Acid or Gastric Reflux DUI Defense in Virginia
Acid reflux disease could be harming more than just your esophagus. I bet it wasn’t on your mind when you were taking the Breathalyzer, but the fact is that it could affect the results. Many preexisting conditions affecting the stomach, throat, or mouth can distort breath tests into falsely producing high readings. If you have acid reflux disease, you should not have taken an alcohol breath test.
Do I suffer from acid reflux?
Many people live through much of their lives not knowing they suffer from acid reflux. The symptoms are not always so prominent that medical treatment is sought. A main sign of acid in your body is heart burn. Other symptoms include chest pain, difficulty swallowing, burning chest, ear ache, nausea, coughing, voice changes, and hoarseness. Acid reflux can be caused by ingesting certain foods; chocolate, soda, peppermint, coffee, vitamin c, tomatoes, oranges, and milk. There is some debate among the medical community regarding some of the food items listed, but most are generally accepted to have some effect on acid in the stomach.
What other conditions effect the validity of breath tests?
If you have any condition effecting your throat, mouth, or stomach, your breath tests results could be completely invalid. Conditions include: irritable bowel syndrome, hiatal hernia, bronchitis, dental conditions, asthma, fever, and emphysema. Aside from physical conditions there could be environmental factors influencing the results. Also, the machine may have been operated incompetently or other factors such as witness accounts and video footage could dispute results.
How do I defend my results?
You must contact a DUI lawyer as quickly as possible to adequately defend the charges against you. A DUI charge is serious and can affect your car, finances, reputation, employment, insurance, and freedom. If you submitted to a breath test, any pre-existing conditions effecting your throat, stomach, or mouth should be discussed in detail with your DUI lawyer. DUI laws are constantly changing. Don’t leave your freedom in the hands of a typical defense lawyer. With all of this at stake, why risk it? Contact Boone Beale, Attorney’s at Law today!
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