Hello everyone, I am being charged with felony dui in the state of Alaska. This is my first offense and I am really nervous. I was involved in an accident that was my fault and there were minor injury to the person I hit. I Have a lawyer and just want to know if anyone else has been in my shoes and what their outcome was.

Nobody will be able to tell you accurately. These things vary state to state and how extreme everything was... along with how the judge finds you... along with how good your lawyer is... see what I mean?

Realistically, what has your lawyer told you? It's probably not good. Usually when you're drunk and you hit someone, the court isn't exactly happy about this.

Well at first I was being charged with a misdemeanor until the DA reviewed my case so I just found out today it has been pushed to a felony. My lawyer told me that this might happen and to not get my hopes up about the misdemeanor. I understand what your saying but the DA office dishes out typical plea bargains for situations like this and if anyone has been in a situation like this one they might be able to give me a heads up.

Usually, when there is an accident involved and someone is injured because of DUI, nobody is all that willing to give you a break.

I am not asking for a break, I screwed up and am willing to deal with the consequences. I Deserve any sentence I receive. I don't believe you understand what I am getting at here. People have experience and knowledge is gained from those who have that experience. So if I can get advice from people that don't want to judge but help then maybe the road ahead of me will become a little smoother.

So who's judging you?

All I am saying is to expect the worst. But I understand... you want to hear from someone who can give you a story of their experience to give you hope.

Ok, I'll go. Back in '96 in NJ, I slammed into a wall. My head went through the windshield. I broke my wrist and my hip. I had to be extracted from the car and Life Flighted to a hospital. I was out of work for 4 months. I was charged with DUI. Who did I hurt? Myself and my car... that's it.

I had a lawyer and went to court. I was treated worse than a murderer. I got the full sentence. The full fine. I got whatever they could give me... all on top of the injuries I got, losing my car, losing a paycheck. Did they care? No. All that mattered is that I drove drunk and could have killed someone. They told me I was lucky that it was only me that got so messed up in that car. And no, this wasn't a felony charge either... I can just imagine what that would have been like.

So there you have it. Do you feel better now?

Most likely drivers license suspended for short time, a fine 500 to 1000 dollars, if the damages to the other person has not been settled, those will be ordered.

You will find that they may want a SR22 filing for your auto insurance, which will about double the cost of it. ( if your company does not cancel you) then you will end up in high risk insurance.

Getting stories from others won't help a lot. How aggressive the other lawyer is (how much he is being paid, and how good he is), plus your lawyer, plus any intimations of long term effects of the injury, no matter how slight it appeared on the medical report, such as chronic back and neck pain and headaches, plus who you get for a judge...