Endangerment Charges Related to DUI or Reckless Driving
It's a standard tactic among prosecuting attorneys to file as many criminal charges as possible against a single defendant. If a conviction can't be achieved on the most serious offense, there's a good chance that the jury might convict on a less serious charge. The prosecution can also use additional charges as bargaining chips in plea negotiations. Consequently, a single motor vehicle accident or felony drunk driving case can give rise to charges ranging from DUI to aggravated assault or manslaughter. Endangerment or vehicular endangerment is a common additional charge that prosecutors usually add as a separate felony count.
As a former prosecutor himself, Phoenix reckless endangerment attorney Craig Gillespie understands the importance and function of additional charges in the criminal justice system, and he knows how to effectively deal with them on behalf of his clients. If you need advice about a criminal charge of endangerment related to a DUI accident or reckless driving charge, contact The Gillespie Law Firm in Phoenix for a free consultation about your options.
Endangerment can be charged either as a felony or a misdemeanor. In a motor vehicle accident case, it's typically presented as a felony charge based on a substantial risk of imminent death to the victim. The prosecution does not need to prove that the reckless conduct actually caused an injury or death, but simply that the defendant created a substantial risk.
Vehicular endangerment is most often charged in connection with the following primary motor vehicle offenses:
- Drunk driving accidents
- Vehicular manslaughter
- Vehicular assault
- Street racing or other forms of reckless driving
- Hit and run accidents
- Fleeing and eluding an officer, especially at high speeds
Our attorneys' thorough approach to the investigation of serious motor vehicle felonies means that we'll develop the whole story of the incident giving rise to the criminal charges, not just the biased version that will appear in the police reports and charging documents. Our lawyers also work with toxicologists, accident reconstructionists and other experts to cast doubt upon the conclusions expressed by the prosecution's forensic team while developing alternative causation scenarios.
Discuss Your Case With an Experienced Lawyer - Call 888-613-5322 in Phoenix
Find out more about our approach to the defense of Arizona endangerment charges related to felony DUI or other motor vehicle offenses. Contact The Gillespie Law Firm for a free consultation.
