
If you are accused of drunk driving, you need to find the best DUI lawyer as soon as possible. A DUI conviction can cost you a lot of money, give you a criminal record, and even cause the suspension or revocation of your license. But if you have the right lawyer, you can often limit the damage and get the best possible result from a bad situation.
This guide will tell you how to find the best DUI lawyers, what questions to ask, and how much you can expect to pay for a DUI lawyer.
Get the Best DUI Attorney
A conviction for drunk driving can change the rest of your life. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to maneuver the court system in a way that will cause the least amount of long-term damage. The best DUI lawyers work hard every single day to protect their clients’ rights throughout their time in court.
Why You Need a Lawyer for a DUI
It’s a big deal to be charged with drunk driving. Getting a conviction can lead to:
- Fines
- Jail time
- Your license being suspended or revoked
- A criminal record
- Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) which is expensive, and requires monthly payments(IID)
- Having to attend an alcohol education or treatment programme
A drunk driving lawyer’s job is to help you avoid getting convicted or reduce the penalties you could face if you are found guilty. The best lawyers for DUIs can help you:
- Check out programmes that will keep you out of trouble and give you a clean record
- Fight charges to stay out of jail
- Keep any evidence that was taken against your rights out of court.
- Bring in experts to refute the evidence the state has against you.
- Make a strong case for why you need a restricted or hardship license.
- Try to get your sentence suspended or shortened.
- Make a plea deal to get less serious charges.
Most people will not be sure about whether or not the police followed the law when gathering evidence, nor will they know how to negotiate a plea deal or get into a diversion programme on their own.
The best DUI lawyers know how the system works and spend their whole lives trying to help their clients move on and start over without having to pay a lot of money or get a criminal record.
How to Look for the Best DUI Attorney
Finding the best DUI lawyer can be hard because there are so many lawyers who say they can help people who have been drinking and driving. You want someone who has been around for a while and has a good track record. Thus, you can meet the right person by:
- Asking family, friends, or lawyers you have worked with in the past for recommendations.
- Checking the lawyer’s website and social media to find out about their DUI experience.
- Setting up free initial meetings with several lawyers.
- Talking to each lawyer face-to-face and asking them questions.
How to Talk to DUI Lawyers?
When you are thinking about hiring a DUI lawyer, there are a few important questions you should ask to make sure they are the right person to represent you. Among them are the following:
- How big of a part of your practice are DUI cases?
- How many DUI cases have you worked on in the last two years?
- How often do you help people stay out of jail, get into deferral programmes, or plead guilty to a lesser charge?
- How much of my DUI case will you handle yourself?
- What are your fees, and how do you come up with them?
- What do you think is the best way to handle my case?
- What do you think will happen in my case?
You should also bring the police report and any other paperwork about your DUI. And you’ll need to be honest about the facts of your case so that your potential lawyer can help you figure out what defense options they might look into.
DUI Lawyer Fees
The cost of a DUI lawyer varies by state and by how hard your case is. Before you hire a DUI lawyer, you should make sure to get a good faith estimate of how much it will cost.
In criminal cases, your payment doesn’t depend on whether you win or lose. This means that your lawyer can’t make their fees depend on how your case turns out. Most of the time, you will pay an attorney by the hour and may put some money down up front as a retainer.
You should keep in mind that legal fees are negotiable, and you should also ask about any extra fees you might have to pay, like extra costs for expert witnesses. A written contract should spell out every part of your fee agreement. If you don’t get one, you should ask for one.
Even though it’s important to know how much a DUI lawyer costs, you shouldn’t choose one based on price alone. If the best DUI lawyers charge a little bit more but help you get a better result in your case, it is well worth the extra money.
Hiring the best DUI lawyer can make a big difference in how your drunk driving case turns out. If you are accused of driving under the influence, you should talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. This way, your lawyer can immediately start working on your case to protect your rights.
Conclusion
If you get caught driving while drunk, it can change the rest of your life. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to go through the court system in a way that will cause the least amount of long-term damage. The best DUI lawyers work hard every day to make sure their clients’ rights are protected while they are in court.