Kansas and Missouri Blood Alcohol Content Tests

Information for Kansas City area drivers charged with DUI / DWI

Blood tests to measure alcohol levels in the body are more expensive than breath tests. Because of this, they are rarely used by law enforcement officials. Blood tests are more accurate, when properly handled, but they require more witnesses and careful documentation. They are often challenged successfully.

At the Burmaster Law Firm we concentrate on drunk driving defense. Our Kansas City DUI / DWI lawyer has repeatedly challenged charges based on blood tests in Kansas and Missouri courts. To learn about your legal options in a free initial consultation, please contact our Overland Park law office.

Blood alcohol tests and motor vehicle accidents
Law enforcement officials often use blood tests after accidents. Drivers with alcohol on their breath are routinely transported to the hospital. At the hospital, blood is drawn and sent for testing. If the driver is above the limit, a DUI / DWI charge may be filed.

A driver can refuse to give a blood sample, which may result in a license suspension based on revocation of the implied consent to testing to which all drivers agree when they get their licenses. If the driver is unconscious, a sample will generally be drawn without express consent.

Attacking the results
Although the blood test itself is more accurate, the process is vulnerable to mistakes and inconsistencies. Labs make mistakes. Even the FBI lab has come under scrutiny for errors in recent years. An experienced DUI attorney evaluates lab procedures, lab personnel, the chain of custody, and preservation of the sample.

Many things can go wrong on a blood test. A skilled drunk driving defense attorney defends drivers from prosecution based on improperly handled blood alcohol tests, breath tests, and field sobriety tests.

Have you been charged with drinking and driving in Kansas or Missouri? Blood alcohol content tests can often be successfully challenged in court. Learn about your rights and legal options in a free initial consultation. Call us or e-mail our Kansas City DUI / DWI attorney, Paul Burmaster.