Q: Can I still be charged with a DUI if I wasn’t arrested or charged on the scene? I also have no memory of the event.
I was released from the hospital when I regained consciousness with no information from the police. Nobody was hurt, and the only property damage was my car. The last thing I remember before waking up in the hospital was talking to my dad while lying in bed at home.
A: The short answer is - yes. And in NC it is DWI not DUI. If you suspect you may be charged, you should consult with a local, experienced DWI attorney as soon as you are able. If law enforcement questions and / or charges you before you get a chance to consult with an attorney - you should not say anything. And by not say anything I mean keep your mouth shut - do not open it and do not speak any words to law enforcement whatsoever. Yes, just sit there and look at them and do not speak until they leave. It will be uncomfortable and the urge to talk and tell your side of the story will be difficult to resist. But resist you must - trust me when I say you are not competent to know what to say and what not to say. I can not tell you how many of my clients would have beat their charge of DWI if they had just exercised their constitutional right to remain silent and shut their mouths and not said anything. Best of luck.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
