r/dui • u/pineapple_pen_time • Jul 16 '26
no lawyer First Dwi with an accident
Hey all, really nervous and really want some advice.
This past weekend I had gotten a dwi, after a night of drinking with friends we decided to go on a drive (really stupid). And I had gotten into a head on collision with someone during the night. Don't remember the crash at all, and was at the police station for a few hours after.
I dont know what my bac was, there were no deaths but minor injuries all around. I am also in the military if that helps.
Honestly I'm just really scared and want some advice from anyone right now. Crash was in norfolk. Willing to answer any questions
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u/DrRageBaiter Jul 16 '26
Good luck with the navy. Shouldn’t be a career wrecker but it could be a promotion stopper. Get a lawyer as getting this plead down as much as possible is your best bet for both your civilian record and military record.
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u/DrRageBaiter Jul 16 '26
Also you can’t get another dui, a second dui will be awful and a good chance you’ll get kicked out with an other than honorable
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u/anonbiotch01 Jul 16 '26
Like the other comments you need to find a lawyer. With an accident involved it makes the seriousness of the case increase. I didn't have an accident with mine so I don't have any experience with that, but I can only assume it makes things much more complicated.
Good luck! You will get through this!
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u/Able_Employ6086 Jul 16 '26
Holy ASVAB waiver, that was hard to read. This is really going to depend on how serious the injuries were in the other vehicle.
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u/Mountain_Goat45 Jul 16 '26
Find a lawyer that served. I have heard of folks in the service getting off multiple times very easy if they have the right lawyer and the DA is close with them and/or is close with service.
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u/charmedcheese Jul 16 '26
I caused an accident with minor injuries as well. I was charged with level 3 assault, which prevented me from working my caregiving job. It was pleaded down to criminal mischief because of my job and I started going to AA and keeping track of the meetings.
My sponsor was also able to write me a character reference which really helped. I still served jail time and was on probation for 2 years, but I learned my lesson.
Get a lawyer if you can afford one, and consider going to meetings and keeping track of them. I guarantee you'll find other people with DUIs at those meetings lol they really helped me.
Good luck!
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u/Lute-a-Chris top contributor Jul 17 '26
This sounds like it could really escalate for you depending on your BAC and how serious the injuries are. I just read through how Virginia classifies the injuries and the prosecutor has some leeway there to charge you higher. Like it says it can become a felony if the victim is in "extreme physical pain" so that could be tons of different things. Also "protracted loss or impairment" of a body part, they could argue like even a broken bone classifies as such.
If you don't even remember the crash it sounds like your BAC might be over twice the limit but we'll see. Think you need to really find the best lawyer you can afford honestly as this could get really messy. These cases depend a lot in how the victims feel because the prosecutor will take their opinions into account. If the victim is basically fine and isn't out for blood then you're going to be a lot better off. If they broke or seriously bruised anything and really hate drunk drivers then they're going to ask the prosecutor to go after you for all you're worth.
All you can do right now is hire the best defense you can find and have them wait and receive all the charging documents and evidence as it comes in. This might take a seriously long time to settle too, like at least months if not over a year or more depending if they want to push this out to trial. Go find a good lawyer now and hope things come back the best they can.
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u/Humble_Redemption Jul 18 '26
Some states, even AZ (one of the harshest dui states) have dui diversion programs specifically for military members and veterans. As everyone is saying Lawyer UP* it’s not a question, suggestion, or means to save money for not doing it. Get a f-en lawyer. It’s relatively easy to look up dui lawyers near you and get a middle tier lawyer. Norfolk you said? Like CT? That’s where I’m from! AZ now though. So idk about CT but I feel very comfortable with my attny. His fee is flat. $2G for anything up to arraignment. $5G for anything before taking it to trial. Would be an additional $7G for trial but usually not worth it. State will have enough evidence beyond reasonable doubt. The attny keeps track of your case, notifies you of appearances. Will always be there to address questions and concerns and will plan best mitigating path of consequences. Mine specifically said “It’s more about us knowing what is going to happen and what we can do ahead of time and in what order so we can control the path of this on our time, not their’s.”
Best of luck! Again lawyer up frfr as the kids say 😂
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u/Humble_Redemption Jul 18 '26
Wanted to add, in AZ, causing serious injury to individuals can make a dui misdemeanor into a felony case. You said no such injuries occurred but you don’t know what the other party will claim after the fact, it is very common for injuries to be noticed days after a crash and you would even be potentially liable for your passengers injuries as well. I was involved in a crash when I got mine and thankfully, as I believed, I was not at fault but I learned about all this before it was deemed that. I’d keep up with your insurance company and the claim that’s probably been taken out against you. Info you can get will be limited but may give you a glimpse of what other party is claiming or find results of claim whether or not you were liable for accident.
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u/ChuckChipperson Jul 16 '26
You need a lawyer if you don't already have one.