The main reason anyone would ask that question is because they have been charged with some form of DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated). If this sounds like you or someone you know you need to hire a lawyer as quickly as possible.
There are several reason why you need a qualified DUI lawyer working hard for you. Primarily they will know your legal rights in regard to the specific charge against you. Thus, they will be able to help prevent you from self-incriminating yourself or any other mistakes you are likely to make.
Moreover, if the charge is a serious one, which hopefully it is not, they will know how to defend you in court. You need the experience of a good DUI lawyer because they understand how to talk to judges, juries and the prosecution. And once again they will know the law far more throughly than you will, given their years of legal experience.
Probably the most common argument against hiring a DUI lawyer is that they are expensive. Well this is a valid point any good DUI attorney is going to be expensive, but that is because of the value they provide. For example, how much would you pay to avoid going to jail even for a few months. For many people the cost of the DUI lawyer when compared to the potential fines and/or jail time of not; find that hiring one is a good investment on their part.
There are however some common misconceptions about what a skilled DUI lawyer can and cannot do. Most importantly they are not miracle workers. If you have driven drunk and killed someone there is no way that you are going to get away with only a fine. People often see shows such as Law and Order and think that lawyers can get people out any situation.
The truth is that if you are guilty of killing or seriously injuring some one while DUI you will face jail time. However, even in these cases it makes sense to hire a good DUI lawyer because they may be able to get your sentence reduced somewhat, especially if you plead guilty.
The situation where DUI lawyers work best though is for first time offenders. They can ensure that the fines and/or jail time will be as minimal as possible. Think of them as your get out of jail free card, that you can only use once. The more serious the DUI offense or the more DUI convictions you have the less leeway a DUI lawyer will have with your case.
Thus, if you have been charged with a DUI or DWI you need a lawyer on your case. Just remember that they are not miracle workers. They have to work with the particularities of your case and history. In the end though you will be glad you did. Better yet, don’t drink and drive in the first place and you will never have to ask this question again.
By: Ian E. Wright
Posts Tagged ‘Face’
Should I Hire a DUI lawyer?
March 15th, 2010What Are Some Characteristics That Make Up a Good Criminal Lawyer?
January 10th, 2010
No one necessarily wants to be in a position where they have to seek legal counsel for any situation. When lawyers get involved, that’s usually when things get ugly for some, if not all of the parties involved. If you are involved in a situation where you need representation from a good criminal lawyer, it helps to know what to look for in the best criminal lawyers.
Here are some very important qualities that you should look for before obtaining legal counsel:
Tenacity
A good criminal lawyer will never say die, they will be ever prepared to do what it takes to get the win. Long, long hours pouring over every little bit of information available – studying case files, interviewing witnesses and seeking new information that even the police haven’t found are all things that your lawyer should be doing for you. If your lawyer is getting eight hours of sleep a night while representing you than he isn’t doing enough to win the case and earn his fee.
Reputation
A good criminal lawyer will be known and recognized in the community, you will have heard their name and seen their face because they are ever determined to win and will want everyone in the community to know how hard they work. A good criminal lawyer’s reputation for success will most certainly precede them.
Experience
Practicing law is a very tricky and difficult occupation, requiring thousands and thousands of hours of study and experience ‘in the trenches’ to truly perfect. You want a criminal lawyer that has dozens, or better yet hundreds, of cases under his or her belt. With every case tried a good lawyer will learn something that they didn’t have up their sleeve before and you’ll want the benefit of all of those tricks present in the lawyer that is going to be representing you. It’s even better if the lawyer has a good bit of experience representing people in cases similar to yours – some will say that experience is experience, but there are some inherent pitfalls that come with trying certain cases and the more experience your lawyer has dealing with the actual specifics that he or she will encounter with your case, the better prepared her or she will be.
High Workload
If you call a lawyer to make an appointment and they tell you that they are available any day at any time, that is not a good sign. You want a lawyer that you have to fight to get an appointment with; because that means that they are working. An overly busy lawyer normally gets to be overly busy by winning cases, if a lawyer tells you that he has unlimited availability then they probably haven’t done to well for themselves in the courtroom. It’s much better to be squeezed in by a winning lawyer and give yourself the best chance of getting top quality representation than to choose your appointment time with a lawyer who’s got too much time on his hands and set yourself up for defeat.
Local Office
You’ll want a lawyer who’s got a local office rather than someone from outside of the jurisdiction. A local lawyer will often have solid relationships with many of the judges and many of the prosecutors that you’ll be appearing before. If your case happens to be one of the many that will be pleaded out to avoid trial, than those close knit relationships with the judges and the prosecution could come in very, very handy in your particular case.
Depending on your case, your choice of legal representation could very well be a life altering decision. Don’t pick blindly from the phone book, do all of the appropriate and necessary research to ensure that you are getting the best possible representation that you can afford for your particular case because that’s the only way that you’ll truly be able to feel confident going into the trial.
By: Amy Nutt
Do You Need To Secure A Lawyer When Guilty Of Drunk Driving?
January 8th, 2010
No matter what it is called, whether it is a DWI, DUI, OWI, or some other acronym, drunk driving is a serious crime that carries heavy consequences. In many states you could pay thousands of dollars in fines as a result of a drunk driving charge. You could end up in jail, even if you are facing your first drunk driving charge. One consideration you will need to make when facing a drunk driving conviction is whether or not to hire a lawyer. Lawyers are not cheap, so you need to make sure that you really need professional help before hiring one.
There are many reasons to consider hiring a lawyer. First, lawyers will help you understand the legal situation you are facing. Remember, the public defender may not tell you all of your options. A lawyer will be able to provide you with information that could keep you out of jail.
Understanding the consequences you face can be difficult, especially in states with confusing DUI laws. A lawyer will make sure you understand exactly which consequences you face, and how you could avoid some of them. A lawyer will also make sure that you file all of the necessary paperwork on time so that you do not end up losing your license prematurely.
You will face a day in court as a result of a DUI conviction. A lawyer will represent you in the best possible light. Lawyers know what arguments work well to lessen your charges.
So do you need to hire a lawyer? The answer depends on several factors. If you have several DUI convictions on your record, injured someone as a result of your drunk driving, or need to keep your license in order to work your job, you should hire a lawyer. In these situations going without a lawyer is dangerous.
If you are not facing these types of extenuating circumstances, you may choose to go without a lawyer. You may still want one, however, to help you understand your state’s DUI laws. Also, you may want one if your blood alcohol content was quite a bit over the legal limit. In these situations a lawyer is not considered absolutely necessary, so you could consider going without professional representation.
If you still feel unsure about whether or not you could benefit from representation, feel free to contact a lawyer. You will find that many of them provide free consultations for potential new clients. Allow the lawyer to tell you exactly how he can help you, and then make your decision.
By: Cary Bergeron