Medical Conditions That Can Affect DUI Evidence
Facing a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) is always concerning. But when a medical condition affects how you appear, act, and perform during roadside testing, or respond to chemical tests, you may wonder whether you have any good options for fighting the DUI charges.
The good news is that there is an established link between certain medical conditions and DUI “symptoms,” and the evidence may be on your side.
New Jersey DUI Law and Medical-Related Defenses
Because New Jersey law prohibits driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other intoxicating substances, officers often stop drivers who seem to be exhibiting signs of impairment. If you were stopped on suspicion of DUI, the officer may have subjected you to field sobriety tests or chemical tests. The results of the tests, along with the police officer’s observations, can influence the prosecution of your case.
However, medical issues can sometimes affect how DUI evidence should be interpreted. For example, a legitimate medical condition may resemble intoxication because it causes poor balance, slurred speech, unusual eye movements, breathing problems, or other symptoms. Certain medical issues may also interfere with your ability to complete roadside tests as instructed.
New Jersey’s implied consent law generally requires drivers suspected of DUI to provide breath samples. However, drivers may also obtain an independent chemical test (blood test). If you can provide medical evidence, physician testimony, testing records, and other evidence to support your defense, you may be able to show that the law enforcement officer mistook your health condition for impairment.
What Medical Conditions Could Influence My DUI Case?
Several medical conditions may support a DUI medical defense because they can affect the types of evidence commonly used in DUI cases, including:
- Diabetes – Low blood sugar and other blood sugar changes can cause confusion, weakness, unusual behavior, or breath odors that may mimic DUI symptoms and be mistaken for intoxication.
- Neurological disorders – Neurological conditions affecting coordination, balance, speech, or movement may influence field sobriety test performance.
- Inner ear disorders – Vertigo and similar conditions can make standing or walking steadily difficult.
- Respiratory conditions – Asthma and other breathing problems may affect a person’s ability to provide a proper breath sample.
- Physical injuries or disabilities – Knee, back, foot, or mobility problems can make roadside coordination tests harder to complete accurately.
How to Identify Medical Defenses for Your DUI Charge
Successful medical defenses to DUI charges begin with strong evidence. Our attorneys are ready to analyze your health history and compare it with the evidence the officer collected during the traffic stop. Your medical records, prescriptions, test results, and statements from your medical providers may help explain symptoms the officer interpreted as impairment.
Other evidence may not be as easily accessible without a New Jersey DUI defense attorney’s help. Our criminal defense lawyers can secure and review body camera footage, field sobriety testing, and chemical test procedures to determine whether a medical condition may call into question the reliability of the evidence against you.
Why You Should Choose Our New Jersey DUI Attorney
When you’re facing DUI charges that could be explained by an existing medical condition, you need an experienced DUI defense attorney with a record of favorable outcomes in similar cases. William Proetta Criminal Law has successfully handled thousands of criminal cases in New Jersey. We’re ready to start preparing your defense right away.
Contact us now to arrange a free consultation in complete confidence and without any further obligations.
