When a person is arrested and charged with drunk driving, he or she naturally may be fearful about the consequences of possibly being convicted. In Tennessee, an accused individual has the right to pursue a defense in a drunk driving case, seeking an outcome that is in his or her best interests. One woman is currently facing these issues after she was involved in a collision involving a motorcycle.

According to reports, a motorcycle was traveling on Highway 79. The driver of an SUV, traveling on Elkhorn Road, then crossed into the path of the motorcycle. The woman operating the SUV, who is 56 years old, was arrested an hour after the accident took place and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

The 39-year-old motorcyclist died in the crash. This is the woman’s first drunk driving offense. Reportedly, she was released on a $1,500 bond. The driver was scheduled to appear in court two days after the fatal accident.

It remains to be seen if any felony enhancements, such as vehicular manslaughter, will be added due to the fact that the motorcyclist lost his life. Either way, the consequences of allegedly driving under the influence can have life-altering ramifications; for example, if a person is convicted of drunk driving, the conviction in most cases will stay on the individual’s criminal record for the rest of his or her life. In addition, the person might have trouble getting a job when a prospective employer checks his or her background. The job of a criminal defense team is to ensure that the rights of a person who faces drunk driving charges are protected during all phases of a criminal proceeding in Tennessee.

Source: parispi.net, “PARIS TN: DUI charged in fatality“, Glenn Tanner, May 6, 2014