In cases like this, an experienced Washington D.C. DWI defense lawyer must be called on to separate the fact from fiction. When a defendant faces many charges, they may be inclined to want to accept the first plea offer that the prosecution makes. But this isn’t always the best strategy. In fact, it’s usually a mistake.
A skilled lawyer can investigate the situation, including scrutinizing witnesses and police reports, possibly reconstructing the scene of the accident and debating the results of field sobriety tests and blood, urine or breath testing. And it is possible the plea offer from prosecutors will get better. It’s also possible that a lawyer will advice the driver to consider going to trial if the case against a defendant makes that a wise course of action.
In this case, the soccer player’s driver was drunk and was later sentenced to two years in prison. The soccer player and the female driver left the Shadow Room, a Washington D.C. nightclub that promoted a Red Bull-hosted party on October 12, 2009. According to the lawsuit, reported by Business Insider, despite the driver being drunk, the club continued serving her alcohol. The lawsuit alleges that the club and the company “carelessly and negligently” served drinks to guests who were already drunk. The article questions the decision making of the soccer player that night, but his attorneys say the blame should be placed on the club for serving people who were visibly drunk. Club owners say the soccer player was well aware of his surroundings that night and dispute the claims in the lawsuit.
MyFox DC reports that the crash killed a 22-year-old passenger and lacerated the soccer player’s bladder and caused him broken bones. He was 23 at the time. Club and bar owners definitely have a responsibility to consider the intoxication level of the patrons they are serving night after night. If someone is visibly drunk, they have a duty to stop serving them drinks. Many bars are now equipped with breath testing machines that patrons can use to determine if their blood alcohol concentration is above the district’s .08 legal limit. But in cases where there is an accident and people are injured or killed, police will steer away from the bartender and focus on the driver. It will be the driver identified as causing the accident and driving under the influence of alcohol who will face the major penalties.
That’s why hiring an experienced Washington D.C. DUI defense lawyer is so critical. In Washington D.C., there are many ways for th police to charge someone with a drunken driving episode. Fight them all.
Additional Resources:
A U.S. Soccer Star Is Suing Red Bull Over The Drunk Driving Crash That Nearly
Killed Him, by Ariel Sandler, Business Insider
If you have been charged with a DUI in Washington, DC, please feel free to contact the Law Office of Christopher Mutimer for a free no-obligation consultation. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover Cards are accepted.
