Accident
DUI accident: two cases at once, and both are moving
You were arrested for DUI after a crash, and now you face two cases at once. Anyone hurt can sue, and that civil case does not wait for the criminal one.
Someone answers 24/7, reviews your crash case free, and connects you with a DUI lawyer for your state.
In California, a DUI crash that sends someone to the hospital is charged under a different section. The license suspension becomes 12 months instead of 6 to 10 months (Alameda courts).
What changes
Three things change after a crash. The charge can go up. The jail and license numbers go up. And a second legal track opens: anyone hurt can sue for medical bills and lost pay (FindLaw).
Florida makes the first-offense revocation 180 days to one year without injury, and longer with one (FLHSMV).
When it becomes a felony
A serious injury or a death can make the case a felony in most states. Some states call it aggravated DUI or DUI with bodily injury. See when a DUI is a felony for where states draw that line.
The insurance and civil side
Your liability insurance usually still pays the other side, then your rate goes up. Anyone hurt can bring a separate civil suit, and that case does not wait for the criminal one. Do not talk to the other driver's insurer before you have a lawyer.
NHTSA counted 11,904 deaths from drunk-driving crashes in 2024 (NHTSA). Prosecutors treat crash cases with that number in mind.
Crash cases move fast and involve accident reports, medical records and sometimes blood drawn at the hospital. Call now and a DUI defense lawyer for your state starts on both.
Questions people ask
What happens if you get a DUI and crash?
The charge can be raised, the penalties go up, and anyone hurt can bring a civil claim. Some states change a simple DUI into aggravated DUI or DUI with bodily injury.
Is a DUI accident a felony?
It can be, if someone is seriously hurt or killed. A crash with only property damage usually stays a misdemeanor, with higher penalties.
Will insurance pay for a DUI accident?
Your liability coverage usually still pays the other driver's damages, but your insurer may raise your rate or drop you. Read your policy.
How many people die in drunk-driving crashes?
NHTSA counted 11,904 deaths in alcohol-impaired driving crashes in 2024, about one every 44 minutes.
Read next: When a DUI is a felony · DUI penalties by state · After the arrest
What to do now
You were arrested after a DUI accident, and the criminal case and the civil case are both moving. A serious injury can turn it into a felony, and your license hearing request has a deadline counted in days. Call now, and a DUI defense lawyer for your state can file that request in time and ask for the police records.
Call about my crash (877) 317-9931
Someone answers 24/7, reviews your crash case free, and connects you with a DUI lawyer for your state.
Send your case details
Send your state, the crash date, whether anyone was hurt, and the dates on your citation and license notice. With those facts ready, the call can go straight to your defense instead of starting from scratch.