DWI and DUI are acronyms that stand for driving while intoxicated and driving under the influence. Driving while intoxicated typically means driving after consuming alcohol while driving under the influence can mean a wide variety of other drugs, including anything from marijuana to cocaine. State laws vary when it comes to driving after consuming drugs or alcohol. But typically, you are not allowed to have a blood alcohol content level (BAC) higher than 0.08. There are a lot of common terms and definitions relating to DWI and DUI and here we will explore some that you may have heard.

Field sobriety tests are used quite often by law enforcement personnel. These are typically done on the roadside after the driver has been pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence. There are a variety of different tests, including breath, urine and blood analysis, but they may also test for balance, coordination, speaking.

Reasonable doubt is another common term when speaking of DUI and DWI cases, but the definition varies from state to state. It typically means that in order for people to be convicted of this type of offense, it needs to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that they were under the influence at the time that they were pulled over. Prosecutors are responsible for proving this and will use a variety of different techniques to do so. The first thing that they will examine will be the police reports. This will give them an idea of exactly what happened at the time the car was pulled over and what behaviors were deemed suspicious. If there were any field sobriety tests conducted on the spot, then the prosecutor will have access to the results. Also, if their blood alcohol content levels were recorded with a breathalyzer, a blood test or a urine test, they will be able to use that information against them. If there is enough evidence that they were intoxicated at the time, the prosecutors will be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person was intoxicated.

Restitution is term that is heard quite often. In almost every case that a drunk driver and a sober driver are in an accident, the drunk driver will be found at fault. Since the sober driver did not cause the accident, then they should not be held responsible for the costs that were incurred by the accident, including repairs to his or her vehicle and medical expenses. If there was a serious injury as a result of the drunk driver, then the judge could decide that he or she has to pay the victim restitution for the pain and suffering that they have gone through.

If you or someone that you know was hit by a drunk driver, then you need to contact a lawyer immediately. You should not be held responsible for the costs caused by someone else’s poor judgment. There are law firms that specialize in protecting the rights of people who have been affected by drunk driving. Since they deal exclusively with this type of case, they are extremely knowledgeable in the details of DUI/DWI cases. They will be able to use this knowledge to get you the best possible settlement.