This is important if you’ve been busted for DUI or DWI, acronyms, by the way for, driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated, and need an attorney.
And you will need an attorney. The last thing you want to do is pull the old “I’m humble and I’ll speak for myself” act in order to save money—and think that the court will show you mercy. You might be one of the lucky few who gets off easy by doing this, but far more likely, you will get socked with high court fees, poor treatment, charges that will be on your permanent driving record and increased insurance charges. That’s for starters. In many states, you can also be ordered to serve a prison term for DUI.
So by all means, if you are charged with DUI, you will want an attorney to help you. And shortly after getting your ticket for DUI, your mailbox and phone line will be full of attorneys who want to help you get out of your little jam.
Does the phrase “ambulance chaser” ring a bell, here? Because that’s the category many of these attorneys fit in. The first rule of getting a DUI lawyer is to be wary of any attorney who comes looking for you. They are more than happy to help, yes, but they will generally charge you an enormous fee for the privilege. Many times their work is substandard at best, even at that high cost, so do yourself a favor and seek out a DUI attorney on your own. You’ll save yourself headaches, money—and possibly even jail time—in the long run.
The second rule of choosing a DUI lawyer is to choose one who specializes in DUI law in your particular state. DUI law is complicated and demands the lawyer has a high level of expertise in dealing with it. So question any attorney you are looking to hire to be certain they’re a specialist in DUI law. Don’t get your brother-in-law’s best friend’s wife who usually makes up wills to go to court with you for a DUI charge. That’s just begging for trouble.
And it’s mandatory that the attorney knows the DUI laws of your particular state. There is a broad range for what’s considered legally drunk when it comes to different states. What’s a minor charge in one state may be a major one in another. There is also a difference just between cities in the states, so you also want to be sure your DUI lawyer is familiar with the court system in the city or county where you received your DUI charge. What may be perfectly acceptable in one city’s court system may get you in trouble in another, so you want a DUI lawyer who knows the ropes of that particular area or city.
Finally, even though you have a DUI charge against you which is very threatening and scary, remember that you are hiring someone to help you. Don’t let a DUI lawyer put you in a position of feeling inferior or as if they’re doing you a big favor. You are paying for their services and you should feel you can speak openly and frankly. Most importantly, you should also feel that your DUI lawyer truly has your best interests at heart—not their own wallets.