Law Office of Michael L. Fell
900 Roosevelt Irvine, CA 92620
(949) 585-9055

3 Mistakes That Can Increase Your Chances of Being Involved in a DUI

At the end of the day, it is true that getting behind the wheel of a car and driving while under the influence of alcohol is what leads to a DUI arrest. However, there are some mistakes you can make that could make it more likely for you to make this poor decision. Read on to learn what they are. If you have been arrested for this or another crime, contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 for a free legal consultation.

  1. Spending Time with the Wrong People
  2. It may sound like a cliché to say that the company you keep can affect your entire life, but it is true. If you have people you go out and drink with who always believe that you are fine to drive, then you know they can be dangerous to be around when drinking. The best way to handle this is to either not spend time with someone you know will encourage you to drive while drunk, have a ride in advance, or do not have more than one or two drinks with them.

  3. Drinking Alcohol When Taking Certain Medications or When Sick
  4. If you are sick, do not drink. If you are sick and you drink, do not drive. If you are feeling unwell, it could affect your tolerance to alcohol and increase dehydration (which can cause dizziness and confusion). If you are taking medications for your illness (or anything else) then it is possible that the drugs you are taking could interact negatively with alcohol.

    A common example is cold medication. They actually often already contain alcohol, which can add to your BAC before you even start drinking. An antibiotic can cause drowsiness and dizziness, which can be exacerbated by alcohol. The facts are simple: If you are not feeling well, or you are taking medication then you should not drink. If you do drink, you should definitely not drive.

  5. Drinking Alcohol Before an Event
  6. It is often referred to as “pre-gaming:” When a person or group of friends decide to drink before an event. They often do so because they want to reduce the amount of money they will have to spend at the event to drink alcohol. This is not a good idea. First, you are now risking driving under the influence not just home from the event but on the way to it.

Second, when a person considers how much they have had to drink in order to decide if they are okay to drive, they often mentally only consider the drinks they have had at the event. The best choice here is to either stay at home to drink or wait until you get to the event to start drinking.

If your night out ends in charges of DUI then it is worth contacting a criminal defense attorney to determine what your options are. You can contact Law Office of Michael L. Fell at (949) 585-9055 to request a free case evaluation.