What Happens If I Injure Someone While Driving Under the Influence in Mississippi?

Driving under the influence is a serious offense, so it's not something that anyone should ever do. There are many potential consequences that you can face as a result of driving while under the influence, from getting fined to injuring yourself or other people. If you'd like to know just what would happen if you injured someone while driving under the influence in Mississippi, read on. You'll see an outline of the legal consequences you stand to face so you have a good idea.

You'll Face Felony Charges

When you're arrested as a result of injuring someone while driving under the influence, you'll face felony charges. In Mississippi, this is a serious offense and one that carries a host of consequences. Because of the serious nature of this offense, there's no consideration of whether it was your first time getting charged with driving while under the influence. This means that you won't get any leeway or reduced sentences. If you were carrying a child in the car at the time the accident occurred, you'll be charged with a misdemeanor if the child doesn't get injured. If the child gets injured, you're probably going to face a felony charge as well.

There May Be Civil Consequences

On top of criminal penalties that you stand to face as a result of driving under the influence, there may also be a number of civil consequences. These will involve recklessness because of drunk driving and negligence as well. If you cause a crash and get another driver injured, you may also be liable for their losses. The victim of your drunk driving can also file a claim with your insurance company or a personal injury lawsuit so that they get compensation. Someone who gets hurt in a car accident normally has three ways in which they can pursue compensation. The first one is to file a claim with their insurance company, the second is to file a claim with your insurance company, and the third is to file a lawsuit with you.

You'll Get Jail Time

If you're a first-time offender, you'll get imprisonment for up to 48 hours along with other charges. For a second offense that you commit within five years of the first offense, you'll face between five years to one-year imprisonment. If you commit a DUI a third time in five years, you can face imprisonment of one to five years. If caught committing the crime a fourth time, you risk getting between two and 10 years imprisonment on top of other charges. The specific length of time for which you risk facing imprisonment is dependent on a number of details. For example, for a BAC of .16 and above, you may be imprisoned for three days to six months. This is on top of being fined between $1,000 and $5,000 as well as a suspension of your driver's license for a year.

Your Licence May Get Suspended

Finally, your driver's license may also be suspended for a DUI in which you injure someone in Mississippi. The length of time for which it's suspended depends on details such as how many times you've been arrested and charged for a DUI before. You'll also need to have a vehicle ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle. Note that while There are more than 180,251 auto mechanics employed in the United States at the moment, the cost of repairing your vehicle will still be high enough to hopefully inspire you to never drive while under the influence again.

If you injure someone while driving under the influence in Mississippi, you'll face a number of consequences as a result. This is on top of the guilt and headache of having changed someone's life for the worse. It's clearly not the best practice to drive while under the influence, so you should do your best to never to drive while you're intoxicated.