With Thanksgiving behind us and the Christmas season now in full swing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is kicking off its pre-holiday season drunk driving prevention campaign in an effort to remind all motorists that it’s extremely hazardous to operate a vehicle after consuming alcohol. The best way to prevent drunk driving is to choose your role before the alcohol consumption begins. By planning ahead, you could prevent not only the headache and expense associated with a DUI, but an injury causing crash as well.
Unfortunately, many people think that it’s ok to “drive while buzzed” after having only a somewhat small amount of alcohol. In reality, most people don’t truly know their own limits when it comes to drinking. The consumption of alcohol itself many times lessens one’s ability to make a wise decision, so deciding to drive after having just a few drinks is not advisable. Operating a motor vehicle can be extremely dangerous even when at peak performance, so driving with any alcohol in your body is just that much more unsafe.
According to the NHTSA, in 2014 approximately 10,076 lives were lost in drunk driving automobile accidents. That same year, one third of all U.S. motor vehicle fatalities involved intoxicated driving. Holiday get togethers and parties make the winter months especially dangerous. In December of 2013, more than seven hundred thirty people lost their lives in auto and motorcycle crashes involving a drunk driver.
If you still choose to drink responsibly, be aware that if there is alcohol on your breath and/or you admit you’ve been drinking, then chances are you are going to be asked to submit to a field sobriety test. If impairment is suspected by law enforcement, it is almost certain you will be asked to give a breath or blood test. Refuse either of those tests and you are on your way to jail. Submit to the tests and you may make your DUI case very difficult to defend.
Tennessee law does not require the district attorney to prove that you are intoxicated, only that your blood alcohol level is .08 or greater or that your level of intoxication substantially impairs your ability to drive. Many individuals can perform very well on field sobriety tests even when their blood alcohol level is over .08, meaning that while they may feel fine to drive, getting behind the wheel of their car may be setting them up for a DUI.
If you have been charged with DUI, it’s important you seek the services of an experienced lawyer who has tried criminal law cases. Contact Attorney Donna Wagner to schedule a consultation.
Real-life results
See what happy clients are saying about me.
“I spoke with several attorneys and from the moment I spoke with Donna I knew she was the person I wanted to hire for a child custody case.
From the very first interaction she was enthusiastic, friendly, and honest. She asked a lot of questions to get to know the case well. I was so impressed with how thorough and thoughtful she was throughout the entire process, explaining every step along the way.
Donna was great at staying in contact and kept me updated as everything progressed. She was affordable and very fair in her billing. If ever another situation is to arise in which I’m requiring legal assistance and representation she will be the first I call.
Due to Donna’s persistence I was able to come out ahead with more than I had ever hoped for when I first brought her my case. She helped me to see and understand things about my situation that would have never occurred to me on my own.
This woman has so much integrity! I’m so grateful for all of her help during a nerve wracking time. She was incredibly personable. I highly recommend Donna Wagner for your legal needs.
Best decision I ever made in the midst of a divorce, from someone who asked for the divorce, was to hire Donna Wagner. I was facing an attorney who was representing my spouse, thinking all I had to do was sign the papers. No, they were attempting to get money out of me. Keep in mind we didn’t have any kids. Anyhow, Donna came in and shut it all down. I was due in court in a week and she got that continued. After going back and forth with the opposing attorney, Donna was able to not only get them to settle the case without going to court but have everything ruled in my favor. I am finally divorced and can breathe easy. Thank you Donna Wagner!
Donna provided such expertise during my case with her. She was always responsive, knowledgeable and professional, while also being compassionate to my situation. I cannot recommend her enough!
I know for certain that If I am needing an attorney again in the future, I will be using Donna Wagner. There are so many great things to say about Donna. However, I believe what I appreciated most was how Donna handles special situations, and I assure you, my circumstances were just that! Donna was very thorough during my entire case. She was able to address my unique case but also do so with legal basis even though the courts may not always allow for such situations. Donna was very thorough each step of the way and was certain to not leave any stone un-turned. One thing I really liked about Donna was her fire. When situations arose, she can be more than passionate about her job and serving justice to those who deserve it. I also want Donna’s clients to know that she was very timely with me in her communications with me. Whether by email or phone, she was always just a call or a message away. When being in a legal situation, I know from previous experience, being able to reach your attorney means everything. I am more than pleased with the results that I recieved from Donna Wagner, and I assure you my case turned out better than I had imagined and even for a fair price. Donna Wagner rocks!
I know for certain that If I am needing an attorney again in the future, I will be using Donna Wagner. There are so many great things to say about Donna. However, I believe what I appreciated most was how Donna handles special situations, and I assure you, my circumstances were just that! Donna was very thorough during my entire case. She was able to address my unique case but also do so with legal basis even though the courts may not always allow for such situations. Donna was very thorough each step of the way and was certain to not leave any stone un-turned. One thing I really liked about Donna was her fire. When situations arose, she can be more than passionate about her job and serving justice to those who deserve it. I also want Donna’s clients to know that she was very timely with me in her communications with me. Whether by email or phone, she was always just a call or a message away. When being in a legal situation, I know from previous experience, being able to reach your attorney means everything. I am more than pleased with the results that I recieved from Donna Wagner, and I assure you my case turned out better than I had imagined and even for a fair price. Donna Wagner rocks!
I obtained Mrs. Donna Wagner’s services in 2012 to help with my charge of driving under the influence. I first called several other attorneys, but none of them were willing to listen to my case. Mrs. Wagner not only took the time to listen but went out of her way to be sensitive to my issues, respond quickly to my questions, and help me understand this unfamiliar process. It was clear to me from the beginning that she knew the system well and was very thorough in her exploration into my case. With her experience and knowledge of the Mt. Juiliet court system, combined with her adept use of the evidence at hand, she was able to get my charges significantly reduced. I could not be more happy with my choice of attorney. I am certain that I would not have had such a successful outcome without her guidance and skill.
