EXCLUSIVE

Lawrence Taylor's DUI case just went from bad to worse -- because he was just hit with more severe charges ... and now faces QUADRUPLE the jail time ... TMZ Sports has learned.

Taylor was arrested on Sept. 2nd in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida after crashing into a mobile home and a police cruiser while allegedly drunkenly driving his Bentley.

Following the arrest, Taylor pled not guilty to 1 count of DUI -- which carried a max sentence of 6 months in jail.

Now, TMZ Sports has obtained court docs which show prosecutors have substituted the charge with 2 counts of "DUI causing or contributing to injury to person or property."

Each count carries a max sentence of 1 year behind bars.