Philadelphia DUI Attorney
Brian J. Zeiger
As an experienced Philadelphia DUI Attorney, I have handled hundreds of drunk driving cases, many by favorable negotiated dispositions without trial. Where prosecutors are unwilling to agree to a reasonable settlement, I bring formidable courtroom skills to bear. In fact, my reputation for aggressive and effective trial work often plays a part in the achievement of reasonable settlement agreements.DUI cases can be staggering in their complexity, raising a variety of serious and highly technical Constitutional Law issues. In order to effectively handle a drunk driving case, a criminal defense lawyer must have a solid background in anatomy, biology, chemistry, physiology, and toxicology, and an intimate understanding of the function and operation of the various testing instruments and procedures used by hospital and laboratories in measuring alcohol and/or other drugs in the human body.
As a skilled Philadelphia DUI Attorney, I am firmly dedicated to the fight for justice and fair treatment for those accused of the following types of drunk driving offenses:
- Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (DUI)
- Misdemeanor
- 1st Offense
- Repeat Offenses
- Misdemeanor
- Felony
- Serious Repeat Offender
- Accident with serious injury or death
- DUI Manslaughter
- DUI Murder
- DUI with a child passenger
- Hit and Run Driving
- Reckless Driving
- Contests of Speed
- Driving on a Suspended License
- Other Traffic Crimes
- Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or other state licensing agency Suspension/Revocation Hearings
- DUI Conviction
- Chemical Test Refual
- Medical or Drug Suspension
- Negligent Operator (too many tickets) Suspension
I always try to imagine myself being in the same position as my client, and I ask myself what I would expect from my lawyer: professionalism, timely returned phone calls, and a smart person who can think on their feet. I am a true believer in customer service and that my clients are also my customers.
If you or someone you know in Pennsylvania has been arrested and charged with drunk driving, and you need the aggressive and skilled legal representation of an experienced Philadelphia DUI Attorney, contact Brian J. Zeiger today at 866-499-8974, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Prescription Medications:
Most people know that it is illegal to drive under the influence of illegal drugs, but many believe they can avoid a conviction for DUI by producing a prescription for the drug in question. This is not true. A DUI (drugs) charge has nothing to do with whether or not possession of the drug was lawful. The legal issue in any DUI case is whether, as the result of "impairment," the driver has lost the ability to drive safely. It is just as unlawful to drive under the influence of a properly prescribed medication as it is to drive after drinking too much alcohol.
Other Traffic Crimes:
Every state has its own set of laws governing the operation of motor vehicles on public streets and highways. Most of these laws classify violations as infractions - relatively minor offenses for which a fine is the only penalty. One cannot be given a jail sentence for an infraction. It can be very important to fight infraction prosecutions in some situations. Many states have “point” systems to track individual driving records and the accumulation of too many points can have serious consequences, ranging from license suspension to revocation. Automobile insurance carriers often cancel the policies of drivers with too many “points.” The decision whether or not to fight an infraction ticket is one that should receive very careful consideration.
Administrative License Suspension Hearings:
Most states provide for administrative driver's license suspension in certain circumstances, but in every case the driver is entitled to a hearing in which the suspension can be contested. If a hearing is not requested within the time provided by law the right to a hearing is waived, and the suspension goes into effect automatically. In some cases the time for requesting a hearing is very short, and the scope of the hearing is usually very narrow and highly technical, from a legal standpoint. Self-representation at a suspension hearing is rarely successful. The different types of administrative suspension include:
- Drunk Driving Suspension Based on BAC
If a defendant’s chemical test shows a BAC of .08% or more most states impose a 30 to 90 day suspension. This varies from state to state and may be longer than that. At the hearing, skilled counsel may attack the probable cause for the defendant’s detention and arrest and/or the validity of the chemical test. - Drunk Driving Suspension Based on Test Refusal
Where the defendant refuses to submit to a chemical test most states provide for a license suspension ranging from six months to a year, but in at least one state the term is three years. The refusal suspension is not affected by the outcome of a DUI trial. If there is a refusal suspension it remains in place even if the defendant is adjudged “not guilty.” At the hearing, skilled counsel may attack the probable cause for the defendant’s detention and arrest and/or the validity of the chemical test.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI):
A DUI occurs when someone is operating, or is in actual physical control, of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substance, to the extent that their mental faculties are impaired and/or their blood alcohol content (BAC) is above the legal limit. Even for a first offense, penalties can include license suspension, substantial fines, community service, mandatory attendance at a state or DMV approved alcohol program, mandatory overnight incarceration and the required installation (at the offender's expense) of a car ignition locking device. In addition, it typically results in higher insurance premiums and an offender may become ineligible for credit.
