Recent Blog Posts in October 2010

If you or someone you know is being charged with a DUI contact our office today to set up a free face-to-face consultation with one of our DUI attorneys. The penalties involved with a DUI can be very serious and it is important to have an experience DUI attorney on your side. At the Hedding Law Firm we have a combined 75 years of experience and have been successful in dozens of cases like these.

If you have been recently charged with a DUI offense and have more questions regarding your unique case, come see a DUI lawyer at the Hedding Law Firm. Experienced in their field, a hardworking DUI attorney will help you fight off the Los Angeles DUI and provide more information about your driver's license and driving privileges.

Adam Mendoza, 21, has been sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison for a drunken driving crash that killed Izzy Raya,18, and Ralphy Naranjo,17. The families of the two victims were allowed to testify on Monday before Mendoza was sentenced. One of the victim's mothers brought his ashes to the trial and asked for justice.

According to prosecutors, Mendoza was drunk and high on methamphetamines when his SUV hit a light pole. The light pole fell on the SUV and crushed Raya and Naranjo, who were sitting in the back seat. A 17 year old girl was also in the car, she suffered serious injuries.

A DUI conviction can have a serious impact on your life and on the lives of those around you. If you or someone you know is facing DUI charges, call our office today. The DUI attorneys at the Hedding Law firm have handled hundreds of DUI/DWI cases over the years and we know the appropriate steps to take to assist you in making the right decisions.

A 23-year-old man, Juan Zermano, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and felony drunk driving after he struck another man with his car outside a party. Police were called to a house party at about 1 a.m. after an argument broke out in the house and then moved outside.

According to police, one of the boys involved in the argument called his brother, Zermano, to pick him up. When Zermano drove away, he made a sudden U-turn, drove up on the curb and struck the victim. Police were already on scene to deal with the argument and were able to witness the assault. The victim was released from the hospital early Sunday with non life-threatening injuries.

California Penal Code 245(a)(1) defines assault with a deadly weapon as an assault that is committed with any type of deadly weapon or by means of force that is likely to cause great bodily injury to another. It is filed as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances.

If you or someone you know is being accused of assault with a deadly weapon along with felony DUI call our office today to set up a free face-to-face consultation with one of our Los Angeles DUI criminal defense attorneys. The penalties involved with a DUI causing injury can be very serious and it is important to have an experienced DUI attorney on your side. At the Hedding Law firm we have a combined 75 years of experience and have been successful in dozens of cases like these.

You need to hire an attorney if you were charged with DUI in Los Angeles.  The experience a DUI lawyer brings is second to none.  Don't play with your freedom.  No other Los Angeles DUI attorney has the same level of mastery in the field as Ronald Hedding.  Whether this is your first or second offense, it is imperative that you reach out to the best DUI attorney you can find.

Why settle for second best? You need an attorney with trial experience.  This is the only way to avoid unnecessary jail time, fines, and penalties.  Too many people make the mistake of never hiring a DUI attorney in hopes of saving money.  The fact is, however, this could be a very expensive mistake in the long run as they soon experience harsh sentencing, heavy fines, and Administrative License Suspension penalties.

You need an experienced DUI lawyer that will know what facts must be presented during law enforcement or witness testimony.  This is the best way to challenge your charges.  Ronald Hedding's experience with drunken driving cases gives them an upper hand in dealing with the legal motions and evidence that will be most helpful to your case.

Ronald Hedding Law firm is well acquainted with breathalyzer and field sobriety test protocols. Most people do not realize that maintenance records and legal certification are required for breathalyzers equipment.  Ronald Hedding has the familiarity you need to know whether or not your failed breathalyzer test will be considered accurate in a court of law.  Ronald Hedding will help you take advantage of all pertinent circumstances in your case.

If your case does not go to trial, Ronald Hedding can still help you resolve your situation with minimal penalties. You need to take the utmost care in selecting your Los Angeles DUI attorney.  You should always meet with your attorney before your first appearance in court.  Take the time to make an appointment with Ronald Hedding Law firm so that you can start working to beat your case immediately.  Many subpar Los Angeles DUI attorneys will push you to rush into your case without sufficient preparations.  You will never have to experience treatment like this when dealing with Ronald Hedding.

