Sunday, 25 September 2011

4 Key Questions to Ask Your DUI Lawyer

Getting a drinking and driving offense can be a life changing event. While getting a DUI or DWI is not always about you making mistakes - as you may be innocent - the seriousness of the charges makes hiring an experienced DUI lawyer crucial. And when you hire a lawyer, it's important to spend some time looking into his/her experience in helping clients with problems like yours. Some key findings can be made by asking some simple questions. Let's go over some important questions you can ask.

Do You Specialize in DUI Law?
You want a lawyer who specializes in DUI law, and who has a volume of experience in helping clients just like you. While some lawyers do a "little of everything," you want one who specializes in handling DUI charges. That means they must handle DUI charges on a monthly if not weekly basis. They must have experience in handling the prosecution, in making statements to a judge, in questioning the arresting officers, in questioning the validity of things like blood and breath tests. If a lawyer has no experience in actually helping others defeat DUI charges, how can he or she actually help you?

How Much Do You Charge?
Experience is more important than price, but let's face it: you can't afford every lawyer. That means finding out prices upfront very important. Just as you would not want the cheapest doctor to work on your heart, you should consider paying for value. On the other hand, paying $20,000 for a comprehensive defense with assistants and research may be pushing your budget. Strive for balance, pay what you can afford, and consult with more than one lawyer. Instead of only looking at a single lawyer, or the cheapest lawyer, make an informed decision by looking at 5-10 experienced DUI lawyers.

How Can You Help In this Case?
You also want to ask prospective DUI lawyer how he/she can actually help in your case. It may be the fact that the breathalyzer test was used incorrectly. The arresting officer could have abused your rights, such as hitting you or lying to you. There may be witnesses to an accident, explaining you had no liability and did not appear intoxicated. In other words, you always have some options in DUI defense, even if it means you will be charged.

What is My Best Scenario?
You want your lawyer to help as best he or she can, but be frank: you may be guilty. First, guilt does not mean you deserve the full amount of charges. Second, guilt does not mean you have to plead guilty. And finally, guilt does not mean there weren't other things that occurred. You always have more options than you might think when it comes to a DUI defense. The important thing is to have a lawyer honest with you, to be clear on what charges to expect, and to be ready to move on when this is over.

Jacob Malewitz recommends http://www.duiattorneyhome.com for DUI advice and defense. They offer a free DUI case review.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacob_Malewitz

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