What Are the DUI Laws in Arizona?

Arizona takes driving under the influence seriously, whether it’s under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If an intoxicated driver in Phoenix has injured you, you can feel secure that Arizona’s DUI laws are designed to protect you.

As additional protection, our team of Phoenix drunk driving accident lawyers at Zanes Law is ready to help you. Read on to learn how our team can help you and what laws you should be aware of after a drunk driver has hit you.

What Is Considered Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in Arizona?

In Arizona, driving under the influence (DUI) refers to operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and other drugs. It is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. This applies to both alcohol from drinking and alcohol contained in medications.

Drivers can also be charged with a DUI if any amount of illegal drugs impairs their ability to drive. These prescription medications, such as over-the-counter drugs or volatile chemicals like glue and aerosols, induce drowsiness or impair coordination. A Phoenix driving under the influence of a drug accident lawyer can help you if the other driver was high while driving. 

Drivers do not need to be visibly intoxicated for a DUI charge, as impairment is determined based on driving behavior, poor performance on field sobriety tests, and chemical test results like BAC from breathalyzers. Arizona has “per se” DUI laws, meaning the results of approved chemical tests like breathalyzers are legally binding without needing further evidence of intoxication affecting driving.

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How does the Alcohol Concentration Level Affect Charges?

If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, the other party’s BAC level can have legal implications. Understanding Arizona’s BAC limits can help show whether the at-fault party was presumptively impaired:

• 0.08% BAC: Reaching this level or higher creates a presumption that the other driver’s ability was negatively impacted, increasing their liability for your injuries.
• 0.04-0.07% BAC: While legal to drive, a BAC in this range combined with indications of impairment from the crash could still demonstrate negligence.
• Under 0.04%: It may be harder to prove impairment legally, but risky driving behavior, even below this threshold, could still cause an accident.

No matter the BAC level, though, the key is showing that alcohol negatively affected their driving actions, such as weaving, speeding, or failing field sobriety tests. An experienced drunk driving accident attorney in Phoenix can assess how the other driver’s BAC and behavior interconnect to maximize your potential claim and recovery.

Penalties for DUI in Arizona

There are severe penalties for DUI offenses in Arizona. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, the penalties for first-time and repeat DUI offenders are: 

What Are the Penalties for a First DUI Offense?

If a drunk or high driver hits you and this is their first DUI offense, they will face penalties. The penalties they will face as a first-time offender are: 

• Jail time: The at-fault driver will serve at least 10 consecutive days in jail for the crime that caused you injury.
• Fines: In addition to the costs of your medical care, the driver will be fined a minimum of $1,250, which can contribute to your recovery.
• Treatment: Undergoing a court-ordered treatment program may reduce the chance of the driver reoffending and causing future harm.
• Ignition interlock: The use of an ignition interlock device for their vehicle helps prevent them from re-endangering others while driving drunk again.
• Community service: The required service provides some retroactive accountability to the community they put at risk through their negligence.
• License suspension: Time lost on the road increases the penalty for actions that seriously affect your health and livelihood.
• Court fees: Higher fees help maximize financial resources available through insurance and other sources to cover your accident-related costs.

What Are the Penalties for Repeat DUI Offenses?

If the driver that hit you has already been charged with a DUI, the penalties they face will be more severe. The repeat DUI offender will face severe penalties such as:

• Jail time: A Twice-convicted drunk driver will serve a minimum of 90 days in jail for causing you harm through their continued reckless decisions.
• Fines: In addition to medical costs, the at-fault party will be fined at least $3,000, which can help provide you compensation for lost wages and suffering.
• License revocation: Having their license revoked for a full year means they lose the privilege of driving.
• Community service: They must serve the community that was placed at risk as retribution for inflicting injuries on them through repeated drunk driving lapses in judgment.
• Insurance rates: Higher fines and penalties lead to major rate hikes, which can benefit you if you pursue damages through their liability policy or personally.

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How Can a DUI Accident Attorney Help You After You’ve Been Injured?

Hiring a DUI accident attorney after being injured can make a significant difference in obtaining fair compensation for your damages. Our Phoenix drunk driving accident attorney will handle all the details so you can focus on your recovery. We negotiate directly with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure you receive the maximum possible settlement value for your claim. 

Our team at Zanes Law can also help you file your DUI accident claim within Arizona’s deadline. When you work with our team, we can help you throughout the entire legal process so you never feel alone in your case.

We understand how to build a strong liability and damages case against the at-fault driver, gathering crucial evidence from police reports, witness testimony, medical records, and more.

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Compensation Available for DUI Accident Victims

After you’ve been injured by a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you could be eligible for compensation to help you pay for any costs you have to pay. Our drunk driving accident lawyer in Phoenix can help you recover:

• Current and future medical expenses: This covers the costs of any continuing or repeat medical care, therapy, medications, assisted living, and surgery that will be required for a lifetime.
• Permanent impairment: Compensation for permanent injuries and resulting limitations, such as loss of mobility, use of limbs, or loss of occupational functions.
• Disfigurement: Damages related to scarring, burns, or lingering injuries that cause self-consciousness, embarrassment, or loss of enjoyment of life.
• Loss of earnings capacity: For injuries reducing future earnings potential, even if you were unemployed or retired at the time of the crash.
• Property damage: Reimbursement for total vehicle loss, property destroyed in the crash, and reimbursing deductibles you had to pay.
• Punitive damages: In egregious cases involving reckless or intentionally drunk driving, these damages punish the at-fault party’s willful misconduct.

Learn More About the DUI Laws in Arizona Today

If you’ve been injured by a drunk or high driver in Phoenix, our team of drunk driving accident attorneys is ready to help you. At Zanes Law, we fight for your rights, and with over 20 years of experience and a 99% win rate, you can feel confident when our team takes on your case. 

Contact us to learn more about the DUI laws in Arizona.

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