Drinking and driving is generally considered to be an unsafe driving practice in Maryland and elsewhere. Regardless of this fact, it is a frequent occurrence and facing charges for DUI/DWI can be a scary experience. That fear can be significantly enhanced if another person was seriously injured or killed as a result of the accident.

In an incident on a recent Tuesday night, a motorcyclist was struck by a driver who was attempting to make a left-hand turn. The driver hit the motorcycle as he was turning into a driveway. The motorcyclist was seriously injured.

The injured man was first transported to Western Maryland Health System. Due to the traumatic nature of his injuries, he was then transferred to the Shock Trauma Unit in Baltimore. The driver of the vehicle that struck him was placed under arrest. Officers at the scene claimed to have detected alcohol and administered a field sobriety test, after which they charged the driver with DUI.

There are procedures and policies that officers must follow when charging a person with DUI/DWI. Among these are as follows: was the stop a legal one, were field sobriety tests properly administered and were all other procedures properly carried out? Additionally, a person facing charges is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. A knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Maryland can assist in determining the validity of the charges that one is facing and ensure that one’s rights were upheld at the time of the arrest as well as throughout the criminal justice process.