According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, around 1.5 million people are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in any given year. Based on those numbers, one out of every 121 licensed motorists face arrest for drunk driving. If, despite your best efforts, you encounter DUI charges, you need a DUI lawyer. There are no ifs or buts about it. Trying to handle DUI charges independently is foolhardy. You don’t want to end up with criminal charges if there are ways you can get a better outcome. An experienced DUI lawyer will increase your odds of success.
Here are seven specific ways a DUI lawyer can help if you’re facing DUI charges.
1. Evaluate the Case Strength
One reason to hire a DUI lawyer when facing DUI charges is that the legal professional can evaluate the strength of your case. They’ll comb over the facts to assess strengths and weaknesses before recommending the best approach. You want a lawyer who’ll tell you what’s up without sugarcoating anything. That’s what you’ll get when you find a reputable DUI lawyer.
2. Challenge Evidence
Another benefit of hiring a DUI lawyer is they’ll challenge the evidence against you – which is essential since any procedural mistakes, oversights, or omissions may be enough to get the charges against you tossed out or reduced.
If the police don’t conduct blood tests, breathalyzer tests, or field sobriety tests correctly, that’s something your lawyer will pick up on and challenge. Procedural missteps are often grounds for dismissal.
3. Negotiate Lesser Charges
A DUI lawyer can negotiate with the prosecutor to possibly reach a lesser charge. For instance, a reckless driving charge often carries a lighter sentence than a DUI charge. You can count on your lawyer to leave no options off the table to get you the best outcome possible.
4. Avoid License Suspension
If you face DUI charges, that might affect your driver’s license status. But a DUI lawyer can challenge any automatic license suspension. It could be the difference between being unable to drive indefinitely and holding onto your driver’s license with no suspension.
5. Represent You in Court
Unless the prosecution drops the case against you before the court case, you’ll want someone to represent you in court. An experienced DUI lawyer can help in many ways. For instance, they can file motions to suppress evidence or toss out charges, which could bolster the strength of your case or lead to a dismissal of the charges.
6. Assist with DMV Hearings
You can request that a DUI lawyer represent you in DMV hearings that impact the status of your driver’s license. Such procedures are separate from the criminal case for DUI charges.
Losing your license could cause many problems if you need a car to get to work or school, so it’s essential to find a DUI lawyer who will help with DMV hearings and potentially spare you a driver’s license suspension.
7. Negotiate Alternative Sentencing
Your DUI lawyer can operate on your behalf to get alternative sentences such as alcohol education programs or community service instead of jail time. Spending time in jail after being convicted of DUI can be a soul-crushing experience.
While imprisonment might be unavoidable depending on your situation, a lawyer can increase your odds of getting an alternative sentencing option rather than a jail sentence.
For these and other reasons, it’s in your best interests to hire a DUI lawyer when facing DUI charges. A DUI charge is no joke — it’s a criminal offense carrying serious penalties. Finding the right legal professional will help you navigate the complex process and achieve a good outcome.
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