Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer
One night you and your friends are out partying a little too late. You don’t realize how much you have had to drink and you decide to drive yourself home. Bad move. The way you are driving clearly indicates that you are intoxicated and you are pulled over by the police and arrested for drunk driving. Do you know what you need to do next? A DUI charge is serious and as such as severe punishments associated with it. In this post, we’ll talk through when you may or may not need a lawyer for your DUI charge.
When you may not need a defense lawyer
If this is your first offense with a driving under the influence charge, there is a good chance you will be given a standard plea deal. A standard plea deal is the generally the lowest sentence for a first time DUI offense. However, this is only applicable if you have no other prior convictions, your blood alcohol concentration wasn’t abnormally high, and the incident did not result in any injuries. This offer is typically given to everyone – whether or not they choose to have an attorney represent them.
Because of this, it may not be financially worth it to hire an attorney for your first offense as the chances of getting anything better than this option is slim. However, if you believe your case has a viable defense where you could potentially get lower than that sentence if presented at trial, you may want to consider reaching out to a defense lawyer.
When you should hire a defense lawyer
If your DUI case has any form of aggravating factors (such as injuries, high BAC, prior convictions etc.), you will want to have some form of legal representation in court. This is especially true if you are taking your case to trial. A defense lawyer will know how to navigate the system and help build the best defense possible.
According to the Fifth Amendment, everyone has the right to an attorney. Even if you can’t afford one, you will be given a public defender appointed by the court. These public defenders are very well versed in DUI cases and are also generally very familiar with the prosecution. This means they will know the chances of winning your case or negotiating a better plea bargain. The downside to a public defender is that because their caseload is so high, your case may not get the attention you believe it deserves.
If you are able to afford a private drunk driving accident lawyer Washington, DC relies on, you will get a more personalized approach to your case. It’s not a secret that defense lawyers are expensive – but that is because they get results. If you are looking for someone who will fight your case on an intimate level, get yourself a good private defense attorney. They are experts in their field and will be your best chance to help fight a DUI charge.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at The Law Firm of Frederick J. Brynn, P.C. for their insight into criminal defense and when to get a DUI lawyer.
