Facing charges for drunk driving is serious enough without added factors. New Jersey is one of the strictest states in the nation when it comes to DUI laws, and a conviction can result in fines, jail and license suspension, even for a first offense. One man is facing DUI allegations as well as other charges stemming from an incident that occurred in December.

The 40-year-old man was arrested for DUI after allegedly striking a woman who was crossing the street. The 67-year-old woman was said to have suffered serious injuries, and medical responders flew her to the closest trauma center. However, this was only part of the driver’s troubles.

Police recently announced that charges against the man include three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child since the driver reportedly had three children in the vehicle at the time of the incident. Other charges include third-degree assault by auto and numerous motor vehicle summonses. Police say the driver’s blood alcohol concentration was .17, which is well above the .08 limit for New Jersey.

When accidents lead to serious criminal charges, those involved still retain their basic rights. Among those rights is the option of pursuing appropriate defense strategies to fight the charges. This may include challenging the evidence, such as the results of a BAC test. To ensure the protection of those rights, New Jersey residents facing DUI and other charges are wise to enlist the services of an experienced and skillful attorney.