Ultimately, it's up to you to use your instincts in selecting a Los Angeles DUI attorney.  When dealing with such serious matters, it's so important to go with your gut feeling.   Your freedom is nothing to play with, and this is something Ronald Hedding understands well.

Depending on the situation, a DUI offense is charged as a misdemeanor. But as one Los Angeles DUI case proved otherwise, there are some special circumstances that can escalate the charge to a felony DUI.

Every state mandates that driving with a blood alcohol content above 0.08% is considered driving under the influence. Each state has their own interpretation of the law; therefore, they have different sentences.

As your DUI lawyer will tell you, there are some general circumstances that can raise your DUI offense into a felony DUI:

·         If the DUI results in an accident that causes bodily injuries to another person involved in the incident.

·         If the driver has had a prior DUI offense on their record.

·         If the person causes excessive property drive.

In California, a person charged with a misdemeanor Los Angeles DUI will only require probation, a short time period in jail, and depending on their case, their driving privileges and/or driver's license may be taken away. A felony DUI, on the other hand, is much more serious and can affect your credit, the ability to vote, to get a job, and more. Therefore, it is important to hire an experienced DUI lawyer who has dealt with a felony DUI in the past. He or she can fight aggressively to help you try and get out of being charged with a felony. Come for a free consultation at the Hedding Law Firm if you have been recently convicted of a Los Angeles DUI and need help with your DUI offense.

A 17-year-old boy was killed early Saturday morning in Pacoima while riding his bicycle, when a motorist struck him. Shawn Fields, 26, was driving a 2007 Saturn northbound on Laurel Canyon Boulevard when he struck the teenager. The impact threw the victim and his bike across the intersection.  He was transported to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. According to police, the motorist was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter while driving under the influence of alcohol.

Gross vehicular manslaughter while DUI is one of the most serious charges someone DUI can face. Someone is charged with this crime if they are driving a motor vehicle in a reckless manner that is significantly more then ordinary negligence, and a person is killed. Penalties can be from probation to ten years of state prison for each person who is killed. It must be proved that the person:

1. Drove under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or a drug or under the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and a drug or drove while having a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or higher. And,
2. While driving that vehicle under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or a drug or under the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage and a drug, the person also committed either a misdemeanor or a driving infraction, or any other lawful act that might cause death; And,
3. The person committed a misdemeanor or some infraction or lawful act that might cause death with gross negligence; And,
4. The defendant's grossly negligent conduct caused the death of another person.

If you have been arrested or charged with a vehicular manslaughter while DUI offense, contact our criminal defense attorneys today. We have 75 years of combined experience and have defended hundreds of people over the years. The DUI attorneys at the Hedding Law firm understand the serious nature of these charges and we will do whatever we can to defend you. Call our office today at 818-986-2092, and set up a free face to face consultation.

For a college athlete a DUI conviction involves further penalties then sentencing. It has been learned in recent news from the nation's colleges and universities that there have been many DUI arrests involving NCAA athletes and coaches. Being a college athlete involves being in the public eye and when a legal issue arises such as a DUI conviction media publicity is expected. A DUI conviction often means the dismissal of an athlete or coach. This can affect the reputation of the sports program, hurt the team's chances of success, and damage the athlete's career.

Auburn University's football program recently dismissed or penalized several of its players following DUI incidents. Linebacker Kevin Spears is facing a undetermined suspension period after an arrest for driving while under the influence, hit-and-run, and public intoxication. This will cause him to miss the important game between Auburn and LSU this season.

These athletes have learned that the consequences of a DUI conviction go beyond the direct penalties. A DUI conviction can have an impact on your life and on the lives of those around you. If you or someone you know are facing DUI charges, call our office today. Our DUI attorneys at the Hedding Law Firm have handled hundreds of DUI/DWI cases over the years and we know the appropriate steps to take to assist you in making the right decisions.