Rockville Felony DUI/DWI Defense Attorneys

Experienced Felony DUI Lawyers Defending Against Drunk Driving Charges in Rockville, MD

A charge of DUI or DWI in Maryland is a serious legal matter, and a conviction can lead to life-altering consequences. While all DUI/DWI cases are serious, the penalties can become more severe if an offense is charged as a felony. A conviction can result in penalties that may include a long prison sentence, large fines, a permanent criminal record, a loss of your rights, and problems related to immigration. In these situations, you need legal help from an attorney who will focus on achieving positive results in your case.

At the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, we are committed to treating you with compassion and helping you resolve your DUI/DWI case successfully. We will fight to protect your rights and make sure you are fully prepared to address your legal issues. We are ready to stand by your side and guide you through the legal process.

When DUI or DWI Becomes a Felony in Maryland

In Maryland, DUI or DWI offenses are usually charged as misdemeanors. However, you could face felony charges in situations such as:

• Repeat Offenses: If you have two previous convictions for DUI or DWI, the next charge will usually be treated as a felony.
• Accidents Leading to Injury or Death: If you allegedly caused an accident while driving under the influence, and someone was seriously injured or killed, you could be charged with a felony for vehicular assault or vehicular manslaughter.
• Child Endangerment: If you were carrying a child passenger who was under the age of 14, a drunk driving charge may become a felony.
• High Blood Alcohol Content (BAC): High levels of alcohol in your system may lead to felony charges. DUI or DWI may be a felony if a breath test or blood test showed that your BAC was .20% or more.
• Speeding: If you are charged with speeding more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit along with intoxicated driving, a DUI or DWI charge may become a felony.

Penalties for Felony DUI/DWI

If you are convicted of a felony, you could face penalties such as:

• A Longer Prison Sentence: People convicted of felonies are often sentenced to several years in prison. If your case involved factors such as injuries or death, the prison sentence will probably be even longer.
• High Fines: A felony conviction may lead to fines that can range from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.
• Permanent Criminal Record: A felony on your record will affect many areas of your life. You may have trouble finding a job or a place to live, and you may lose other rights.
• Loss of Your Driver's License: You will be unable to drive for a long period of time after a felony conviction for DUI or DWI, or your license could even be permanently revoked.
• Immigration Issues: If you are an immigrant, a felony conviction could affect your legal status in the United States, or it could make it more difficult to apply for a visa or Green Card.

Advantages of Choosing the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder

Because of the many ways you may be affected by a felony conviction, you will need an attorney who can help you during your case. At the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, we can:

• Prepare You for Court: You may be worried about what to say or do when you appear in court. We will make sure you are fully prepared. We will help you understand what questions you will be asked and how to answer them. We will make sure you know where to stand and how to address the judge. We will even provide a tie if you need one to make sure you look professional in a legal setting.
• Fight for You: We will stand by your side in the courtroom, arguing for leniency and acquittal and working to have your charges reduced or dismissed. We can help determine whether probation before judgment may be an option that will allow you to avoid a conviction or whether other positive outcomes may be possible.
• Take Your Case to Trial if Necessary: Many defense attorneys try to resolve cases quickly, and they may advise their clients to accept unfavorable plea bargains. We are not like those attorneys. We will fight for the best possible outcome for you, and if a fair and reasonable agreement cannot be reached, we are ready and willing to defend you in a trial.

Potential Defenses Against Felony DUI/DWI Charges

There are ways that felony charges can be challenged during a DUI/DWI case. Some strategies we may be able to use include:

• Challenging the Evidence: We will look at whether evidence such as blood samples and field sobriety tests were handled correctly or whether the results of breathalyzer tests may be unreliable.
• Questioning the Traffic Stop: If an officer did not have a legal reason to pull you over, the lack of reasonable suspicion may be a reason to challenge the charges against you.
• Defending Against Aggravating Factors: If a felony charge is based on a factor such as a serious injury, we may be able to show that you were not responsible, which may allow charges to be reduced.

Contact Our Rockville, Maryland Felony DUI/DWI Lawyers

Do not try to defend against felony DUI/DWI charges alone. Contact the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder today at 301-762-7500 to schedule a free consultation and get the legal help you need. We are here to help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We serve clients throughout most counties in Maryland and Washington, D.C.