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Vehicular Assault Attorney in Jacksonville

Defending DUI with Serious Bodily Injury & Related Felony Charges in Florida

Florida law doesn’t have a standalone crime called “vehicular assault,” but the consequences of a vehicle-related serious-injury incident are just as severe. Depending on the facts, prosecutors charge these cases as DUI with serious bodily injury, reckless driving with serious bodily injury, or aggravated assault or aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Which statute applies determines the entire defense strategy. That identification is where we start.

At First Coast Criminal Defense, attorney Alex King defends clients in Jacksonville and throughout Duval County, North Florida, and the First Coast region against felony charges arising from driving incidents that caused serious injury. Our firm is dedicated exclusively to criminal defense.

If you’ve been charged or expect charges following a vehicle-related incident in Jacksonville, contact us immediately at (904) 474-3115. We’re available 24/7 and offer a free initial consultation.

Why Alex King’s Background Matters in These Cases

Mr. King managed the DUI Unit for the Fourth Judicial Circuit as an Assistant State Attorney and was recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving as Prosecutor of the Year. He prosecuted the same category of cases you’re now facing, which means he knows how the state assembles its evidence, where its cases are strongest, and where they break down.

When DUI-based impairment is alleged as the cause of the injury, that prosecutorial background informs our defense approach. We don’t approach these cases from the outside. We approach them knowing how they’re built from the inside.

Our firm keeps its caseload intentionally small. Mr. King takes calls personally, gives clients his cell number, and prepares every case as though it will go to trial. Plea negotiations happen when they serve the client. They’re not the default.

When a Driving Incident Becomes a Felony in Florida

The dividing line is serious bodily injury, defined under Florida law as a physical condition that creates a substantial risk of death, serious personal disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of a bodily function or organ. Once that threshold is crossed, prosecutors have several felony statutes available to them. A full breakdown of each statute, its elements, and its penalties appears below.

How We Build Your Defense

Once the charge is clear, we investigate every element the state must prove. In DUI-based cases, that means scrutinizing the traffic stop, field sobriety procedures, chemical testing protocols, and the chain of custody for any samples. In reckless driving cases, it means challenging whether the driving actually rose to the level of willful or wanton disregard. In intentional-use cases, it means examining the full context of the incident.

Your circumstances, your driving history, the specific facts of the incident, and your goals all shape the strategy we build. Mr. King has established relationships with judges and prosecutors throughout Jacksonville-area courts, and that familiarity informs how we position each case. No approach is off the shelf.

Florida Charge Breakdown: Statutes, Penalties & When Each Applies

The three main felony charges for vehicle-related serious injury in Florida each have different elements the state must prove. Understanding those differences matters when evaluating your case.

DUI with Serious Bodily Injury

Under Florida Statute 316.193, the state must prove two things: that the driver was impaired by alcohol or a controlled substance, and that the impairment caused or contributed to causing the serious bodily injury. Both elements are required. A strong blood alcohol reading doesn’t automatically establish that impairment caused the injury, and that distinction can be central to the defense. This charge is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Reckless Driving with Serious Bodily Injury

Florida Statute 316.192 doesn’t require the state to prove impairment or any intentional act. Instead, prosecutors must show the driver acted with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. That standard is more than ordinary negligence but doesn’t require intent to harm. The penalties mirror the DUI version: a third-degree felony with up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Contesting whether the driving truly met the “willful or wanton” threshold is a primary avenue in these cases.

Aggravated Assault or Battery with a Vehicle as a Deadly Weapon

When a vehicle is used intentionally to threaten or strike another person, the charge shifts from a driving statute to a violent-crime statute. Road-rage incidents where a driver deliberately rams or menaces another vehicle or pedestrian fall into this category. Because intent becomes an element the state must prove, the facts surrounding the incident and any prior interactions between the parties become critical evidence.

If the Incident Resulted in Death

A serious-bodily-injury charge and a fatality charge are distinct under Florida law. If someone died as a result of the incident rather than sustaining serious injury, prosecutors would pursue DUI manslaughter or vehicular homicide, both of which carry higher felony degrees than the serious-bodily-injury statutes. If you’re uncertain which applies to your situation, that’s the first thing to clarify with a criminal defense attorney.

The Fourth Judicial Circuit: Local Knowledge That Carries Weight

The Fourth Judicial Circuit covers Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties. That’s the circuit where Mr. King prosecuted DUI cases as an Assistant State Attorney and managed the DUI Unit. The courts, the prosecutors, and the tendencies of local practice aren’t abstract to him. That institutional knowledge carries over directly to how we evaluate and defend charges filed in Jacksonville and the surrounding counties.

Talk to a Vehicular Assault Lawyer in Jacksonville Today

A felony charge involving serious bodily injury carries real prison exposure. The earlier a defense lawyer is involved, the more options may remain available. We offer a free initial consultation and are reachable any time, day or night.

Call (904) 474-3115 to speak directly with our Jacksonville vehicular assault attorney in a free consultation.

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If you're facing serious charges and need someone who’s earned their stripes on both sides of the courtroom, hire Alex King. A Jacksonville native, National Merit Scholar, and top-of-his-class graduate from the University of Florida, Alex combines elite academic credentials with real-world courtroom grit. As a former DUI Unit Chief and award-winning prosecutor recognized by MADD, he brings unmatched experience handling complex cases. Now a fierce defender of clients’ rights, Alex has successfully represented high-profile professionals in everything from DUIs to international fraud. He doesn’t just know the system, he’s mastered it.