Drunk driving charges have severe penalties

When you are out drinking, you know that you need to find a designated driver to get you home. Unfortunately, this isn't always possible so you might choose to take a shot at making it home safely. This isn't always the way that things happen.

There is a chance that you will be involved in a drunk driving accident on your way home. If this is what happens, you might find that you are in some serious legal trouble.

Criminal charges are possible

You might face criminal charges for driving drunk. If the accident resulted in an injury or death, you might be facing other charges based on those facts. These charges are very serious. Think about how you would feel having to face a manslaughter charge because someone died in the crash. These supplemental charges can mean that you are facing serious time in prison or considerable fines. You need to think carefully about how you are going to answer these charges if you are facing them.

Civil lawsuits might occur

Civil lawsuits are possible if the victims opt to pursue claims for compensation. This is possible regardless of what happens in a criminal court regarding your case. These civil charges could mean that you are out of even more money if the claim against you is successful.

You need to think carefully about everything related to the crash before you make any decisions. Everything from the statements you make at the scene to what you decide regarding your cases can have an impact on the rest of your life. Make sure that you take the time to think carefully about what you are going to do.

Source: FindLaw, "Drunk Driving Accidents," accessed April 28, 2017