DWI with Property Damage

Driving drunk has a high probability of causing an accident or property damage. In 2017, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reported that there were 23,760 DUI-related crashes. A DWI with property damage could land you with expensive fines, incarceration and even a possible civil case. Texas law isn’t kind to people who damage property from DWI. You could face an additional reckless damage and destruction chare on top of your DWI. In addition, you could be required to pay restitution to the victim for any repairs. If you or someone you know has been charged with DWI involving property damage, it’s important you gain quality legal representation

Lawyer for DWI with Property Damage in Houston

Have you recently been arrested for driving while intoxicated? Did your DWI involve property damage? If so, it’s imperative you contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. You could be saddled with stiff fines, restitution costs and even prison time. Call Tyler Flood & Associates, Inc. now for efficient and effective legal representation. Our attorneys have years of experience handling DWI cases. Our managing attorney, Tyler Flood, is also a designated ACS-CHAL Lawyer-Scientist. The title means he exhibited an in-depth understanding of the scientific techniques associated with DWI.  Contact us today at (713) 224-5529 for a case evaluation. The attorneys at Tyler Flood & Associates, Inc. represent people throughout the greater Harris County area including Bellaire, Tomball, Houston, River Oaks and Pasadena. Overview of DWI with Property Damage in Texas


DWI with Property Damage in Texas

Driving while intoxicated is defined under Texas Penal Code § 49.04. The law states you’re committing DWI if you do the following:

  • Drive a motor vehicle in a public place; and
  • Have a blood-alcohol concentration of .08 or more OR your physical and mental faculties are impaired by alcohol or a controlled substance

Blood-alcohol concentration is the number of grams of alcohol in a breath, blood or urine sample. Law enforcement uses chemical testing to determine if your BAC is over the legal limit or not. If you’re a commercial driver, then your legal limit will be lowered to .04 BAC. Underaged drivers have an extremely low legal limit of .02 BAC. Texas law doesn’t have a specific statute for DWI with property damage. You will instead be charged with an additional crime called reckless damage or destruction. Texas Penal Code § 28.04 states you’re guilty of reckless damage if you:

  • Recklessly damage or destroy the property of another; and
  • You don’t have effective consent from the owner.

It’s important to remember a DWI with property damage can result in a civil case. Some alleged victim will seek compensation if they’re injured from the accident. This means you could be saddled with a criminal trial and a civil case. In addition, the court may order you to pay restitution alongside your penalties. The restitution costs will go toward the victim’s injuries or vehicular repairs.


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Penalties for DWI with Property Damage in Texas

Texas doesn’t have a specific statute for DWI involving property damage. Instead the courts will add a count of reckless damage or destruction to your charges. Reckless damage or destruction of property is a class C misdemeanor which may result in a $500 fine. A first-time DWI offense without any aggravating factors is a class B misdemeanor, which is punishable by:

  • A fine of up to $2,000;
  • Up to 180 days in jail;
  • Up to 100 hours of community service;
  • Driver license suspension for up to 12 months; and
  • Completion of a 12-hour DWI Education Program; and
  • Annual fee of up to $2,000 for three years by the Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Since property damage is involved in your DWI, it’s likely the judge will order you to pay restitution costs. These payments are towards the victim, so they can repair their property. You could also find yourself with a personal injury case if your DWI accidentally harmed someone. Certain aggravating factors can enhance your DWI penalties. If you have an open container in your car, then you’ll face a mandatory minimum of six days in jail. Having a high BAC of .15 or higher can result in a class A misdemeanor that may lead to:

  • A possible fine of $4,000; and
  • Up to 12 months in jail.

Your crime will be reclassified as a state jail felony, if a child was in the vehicle during the offense. The penalties for a state jail felony include:

  • A possible fine of up to $10,000; and
  • Up to 24 months in state jail

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What is Restitution in Texas?

Restitution is when the court orders the defendant to compensate the victim because they suffered from financial losses. It’s common for judges to impose restitution on DWI cases involving property damage. If your DWI resulted in property damage, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure § 42.037(b)(1) states the court can order you to:

  • Pay an amount equal to the greater of the following:
    • The value of the property on the date of your DWI; or
    • The value of the property on the date of your sentencing

If your DWI injured the victim, the court may order you to pay restitution for:

  • Medical costs;
  • Loss of wages;
  • Disability costs; or
  • Any additional expenses that occurred because of your DWI.

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Additional Resources

Texas DWI Laws – Visit the official website of Texas Legislation to learn more about surrounding driving while intoxicated offenses. Access the statute to find more information surrounding DWI, public intoxication, intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter. What is Restitution? – Visit a document provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Business and Finance Division to learn more about restitution. Access the document to learn more about restitution, what is a restitution lien and other options for victims to recover cash or goods from a crime.


DWI Attorney in Harris County, Texas

If you or someone you know has been charged with DWI involving property damage, it’s crucial you understand the full scope of your penalties. A conviction could lead to stiff fines, prison time and possible restitution costs. Don’t wait another moment agonizing over this. Call the attorneys at Tyler Flood & Associates, Inc. to start a defense plan today. Tyler Flood & Associates, Inc. is a group of criminal defense attorneys with a focus in DWI. Call us at (713) 224-5529 to schedule a case evaluation today.  We accept clients throughout all parts of the Houston area and surrounding communities including Tomball, Bellaire, Pasadena, and West University Place.


 

This article was last updated on March 7th, 2019.

