Cape May and Atlantic County Alcohol-Related Accident Lawyer
Any time you are accused of causing an auto accident with injuries, there is a chance that you will be charged with a crime in addition to traffic tickets you may be facing. If there is evidence that you were driving drunk, you are much more likely to face criminal charges.
I am John W. Tumelty, an experienced Jersey Shore drunk driving accident defense attorney representing clients from Atlantic City to Cape May. If you are facing criminal or DWI charges after an auto accident, contact me today to schedule a free consultation.
What Can You Be Charged With After an Accident?
New Jersey takes drunk driving accidents very seriously. If the police investigating an accident suspect you of driving drunk, you may be charged with one or more of the following offenses:
- Driving while intoxicated (DWI): When the police arrive at the scene of an accident, they may use breath or blood testing to determine whether any of the drivers involved were under the influence of alcohol. If so, they are likely to bring DWI charges.
- Leaving the scene of an accident: If you are accused of walking or driving away from an accident scene in order to evade blood alcohol testing or for any other reason, you can be charged with the criminal offense of leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries.
- Assault by auto: If the police believe you recklessly caused an accident in which someone was injured, you can be charged with assault by auto, which is also a criminal offense. Driving while intoxicated is considered a type of recklessness in these cases.
- Vehicular homicide: If you were involved in an accident in which someone was killed, you may be charged with the very serious crime of vehicular homicide or manslaughter. The standards for this charge are similar to the standards for assault by auto.
If you are charged with a crime, your DWI charges will be put on hold until your criminal case is resolved. I have more than 25 years of experience handling both criminal and DWI cases in New Jersey, and I am prepared to aggressively defend you against any of these charges.
If you have been accused of causing an accident while driving drunk, don't hesitate to contact me to discuss what I can do to fight the serious consequences of your charges.
