to protect your rights and interests. Do not hesitate to contact us to schedule a free initial consultation.
Together, we can fight a DUI and help you protect your personal and financial life.
Pierre Prialé
Over the course of his career, Prialé has handled approximately 2,000 criminal defense and traffic cases, including DUI, reckless driving, weapons charges, and personal injury cases. His dedication to helping clients in difficult and desperate situations has earned him a reputation for being a committed and knowledgeable attorney.
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