Possible DUI?

I was recently in an automobile accident and I believe that they are going to charge me with a DUI. I had to take a breathalyser test, which came out at 0.0. I did however have prescription medication in my system at the time of the accident, and unfortunately I had taken more than what the bottle directed. There were no injuries and this is my first offense in terms of being in any accident with any kind of substance in my system. What is going to happen to me? Is there any possibility that this charge will be dropped to something less? I even agreed to have my blood drawn, that way they would see on the results that the only thing that was in my system was my prescriptions. Please any advice or information would be greatly appreciated. Like I said this is the first time that anything like this has ever happened to me. I don't go to court until December and want to be prepared.

Thank you in advance

I forgot to mention that I am in the state of California.

Thank you again

Remember, DUI also means driving while impaired. If you are taking prescription meds, and your driving ability is impaired, you should not be behind the wheel. Call a friend, call a cab, call your parents.

My suggestion to you would be to immediately engage a lawyer who can best advise you on a course of action.

My mother lived in California and was charged with DUI for the same thing, prescription meds.  I don't know if she took more than she was supposed to (she likely did) but I do know that if the cops think what you took, even the prescribed amount, impaired your driving they can certainly charge you for it.  Just because a med is prescribed and you take what the doc told you to does not mean you can be out driving around with those meds in your system.  They can charge you all the same.

I'd get a DUI lawyer if I were you.

Thank you both for your feed back, What is the difference if I get a DUI lawyer compared to a public defender?

A DUI lawyer will be much more informed on how to deal with DUI cases.  Think of it as a "specialty" like going to a heart doctor if there is something wrong with your heart vs going to a general practitioner.  

I know that those can get pricey.......still worth looking into?

See if you can get a free consult with one or two.  Some offer free consults.  I certainly would if you do get charged, and I THINK you probably will.

Thats a really good suggestion, thank you. Looks like Ill be making some calls tomorrow. 

You may be saying far too much! Zip it.

If you passed a breathtest 0.0 and blood was not drawn at the time and you  didn't say anything there may be little to no back up that this was more than just an accident and not a situation of impaired driving. .  

Thats the thing, I went in for a blood draw. I thought that if I said no that it would incriminate me far more than what I already was.

They would have forced you to do it if you hadn't volunteered.  My mother did not "go willingly." :/

I'm just affraid that its really going to be a DUI, I have a  newborn and I need my license to take him to his appointments or for emergencies. I cant really afford a DUI lawyer, so now I think Im totally screwed. I thought that the taking the blood would have been a good thing that way they would see that there was only the medication that was prescribed to me in my system and nothing like street drugs or other pills that did not belong to me, Holy Geez.....I think Im a lost cause huh?

No, I don't think it's a lost cause.  For what it's worth, the charges against my mother were dropped.  But she was very sick at that time and frail and crazy.  She does not know why they dropped it but they did.

Try to get in and talk with a DUI lawyer SOON.  You never know...see if one will take payments or possibly take you on pro bono.  Stranger things have happened.  You sound like a very nice person and sometimes nice people do nice things for other nice people.  Don't count on it but dont count it out.

Thats a good idea.  My court date isnt until Dec 6th, so hopefully I can find a lawyer that will at least take payments,

I take my medication for my aniexty and I had a horrible attack, took more than what the bottle said to becuase they were not working as fast as I needed (or wanted) them to. I even took the field sobriety test and passed that, but he said just looking at me he could tell that I wasnt "right" so thats when we went to the hospital for the blood draw, Guess I should start calling around.