DUI Causing Injury or Death in Nevada

Proven Results in Serious DUI Cases

Over the last two decades, Goodman Law Group has achieved a consistent pattern of success in felony DUI cases:

• Felony Reductions: Numerous NRS 484C.430 cases were reduced to misdemeanors after challenging blood-alcohol evidence or proving procedural errors.
• Dismissals: Full dismissals following successful suppression of unlawful blood draws or lack of probable cause.
• Negotiated Resolutions: Strategic plea agreements that avoided prison exposure and preserved professional licenses.
• High-Profile Defense: Representation of clients in DUI cases that attracted statewide and national media attention — resolved discreetly and favorably.

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Understanding NRS 484C.430

Under Nevada Revised Statute 484C.430, a person commits DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm or death when they drive or control a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or another intoxicating substance, and through negligence or an unlawful act, cause a crash that results in serious injury or death to another person.

To secure a conviction, the prosecution must prove:

• The defendant operated or was in actual physical control of a vehicle while impaired;
• The impairment or unlawful act caused the collision; and
• The collision resulted in substantial bodily harm or death to another person.

What Qualifies as “Substantial Bodily Harm”

Defined by NRS 0.060, substantial bodily harm means:

• A bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death;
• Serious or permanent disfigurement; or
• Prolonged loss or impairment of a bodily function or organ.

When a fatality occurs, the same statute applies unless the driver has prior DUI convictions, in which case vehicular homicide (NRS 484C.440) may be charged.

These distinctions matter. The state must still prove that impairment—not merely the presence of alcohol or drugs—caused the injury or death.

Penalties and Collateral Consequences

Conviction under NRS 484C.430 carries mandatory sentencing that cannot be suspended or probated, even for first offenders.

Potential penalties include:

• 2 to 25 years in Nevada State Prison (mandatory)
• Fines up to $5,000 plus restitution
• Minimum 3-year driver’s license revocation
• Mandatory ignition interlock device upon reinstatement
• Permanent felony record that cannot be sealed for years

The collateral fallout can be equally devastating:

• Professional and commercial license loss for drivers, pilots, and healthcare workers
• Insurance cancellation and lifetime premium increases
• Immigration issues for non-citizens, including deportation
• Loss of firearm rights and voting restrictions
• Custody and family court complications when a passenger or relative is injured

Because sentencing is mandatory, early case analysis is often the only path to avoiding incarceration or a lifelong felony record.

New 2026 law increases penalties for DUI causing death →

How Prosecutors Build the Case

DUI resulting in injury or death prosecutions rely heavily on technical evidence and expert opinion. Investigations typically involve multiple agencies, including law enforcement, crime labs, and accident reconstruction specialists.

Common forms of evidence include:

• Chemical testing: Blood tests and breath samples analyzed for alcohol or drugs. Problems with chain of custody, contamination, or delays can make these results unreliable.
• Accident reconstruction: State experts model vehicle movement, speed, and impact angles, often based on assumptions that can be challenged.
• Medical documentation: ER or trauma records are used to establish harm but rarely prove causation.
• Witness and victim statements: These are often collected under emotional distress and are frequently inconsistent.
• Digital data: Dashcam footage, event recorders, or surveillance videos that may support or contradict police reports.

Prosecutors must connect impairment to the injury or death. Goodman Law Group focuses on breaking that link, testing whether the science, timeline, and mechanics support the charge.

Common Defense Strategies

Defending these cases demands both scientific literacy and courtroom experience. Every case turns on two questions: Was the defendant legally impaired, and did that impairment directly cause harm?

Effective defense strategies include:

• Causation challenges: Demonstrating that another driver, road hazard, or unforeseeable event caused the crash.
• Toxicology review: Working with independent experts to evaluate blood-alcohol or drug levels and the reliability of testing methods.
• Procedural errors: Exposing unlawful blood draws, invalid warrants, or improper field sobriety testing.
• Constitutional violations: Identifying coerced statements, illegal searches, or Miranda violations that undermine the state’s case.
• Negotiated resolutions: When appropriate, pursuing reductions to reckless driving resulting in injury (NRS 484B.653) or other lesser offenses that avoid mandatory prison.

A strong defense begins early, before evidence hardens into narrative. Goodman Law Group intervenes quickly to preserve evidence, consult experts, and prepare for the prosecution’s next move.

Arrested in Clark County? Call Goodman Law Group

DUI cases involving injury or death move fast and attract close scrutiny from prosecutors and the public. If you’re under investigation or have been charged under NRS 484C.430, you need counsel who knows how to navigate the forensic, procedural, and trial aspects of these complex cases.

Ross C. Goodman, a Board-Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer with nearly 30 years of experience, has defended clients in some of Nevada’s most serious DUI cases with consistent success. 

Call (702) 825-7854 to schedule a confidential consultation and review your legal options with our DUI defense lawyer in Las Vegas.