Most drunk driving charges are misdemeanors. This is usually true in Pennsylvania and most other states. First-time offenders most often do not end up facing a felony drunk driving charge, unless there are certain circumstances surrounding the offense which would up the charge. Philadelphia felony DUI lawyers would probably be able to tell anyone that an accident leading to the death of a pedestrian is one of those circumstances.

That appears to have been what happened recently in Northeast Philadelphia, when on February 24 at around 11 a.m. a woman was killed when a drunk driver allegedly jumped the curb and hit her with his vehicle. According to the reports, the 58-year-old woman victim was walking with her husband at the time of the accident. Her husband was not injured. The woman was transported for medical care after the accident, but she quickly died due to her injuries.

The driver was also injured, and was initially being treated while in critical condition. The police have indicated that the driver will be facing DUI charges – most likely enhanced due to the death of the woman.

Any DUI charge has the potential to cause life-altering changes in both a person’s personal and professional lives. A person charged with DUI could lose their job, or have trouble finding one, even before the justice system gets a chance to play out. An immediate license suspension could result as well. However, a felony DUI charge could bring about even more drastic consequences, including a prison sentence. For those who face these enhanced charges, crafting a sound defense strategy, or engaging in aggressive plea negotiations, could mean the difference between imprisonment, probation or freedom.

Source: CBS Philly, “Police Investigating Fatal Pedestrian Accident In Northeast Philadelphia,” Oren Liebermann, Jenn Bernstein and Pat Loeb, Feb. 24, 2013