Criminal Versus Civil DUI Cases: What Maryland DUI Accident Victims Need to Know

Maryland drunk driving accidents are unfortunately common and often leave victims suffering devastating injuries. While drunk drivers can face justice via serious criminal charges, that doesn’t help in dealing with your medical costs, income losses, and emotional suffering.

Our Maryland drunk driving accident attorneys represent clients in these cases. We explain that while criminal law focuses on punishing the offender, filing a civil claim is how to get the compensation you need to recover.

 Key Differences Between Maryland Criminal and Civil DUI Cases In Maryland

Under the Maryland Code, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of any amount of alcohol is illegal. Drivers can face serious criminal charges, as well as civil liability.

Criminal and civil DUI cases in Maryland serve different purposes, have different standards of proof, and result in different outcomes. Here’s how they compare:

• Purpose: Maryland criminal DUI cases are pursued by state prosecutors and serve to punish the drunk driver for breaking the law. Civil cases are pursued by victims and their legal representatives and seek financial compensation for losses suffered.
• Burden of Proof: In a Maryland criminal DUI case, the prosecution must prove the driver was guilty “beyond a reasonable doubt.” In a civil case, you only need to prove the driver was negligent “by a preponderance of the evidence,” meaning it’s more likely than not that their actions caused your injuries.
• Possible Outcomes: A criminal conviction can lead to jail time, fines, and license suspension, but it does not provide compensation to victims. A successful civil DUI lawsuit in Maryland can result in a financial settlement or court-ordered damages covering medical expenses, missed earnings, property damages, pain and suffering, and other losses.

How Accident Victims Can Build a Strong Maryland DUI Civil Claim

Both criminal and civil DUI cases require presenting strong evidence in court, but in civil claims, here’s what you need:

• Police Reports and Arrest Records: These can help establish fault.
• Breathalyzer and Blood Test Results: These confirm the driver was drunk at the time of the crash.
• Witness Statements: Witnesses can provide crucial support by testifying as to what they observed prior to and immediately after your crash.
• Surveillance Footage: Traffic or business surveillance cameras may have captured what happened.
• Medical Records: These document your injuries and help show the extent of your damages.
• Expert Testimony: Testimony from medical professionals, accident reconstruction experts, and others can help strengthen your case.

To Get Compensation In Your Claim, Contact Our Maryland Car Accident Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been injured in a DUI crash, a criminal conviction provides justice but not the compensation you need to recover. To get what you need to cover your losses in a DUI lawsuit in Maryland, contact Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP.

We fight to get the maximum amount you are entitled to in a civil claim. Request a consultation with our Maryland drunk driving accident lawyers today.

Sources:

mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gtr&section=21-902#:~:text=%C2%A721%E2%80%93902.,influence%20of%20alcohol%20per%20se.&text=2.

courts.state.md.us/