There are significant penalties that are in play when you’re accused of drunk driving. After all, a conviction could lead to jail time, license suspension, and damage to your reputation and your career. But you might have strong criminal defense options that you can turn to in hopes of protecting yourself against conviction. One of them is relying on your existing medical conditions.
Can a medical condition lead to a DUI arrest?
Yes. Far too often the police mistake symptoms of a medical condition for signs of intoxication, thereby leading to an arrest. Here are some of the conditions that could lead to a false arrest and drunk driving charges:
- Diabetes, which can result in an individual exhibiting confusion and loss of coordination.
- Hypoglycemia, which can cause shakiness, dizziness, and trouble talking.
- Heart conditions, which can result in an individual presenting with sweatiness, poor balance, and difficulty breathing.
- Traumatic brain injuries that result in erratic behavior and trouble focusing.
- Dementia that causes confusion and memory problems.
- Epilepsy, which can result in erratic behavior, agitation, and difficulty balancing.
There may be other medical conditions in play in your case. You just have to make sure you have an understanding of how your symptoms could be misinterpreted and result in a wrongful arrest. That way you can effectively argue how your medical condition was misinterpreted as intoxication.
You can’t let the prosecution run away with your criminal case. Fortunately, you have criminal defense options that might help you aggressively fight back. You just have to know and understand your defense options so that you can make the fully informed decisions that are right for you. By doing so, you’ll hopefully be able to protect your future and secure the outcome that you want.