When Do You Need a Lawyer for a DUI/DWI Charge?

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(Newswire.net — April 14, 2022) — If you are caught by the police while drunk driving, for example, at DUI checkpoints in Indiana or any other situation, then you may have serious problems. Drunk driving is a serious offense that is punishable by law and that can lead to serious negative consequences. However, in such a situation, there is no 100% chance that you will be found guilty and your driver’s license will be suspended. You always have the opportunity to defend your interests in court and try to make sure that your guilt is not proven. By law, you can do it yourself, however, if you do not have a law degree, it will be difficult for you to assess the current situation and do everything right, given that the law on drunk driving is quite confusing and has many nuances, each of which needs to be taken into account. With that in mind, a much better decision is to hire your lawyer who will assist you in all aspects throughout the entire time until a court decision is made against you.

If you think you can do without a lawyer, you can’t. If you want to be in a winning position, then you need a lawyer anyway. Of course, you might think that if this is your first offense, then there will be no serious problems. However, if you admit your guilt, there is no guarantee that everything will be fine with you. This case may affect you in the future, or new circumstances may arise that will complicate the proceedings and greatly change the course of the process not in your favor. In addition, if you have any other prior offenses for which you have been found guilty, then if you plead guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs again, you will have serious problems. In such a situation, to win the case, you will simply need an attorney. The only time you may not need a lawyer is if the offense in question is the first and only offense and plus if there are no aggravating circumstances. However, even in such a situation, a lawyer can help negotiate with the prosecutor about the best conditions for the sentence, or simply give you some advice during the consultation.

You have the opportunity to get a lawyer in two ways: hire a private lawyer or get a public defender.

State Advocate:

A public defender is usually chosen by people who do not have money for a private lawyer, or by those who think it is pointless to overpay. A public lawyer will in any case be qualified enough to handle your case and help you. Most likely, such a person has already had situations more than once where he had to defend a client who is accused of drunk driving. However, with a high probability, such a lawyer has several cases at once, which prevents him from focusing specifically on you. In this case, your chances of success are reduced and you are more likely to be found guilty. In addition, you will not be able to change to a lawyer, so you will have to cooperate with the person who was originally offered to you by the state.

Private attorney

Your other and more effective option is to hire a private DUI lawyer. He will deal with your case more thoroughly, which will give you a better chance of success. Yes, the cost of such a lawyer is quite high, however, you should spend your money on him. The advantage of this option is that you choose who to hire. You can go around several agencies, talk to several lawyers and choose the person who seems most competent to you.

Initially, it is better to simply consult with the chosen attorney. You will need to provide him with all the necessary documents and tell him in detail the whole situation that happened to you. It is really useful to do this, especially considering that most lawyers provide free consultations. In addition, having talked personally with a lawyer, you can understand how competent this person is and how suitable he is for you.

What benefits can your lawyer give you?

1. A lawyer knows his business and understands how to negotiate. Lawyers who specialize in cases of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will defend you in court and, thanks to their professional competencies, will be able to negotiate the most lenient terms of the sentence. They understand when and what to say in order to achieve the best result.

2. The lawyer will be able to reduce the fines you will have to pay if you are found guilty. The lawyer will defend your innocence and will most likely be able to mitigate the sentence, so you will be able to pay a smaller fine and lower legal costs.

3. The lawyer will be able to prove if the symptoms of alcohol or drug intoxication were caused by completely different things. For example, if you were taking certain medications or were in a state of shock, your behavior might be similar to that of drinking alcohol or drugs. Your lawyer will be able to prove your innocence so that the judge will reduce the punishment or not impose it at all.

4. A lawyer can get you found not guilty. If it is possible to find at least some evidence by which you can be found not guilty, the lawyer will do this and present them in court.

The only correct option when you get into a similar situation is to find someone among the Indiana Criminal Defense Lawyers who deal with cases of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A professional lawyer will do whatever it takes to mitigate your sentence or even get you found not guilty. Therefore, you really should spend your money on hiring such a person, otherwise, the price you may have to pay may be much higher.