DWI Charges
Being stopped for a suspected DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) is a stressful experience, and if you have a medical condition, it can complicate matters further. Many medical issues can mimic signs of intoxication, leading to inaccurate results during a DWI stop. Understanding how your health might influence these outcomes is crucial for protecting your rights and ensuring a fair evaluation.
Physical Conditions That Mimic Intoxication
Certain medical conditions can produce symptoms that resemble those of alcohol impairment. For example, individuals with diabetes may experience hypoglycemia, which can cause slurred speech, confusion, and lack of coordination—symptoms that police often associate with intoxication. Similarly, conditions like multiple sclerosis or a recent stroke can affect balance and motor skills, potentially leading to failed field sobriety tests.
Other physical ailments, such as inner ear disorders, can also impact your ability to perform well on sobriety tests that assess balance and coordination. If an officer is unaware of your medical condition, they might mistakenly interpret these symptoms as signs of impairment, leading to an unjust DWI charge.
Medications and Breathalyzer Results
Medications prescribed for various medical conditions can also affect the results of a breathalyzer test. Certain medications contain alcohol or other chemicals that may cause a false positive reading. For example, some mouthwashes and cough syrups contain alcohol, which can linger in your mouth and skew the breathalyzer results.
Additionally, individuals with acid reflux or GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) may experience regurgitation of stomach contents, including alcohol, into the mouth. This can lead to elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) readings on a breathalyzer, even if the individual’s actual BAC is below the legal limit. In these cases, your medical condition directly influences the accuracy of the test, which could be used against you if not properly addressed.
Challenging the Evidence
When medical issues are a factor in a DWI stop, challenging the evidence becomes essential. A lawyer, like a DWI lawyer, knows of the importance of thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding your stop and the tests administered. If a medical condition or medication impacted the results, this could be a critical aspect of your defense.
Your attorney might work with medical experts to demonstrate how your condition or prescribed medications could have led to inaccurate test results. By presenting this evidence in court, it may be possible to have the charges reduced or even dismissed.
The Importance of Disclosing Your Medical Condition
If you have a medical condition that could affect the outcome of a DWI stop, it’s important to inform the arresting officer. While you might be hesitant to share personal medical details, doing so can provide context that might influence how the officer interprets your behavior or test results. However, it’s equally important to remember that anything you say can be used against you. This is why having an experienced attorney to guide you through the process is crucial. They can help you navigate the legal implications of disclosing your condition and ensure that your rights are protected.
Why Legal Representation Matters
Facing a DWI charge is always serious, but when medical issues are involved, the situation can become even more complex. Our friends at Archambault Criminal Defense understand that having a knowledgeable attorney by your side can make a significant difference. With the right legal support, you can build a defense that takes your medical condition into account, challenging inaccurate test results and working toward a favorable outcome. For help through this difficult time, reach out to a trusted lawyer today.