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Robert Henderson
Robert Henderson
December 22, 2023.
I want to give a special thanks to Tyler Flood & Associates. Getting charged with a dwi was the worst feeling and situation I've been in, but the professionalism and confidence that Tyler Fllod & Associates showed throughout my case definitely helped me get some sleep at night. Then when they called and let me know that my case was dismissed and all charges dropped was incredible. Once again, thanks to Tyler Flood & Associates.
Zeta Ze
Zeta Ze
December 15, 2023.
Houston DWI/DUI Tyler Flood is the best lawyer to represent you in a DWI/DUI case. Mr. Flood saved my license from being suspended in a non-refusal weekend. In a case, where I feel I did everything wrong and had 0 chance, in my opinion, for a dismissal, my only hope and chance was to hire Mr. Flood and his firm. Having had previous experience with Mr. Flood's firm, I felt that if I had any percentage chance of a dismissal, I had to go with Mr. Flood again. As I am writing this review, I'm still in shock and awe in how Mr. Flood was able to get a dismissal before trial completely started. Mr. Flood knew the law better than the arresting officer and Prosecutors. Even the judge was impressed and paid him a compliment after the dismissal. In my opinion, if you want a fighting chance, hire Mr. Flood and his firm. Mr. Flood genuinely cares about all his clients and does not merely see you as a customer. He and his team are always working on your case. Trust his process. They are absolutely the BEST.
briana Munoz
briana Munoz
December 5, 2023.
Thanks to Tyler Flood I am able to continue my life, him and his partners were amazing in guiding me throughout this hard process. Tyler and his team got me a CASE DISMISSED on my DWI case. His team kept in contact with me on every small detail about my case while being able to thoroughly explain every possibility for me. I also never had to step foot in a courtroom! Him and his team had my back every step of the way and never made me feel like it was not going to be okay. Tyler flood is the BEST DWI/DUI attorney no doubt, please consider letting him take your case if you are ever in need of an amazing lawyer.
A D
A D
October 19, 2023.
When I found myself in a precarious situation and didn’t know where or who to turn to I was recommended to Tyler Flood and Associates. After researching and reading many reviews I decided to hire and retain Flood and Associates services. This was one of the best decisions I made in my life, not only were they there for me in every dim moment and never too busy to answer every question I had whether it was frivolous or not, his expertise was demonstrated to me during my trial. So much so that two other defendants asked for his name and number during my trial. He fought tooth-and-nail for me and he will for you too. I’m only rating him five stars because I can’t rate him any higher. I’ll thank him for the rest of my life.
Dylan
Dylan
October 12, 2023.
Houston DWI/DUI Attorney Tyler Flood is the best in the business! Tyler and his team made the entire process stress free for what is a very stressful situation. From winning the first administrative hearing (to retain my license/avoid a breathalyzer) to getting the dismissal before trial even started. He is truly the best in the business!
Cesar Ricardez
Cesar Ricardez
October 3, 2023.
I hired Tyler Flood the day after my DUI arrest after reading glowing reviews about him and I couldn’t be happier that I did so. He took care of both my cases to keep my driving rights and the misdemeanor DUI charge in court. I never even had to appear in court or do anything, him and his team took care of anything while I carried on with my life and would just get updates whenever they appeared in court on my behalf. At the end, my driver license was never suspended and they got my case dismissed. Lesson learned, I don’t wish anyone to get in my situation but if you do, don’t hesitate to hire Tyler Flood and his team, they are extremely professional and they go for the win. No deal, no probation, got it all dismissed.
M J
M J
September 14, 2023.
Tyler Flood, Houston DWI/DUI attorney is fantastic! He is professional, smart and takes pride in getting the best possible outcome for you. This was my second DWI and I didn't want to take chances. I found him on Google and I too was in disbelief with all the 5.0 star reviews. Upon meeting him I quickly discovered it was all true. A lawyer with his own science lab WTH??????? Long story short he got my case dismissed without going to court. You can not put a price on freedom. The only downside is I only hope to need his services this one time. 😀 Thanks again Mr. Flood God bless.
John Sellers
John Sellers
August 31, 2023.
Houston DUI/DWI attorney Tyler Flood is the guy to go to!! I started my journey with these guys on August 4th of this year, my case was dismissed before the end of the month!! Well worth it!! They are organized and efficient, kept me informed of what was going on and answered all my questions. I have shared with my friends and definitely recommend to anyone.
texasdiamonds
texasdiamonds
August 29, 2023.
Houston DUI/DWI attorney Tyler Flood is an outstanding attorney and person. If you are in need of a lawyer who understands the panic and sheer fear a family feels when this happens in their lives,Tyler Flood is the attorney for you. He has an outstanding educational background, his office includes an on-site, state-of-the-arts laboratory, and he is surrounded with a legal team to provide background and research data for him to be successful in representing you. He is a One-of-Kind, highly accomplished attorney that will promptly respond to you throughout the duration of your case. Seriously, this guy NEVER sleeps! Tyler Flood understands the importance of a person’s reputation and the seriousness of a DUI/DWI charge. If you choose to work with him, he will work with you to be successful! Tyler Flood is AWESOME!
Trey Perrett
Trey Perrett
August 14, 2023.
Words cannot express what a dominating lawyer Tyler Flood and his team are. I ran into some trouble in 2021 and I was just getting my family, career ,and life together. I was completely scared of what the repercussions could be for the rest of my life. I asked civil layers who they recommend and repeatedly Tyler Flood’s name was given to me. At my first appointment, I was overcome with anxiety of what will happen next. Tyler put me at ease immediately. He believed I had a case. They were great on response time and helping me navigate the often confusing legal system. It’s a long process to have a case brought to trial but I knew I had an amazing lawyer and his team in my corner. Finally, I received the call that my case was dismissed, and I was cleared of all charges. I could not be happier with the way he and his colleagues handled my case and brought home the W. I strongly recommend having Tyler Flood in your corner because he delivers.
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