Dui Offenders And Vehicle Accident Liability
Ask from your network. Family and friends are a good source of information. They might know a good attorney in your area who specializes in DUI cases. If you are acquainted with someone who had a DUI case, ask if he/she can refer the attorney who handled the case. It would also be a good idea to ask other attorneys you know for a qualified DUI attorney since they have a good grasp of the person's expertise and work ethics. If your network cannot refer anyone, then it will also be a good idea to visit your local bar association or courthouse. They will be able to provide a list of lawyers with a good history in handling DUI cases.
A quick word of caution before we get into this discussion. drunk driving laws are controlled at the state level, not the federal level. This means every state has different laws that apply to drunk driving situations. For instance, refusing to take a breathalyzer test is considered an admission of guilt in some states while it will only result in a license suspension in others. As a result, the following topics are state dependent.
Ask for a lawyer as soon as possible. Keep asking the police as well. Most of the best attorneys can be contacted even in the middle of the night to provide you with the legal counsel you need. Once you are arrested, do not answer any questions. Rather, defer to your attorney. In fact, without legal representation, you have no need to say anything to the police.
Think about your favorite watering hole. What would a cab ride cost between it and your place? $20? $40? $60? Let's say it cost $100 just to keep things simple. Now, consider the cost of driving home drunk and getting caught. Your get free room and board for the night, but your roommates aren't the greatest. Once you are out, you are going to have to hire a lawyer. That is $5,000 to $10,000 depending on where you live. You are eventually going to end up in jail or on probation. Either way, you are going to pay another few grand in fines. Now let's consider your car insurance rates. They are going to triple at the least for this year and the foreseeable future.
Speaking of the circumstances of your arrest it is most likely that you took a breathalyzer test. Did you know those machines need to be tested and calibrated on a regular basis? Any good bulling harassment attorneys near me will and they will make sure that they are up to date on all of them. If you by chance only blew a little over the legal limit there is a good chance of having the case thrown out just on that alone.
2) Legal Websites - Nowadays, there's a wealth of accessible information online. It's a great place to begin your search for a dui lawyer. Many law associations will even rank and rate individual attorneys on their site. Plus, many of these sites include client testimonials as well.
Attorneys are disciplined by the State Bar for all sorts of reasons. If the attorney you meet with has ever been disciplined, try to get more information about what happened before making a decision.
To begin with, you are charged with a crime that carries a particularly high social stigma. Ever day in cities across the country advertisements, in print, in radio, in television, are expounding about the dangers of driving under the influence, about the high penalties associated with DUI, and characterizing DUI offenders as animals. When you walk into court charged with DUI, you are fighting this stigma from day one.
Drunk driving is a major problem on the roads throughout the year. The authorities have focused on using penalties to deter people from drinking and driving. As is usually the case, penalties only go so far. The good news is technology might be stepping up to the plate.
