The law defines driving under the influence (DUI) as a serious offense. But in a general sense, it can have serious implications on the life and career of an individual. It can impact both their professional and personal lives.
If you fail the field sobriety test and breath test, what should you do? Should you consider hiring a drunk driving defense attorney?
This post will emphasize the merits and demerits of hiring the services of a DUI attorney in the event of facing a DUI charge. Read on to find out more about it.
Will hiring an attorney help you get rid of DUI charges?
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Most people believe consulting an attorney is the best bet to get a fair and square deal in the courtroom. While there is nothing wrong with embracing this thought, it is important to consider that the charges for a DUI case differ from other offenses.
If you speak to lawyers for drunk driving, the majority of them would tell you that they may be able to help you with it. However, a lot would depend on your innocence. If you fail the field sobriety test, followed by the alcohol breath test, it is unlikely that you will be able to prevent the suspension of your passport.
In the courtroom, the judge will go by your BAC level as reported by the on-duty officer in their arrest note. ABAC level below 0.08 means you are safe but anything at that level or beyond it will attract heavy penalties. Also, you will be convicted under DUI laws which can lead to jail time.
If you record a BAC level of 0.08 or higher, there is nothing much that your attorney can do about it. They can, at best, make efforts to mitigate a few factors and inform you about the legal implications of being convicted under DUI. Further, the extent to which they can mitigate the factors will depend on which region in the United States you were charged for driving under the influence.
However, there are certain other circumstances wherein hiring a drunk driving defense attorney can benefit you. Take the pros and cons of it as given below to make an informed decision.
Pros – benefits of hiring a DUI attorney
A DUI attorney will bring a wealth of legal information to your fingertips
For an average Joe, it can be tricky to comprehend various laws and the legal system in general. One way of simplifying matters in this regard is to have an attorney by your side. With their grasp of the court system and DUI laws, you will get all the requisite information at your fingertips. Besides, you can also bank on them for guidance regarding various legal requirements.
A DUI lawyer will provide you with effective legal representation
From the scrapping of a driving license to a hefty penalty or jail time, the consequences of a DUI conviction can be severe on you. By appointing a lawyer, you can stave off the potential punishments during the hearing of your case. Depending on the details of your case, an experienced attorney can persuade the judge to either minimize the charges or issue a lenient sentence. These are some of the ways by which they can produce the best results for your case while representing it before the judge during the trial.
You can benefit from the experience of an advocate
A DUI case can make you feel lonely: your family and friends may not figure out where things have gone wrong for you. Law enforcement officers will care more about penalizing you or putting you behind the bars and the duo of judges and legal system may seem authoritative to you. However, you can rely on your advocate all the time to fight for your rights.
Cons – downsides of hiring a DUI attorney
Hiring the services of a DUI lawyer can be a costly affair
If you have made up your mind to opt for the services of an attorney, be prepared to cough up a hefty amount of money. Sure, it may seem to be nothing compared to the benefits that they may bring. Still, you need to arrange for a hefty amount of money. The challenge before you will be to hire the best lawyer to represent your DUI case without exceeding your budget.
It can be difficult to find the best lawyer
While there is no denying the fact that appointing the best underage drinking attorney can help you pick up a real bargain, you need to choose the best lawyer for it. If you run a search on Google for the best attorneys, you are likely to come across hundreds of results. If it is the first time for you, it can be easier said than done for you to pick up the best lawyer to represent your case in the courtroom.
Final thoughts
As is the case with tossing a coin, there are two sides to the story of hiring a DUI defense counsel. If you face a DUI trial, the onus would be on you to make the final call on the matter. Your best bet to make an informed decision would be to consider both the pros and cons and weigh them effectively against one another.