Driving Under the Influence – Manslaughter:
Manslaughter is the criminal charge for unlawfully killing someone without actually intending to do so. When someone is driving while intoxicated and causes an accident in which someone is killed, the driver may be charged with manslaughter.
Driving Under the Influence – Murder:
Murder is the criminal charge for unlawfully killing someone, either deliberately and intentionally or recklessly with extreme disregard for human life. In some states, when someone is driving while intoxicated and causes an accident in which someone is killed the driver may be charged with murder if the circumstances are particularly aggravated.
DUI With Prior Convictions:
In all 50 states, repeat DUI offenders face progressively stiffer penalties. In some states, the third or fourth offense may be charged as a felony and, upon a conviction, result in a multi-year state prison term. The elements of the offense are the same, whether or not there are prior convictions.
If you or someone you know in Pennsylvania has been arrested and charged with drunk driving, and you need the aggressive and skilled legal representation of an experienced Philadelphia DUI Attorney, contact Brian J. Zeiger today at 866-499-8974, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.
If you or someone you know in Pennsylvania has been arrested and charged with drunk driving, and you need the aggressive and skilled legal representation of an experienced Philadelphia DUI Attorney, contact Brian J. Zeiger today at 866-499-8974, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule your free consultation.
ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
Levin & Zeiger LLP
1315 Walnut St., Suite 716
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Telephone: 866-499-8974
Fax: 215-279-8702
Available 24/7
MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:
Brian J. Zeiger
EDUCATION:
- Washington University in St. Louis, 1997, BSBA, Accounting and Finance
- Temple University School of Law, 2000, JD
- Temple University School of Business, 2000, MBA
- State Court: Pennsylvania
- Federal Court: Eastern District of PA
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- DPS officer resigns after assault allegations (Plano Courier)
A Department of Public Safety trooper resigned while the department’s internal affairs division was looking into allegations about the trooper assaulting a 22-year-old Plano woman. - Manslaughter charges for West Brighton man accused of driving drunk and killing another driver (Staten Island Advance)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A grand jury has handed up manslaughter charges against a 21-year-old Port Richmond man who allegedly was driving drunk and speeding when he smashed into a car in West Brighton earlier this year, killing the other... - Tristate Regional News, Friday 11/6 (FOX 7 WTVW Evansville)
Bloomington police say a 14-year-old girl was sexually assaulted this week after getting into the car of a man who told her that he was a modeling agent. Kentucky's horse industry could get millions in deal involving slot machines. A soldier from suburban Bolingbrook was among the 13 people killed in Thursday's shooting rampage at Fort Hood. - Santa Cruz woman in crash that killed former San Jose man pleads not guilty to DUI charges (San Jose Mercury News)
SANTA CRUZ — The woman accused of driving drunk and causing a collision that killed two men on Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. - Woman accused of driving drunk, causing Sunday wreck on Highway 1, pleads not guilty (Santa Cruz Sentinel)
SANTA CRUZ -- The woman accused of driving drunk and causing a collision that killed two men on Highway 1 north of Santa Cruz pleaded innocent Wednesday morning to two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. - Panel considers problem of DWI prosecution and recidivism (Columbia Missourian)
JEFFERSON CITY — Gov. Jay Nixon said Wednesday that current driving while intoxicated procedures in the state are "simply not acceptable." Providing opening remarks to a panel of judges, prosecutors and law enforcement personnel from across the state, Nixon said that laws and reporting methods need to be strengthened to treat drunken driving enforcement sternly and equally across Missouri. "Too ... - Hospital thefts end in jail term :Judge also shows mercy on murder victim's son. (South Bend Tribune)
NILES -- A Grand Junction man has a lot of money to pay back after he stole equipment from at least three area hospitals and one hotel and tried to sell the items on eBay. - Repeat DUI offenders need rehabilitation and treatment (Centre Daily Times)
Approach 2: DUI court, rehabilitation and treatment. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released its annual Traffic Safety Assessment, revealing a dramatic 3.7 percent decrease in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities since the previous - Woman accused of negligent homicide asks for case dismissal (Bozeman Daily Chronicle)
A Bozeman woman accused of fatally hitting a pedestrian while driving in Belgrade wants evidence suggesting she was driving drunk thrown out. - Matt Holliday Would Be Best Fit for Red Sox if Jason Bay Skips Town (New England Sports Network)
Perhaps the Red Sox' biggest question this offseason is whether free-agent left fielder Jason Bay will return to the team in 2010. Despite rumors last week of Boston's four-year, $60 million offer, let's prepare for the worst-case scenario -- that Bay doesn't re-sign with the club. OK, so Jay Bay leaves Boston for the purportedly greener pastures of San Francisco, Queens or -- gulp -- the Bronx ...
Additional Questions or need further information?