Leaving the scene of an accident and felony DUI are closely linked under South Carolina law. These three questions explain what leaving the scene means, what leaving the scene with death means, and what felony DUI with great bodily injury means. Together they show how the penalties for these charges line up with felony DUI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is leaving the scene?
Leaving the scene is when you have an accident and you don’t stop and report it. But you leave the scene, for whatever reason. It’s unlawful to leave the scene of an accident, especially where someone else is injured or possibly killed. Those laws really mirror the felony DUI laws in South Carolina, and the penalties are the same as if you were driving drunk.
What is leaving the scene with death?
Leaving the Scene with Death is very similar to DUI in terms of penalty. But, basically, it says that someone was in an accident, they caused a death as a result of the accident, and then they fled the scene or left the scene. Penalties for Leaving the Scene with Death are the same as Felony DUI, and the state does not have to prove the person was under the influence. They just must prove that the person left the scene without reporting the accident.
What is felony DUI with great bodily injury?
Felony DUI with Great Bodily Injury is really the same thing as Felony DUI with Death. All the elements are the same, except whether or not the person has died or is just seriously injured. If you’re driving a car and there’s evidence that you’re under the influence and you violate some other traffic law, and as a result of that someone either inside your car or outside your car is struck and seriously injured, then you would be charged with Felony DUI with Great Bodily Injury.
A charge like leaving the scene or felony DUI is serious, and the penalties can be severe. Greg McCollum has 30 years of experience and is a former prosecutor, which gives him a working understanding of how the state approaches these cases. Every case is different, and the right defense depends on the facts of yours.
If you have questions about leaving the scene or felony DUI charges in South Carolina, call the Greg McCollum Complete Legal Defense Team at (843) 626-5480. Consultations are confidential.