How A DWI Can Impact Your Life—& How You Can Fight Back
If you’re facing a DWI charge, you may feel overwhelmed and uncertain about what comes next. A DWI can affect every part of your life, from your ability to drive to your job opportunities and personal relationships. But there are legal options that can help you protect your future.
At The Medlin Law Firm, we’ve helped clients challenge DWI charges, even in cases where their blood alcohol content (BAC) was as high as 0.33. Below, we’ll discuss the consequences of a DWI conviction and the legal strategies that may help you fight back.
The Consequences Of A DWI Charge
A DWI isn’t just a traffic violation—it can lead to serious legal and personal consequences. Even a first-time charge can create significant challenges.
License Suspension: In most cases, a DWI arrest leads to an immediate suspension of driving privileges, making it difficult to get to work, school, or appointments.
Fines and Court Costs: A conviction can result in expensive fines, legal fees, and additional costs to reinstate a driver’s license.
Criminal Record: A DWI conviction can remain on your record, potentially affecting employment, housing, and other aspects of life.
Higher Insurance Rates: A DWI often leads to increased auto insurance premiums or difficulty obtaining coverage.
These immediate penalties can be severe, but the long-term consequences can have an even greater impact on your future.
The Long-Term Impact Of A DWI Conviction
A DWI conviction can affect your life for years, influencing job opportunities, personal relationships, and financial stability.
Employment Challenges: Many employers conduct background checks, and a criminal record may limit job opportunities—especially in careers that require driving or professional licensing.
Impact on Reputation: A DWI can change how you are perceived by colleagues, friends, and family.
Financial Burden: The combination of fines, legal fees, increased insurance rates, and lost income can create long-term financial strain.
Harsher Penalties for Future Offenses: If charged again, penalties become more severe, including longer license suspensions, higher fines, and potential jail time.
While these challenges can seem overwhelming, a DWI charge is not a conviction, and there are ways to defend against it.
You Can Fight A DWI—Real Case Results
At The Medlin Law Firm, we have handled DWI cases with successful outcomes, even in challenging situations. Some of our results include:
- DWI with BAC of 0.33 – Not Guilty
- DWI with BAC of 0.32 – Dismissed
- DWI with BAC of 0.17 – Not Guilty
Every case is different, but these examples show that fighting a DWI charge is possible with the right legal defense.
Defending Against A DWI Charge
If you’ve been arrested for a DWI, there are legal strategies that may help reduce or dismiss the charges.
Challenging the Traffic Stop: A police officer must have a valid reason for pulling you over. If there was no probable cause, the case could be dismissed.
Questioning the Breathalyzer and Sobriety Tests: Breathalyzers and field sobriety tests can be inaccurate. The accuracy of test results can be challenged if the device was not calibrated properly or if testing procedures were not followed correctly.
Negotiating a Plea Agreement: In some cases, it may be possible to reduce charges or penalties through negotiations with prosecutors.
Seeking Alternative Sentencing: Some courts offer alternatives such as alcohol education programs, community service, or probation instead of jail time.
A strong defense can make a significant difference in the outcome of a case.
Why Choose The Medlin Law Firm?
When facing a DWI charge, having a legal team that understands the complexities of these cases is important. At The Medlin Law Firm, we work to defend clients against DWI charges by evaluating every detail of the case, questioning the evidence, and building a defense strategy tailored to the situation.
Proven Case Results: We have handled a range of DWI cases, including those with high BAC levels, and secured favorable outcomes for many clients.
Focused Approach: Our team works closely with each client to understand the details of their case and explore all available legal options.
Clear Communication: We keep clients informed throughout the process, explaining legal options and potential outcomes.
Take Action Now—Protect Your Future
A DWI charge does not automatically mean a conviction. With the right legal approach, there may be ways to challenge the charges and minimize the impact on your life.
Time is critical in a DWI case. The sooner you seek legal advice, the more options you may have. Contact The Medlin Law Firm today for a consultation and take the first step toward protecting your future.
Getting charged with a DWI can have a major impact on your life. In addition to the stress of dealing with court dates and trying to navigate the legal process, potentially losing your license could pose major challenges for you. Under certain circumstances, you may face steep fines or even some amount of jail time as well.
Working with an experienced Fort Worth DWI lawyer could help alleviate many of your worries and concerns. Whether representing you in plea negotiations or preparing you for trial, a Fort Worth defense attorney can make sure you are fully supported each step of the way. You may not know where to go from here, but with legal counsel at your side, you would not have to go through this difficult process alone, and you could know what to expect each step of the way.
Fort Worth DWI Laws
The laws on driving while intoxicated are explained in Texas Penal Code §49.04. In Texas, it is unlawful to drive a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated. “Intoxicated,” according to Texas Penal Code §49.01(2), means driving while not having the normal use of mental or physical faculties by reason of drugs or alcohol, or driving with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher.
For a first DWI, an individual’s license can be suspended anywhere from 90 days to a year. For a second and third offense, the typical license suspension is 180 days to two years. Fort Worth courts also often impose fines for DWIs, which can range from $2,000 to $10,000 depending upon the number of offenses and the facts of the case making it important that a Fort Worth DUI lawyer is contacted as soon as possible.
Misdemeanor Vs. Felony DWI Charges
Most DWI cases are categorized as Class B misdemeanors and require a minimum of three days in jail. However, if an open container is also found in the vehicle, the minimum jail term is six days.
Having a BAC of 0.15 percent or greater while driving is a Class A misdemeanor, which is a more serious crime. The penalties for multiple offenses are also more severe. Getting convicted for a second DWI requires a minimum jail term of 30 days. Penalties can also be more severe if there is a child under 15 years old in the vehicle. DWI with a minor in the car is punishable by between 180 days and two years in jail, as well as a fine of up to $10,000 warranting the attention of Fort Worth DWI attorneys.
Penalties can also be more severe if a drunk driver causes an accident and injured someone. Intoxication assault, injuring a person while driving drunk, is a third-degree felony punishable by a prison sentence of two to ten years and a fine of up to $10,000. If someone is killed during the incident, the driver can be charged with intoxication manslaughter, a second-degree felony punishable by imprisonment from two to 20 years on top of a maximum $10,000 fine.
Speak With A Fort Worth DWI Lawyer Today
It is important to understand how the specific facts of your case may affect its outcome, whether in a positive or negative way. There are many factors to consider, so it may be overwhelming to try to fight your case alone.
An experienced Fort Worth DWI attorney could guide you through this process by conducting a full assessment of your case and reviewing all the evidence the state plans to present. If necessary, they could even conduct a full investigation and gather independent evidence and witnesses. Call us today to schedule a free case evaluation and get started on your case.