This is my first DUI offense, do I really need a DUI Attorney?
A DUI or DWI charge, even if it is your dui first offense or dui second offense is a serious matter, and anyone charged with drunk driving should seriously consider talking to a DUI attorney specifically a dui defense lawyer. While a good dui defense attorney will cost a little money, not having proper criminal defense during your court appearance(s) can lead to life altering DUI penalties, insurance problems, suspension of drivers license, jail time, community service, DUI school and more. In short, a little money spent can go a long way.
A qualified DUI defense lawyer will be able to take the details of your case and determine the best legal defense, in order to minimize the costs and consequences of your DUI charge. While no DUI attorney can promise your DUI charge will go away, it is possible in many cases to successfully get a DUI charge dismissed.
Can’t I save money by representing myself and not getting a great DUI defense attorney?
A qualified dui defense attorney knows the law regarding DUI or DWi charges, and knows what to attack in order to get charges minimized or dismissed, it is possible to represent yourself, but you will not know the legal ground rules, or how to attach, for example the arresting officers report, field sobriety tests, etc, it could be a gamble, and a very large one at that.
What can a great DUI attorney really do?
A DUI attorney is invaluable for his or her help in explaining your legal circumstances to you. The DWI lawyer will explain what constitutes driving under the influence, and how serious the charge being leveled against you is. The DUI lawyer will also review your case. As he or she is experienced with the DUI laws in your state, you have a better chance against the DUI charge filed against you if you have a good DUI lawyer on your side.
Your DUI attorney can give you good advice on whether you should plead guilty or not during your arraignment; it’s best not to plead guilty without having had the benefit of legal counseling. During the preliminary conference, the DUI lawyer will cross examine the witnesses presented and brought by the prosecution against you. If your DUI lawyer is good, the charges against you may be dropped at this early stage.
The DUI lawyer’s help is also very important during pre-trial conferences (the negotiations before an actual trial is set). This is another opportunity where a good DUI lawyer can work his or her magic and get the charges dropped against you. At the very least, a good DUI lawyer may succeed in having the charges against you be reclassified into a non-alcohol or non-drug related incident.
The DUI attorney also files several motions on your behalf in a DUI case. He or she may file for a motion to suppress your statements after you have been arrested. He or she may also force an evidentiary hearing and to discover the evidence held by the prosecution against you – thereby increasing your chance of preparing a good defense.