Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.4 — Maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 4: Assaults and Bodily Woundings, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.4

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.4Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session

A. Any person who, as a result of driving while intoxicated in violation of § 18.2-266 or any local ordinance substantially similar thereto in a manner so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life, unintentionally causes the serious bodily injury of another person is guilty of a Class 6 felony. B. Any person who, as a result of driving while intoxicated in violation of § 18.2-266 or any local ordinance substantially similar thereto in a manner so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life, unintentionally causes the serious bodily injury of another person resulting in permanent and significant physical impairment is guilty of a Class 4 felony. C. The driver's license of any person convicted under this section shall be revoked pursuant to subsection B of § 46.2-391 . D. The provisions of Article 2 (§ 18.2-266 et seq.) of Chapter 7 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, upon arrest for a violation of this section. E. As used in this section, "serious bodily injury" means bodily injury that involves substantial risk of death, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.

Official sources

Official section text (law.lis.virginia.gov)

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated ranges from a class 6 felony to a class 4 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.4.

Maiming resulting from DUI - serious bodily injury: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.4A) · Maiming resulting from DUI - permanent and significant physical impairment: class 4 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.4B)

Which Virginia statute covers maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated?

Maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-51.4 (Maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.