For employers, employees who are involved in DUI can impede business, most especially if those involved are the key talents. Drunk driving convictions are becoming common crimes nowadays, which are happening most especially after work night parties or holidays. However, the consequences are not light and ordinary. Not until that you’re faced with the situation that you’ll realize the impact of a DUI case to a person’s career, family, and your overall life.
That’s why it’s critical to involve a DUI lawyer when facing a DUI case. When hiring a DUI lawyer, it’s crucial to ask some questions to ensure that your best interest and rights will be prioritized over anything else.
In this post, you’ll learn the important questions you have to ask before hiring a DUI attorney.
Questions After The Arrest
You probably want to ask this question, “What should I do if I was pulled over for a DUI?” While it’s really a surprise to get pulled over and arrested because of drinking after a celebration party, it’s important to contact a DUI lawyer right away so you’ll know the next steps.
If you’re not sure about what you’re doing, you might just incriminate yourself, which would result in hefty fines, or worst, a longer prison sentence. A DUI lawyer can provide legal advice right after your arrest to shed light to common procedures, such as:
- Resisting Breathalyzer Test: Should I resist a breath analyzer test? You’ll most likely face serious legal consequences refusing a breath analyzer test. This test determines the concentration of alcohol in your blood or what is referred to as blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Refusal to undergo this test after being pulled over by a police officer may risk license suspension or jail time. Also, it can be used against you in a court trial.
- Resisting Arrest: Can I resist a DUI arrest? Resisting arrest includes physical acts, like hiding, running away, struggling with the police officer, giving false identification, helping another individual avoid arrest, and threatening the police officer. A lawyer would advise that it’s possible to avoid the charges of resisting arrest by politely complying with the requests of the police officer, even for unjustified arrest.
Questions During the Ongoing Case
There are many possible situations that can affect a DUI case. So, it’s important to talk to an expert lawyer who knows the ins and outs of your local DUI state laws. Just one wrong word or sentence can put you in longer imprisonment or make you pay hefty penalties. A well-thought statement is crucial with the help of a DUI attorney.
Here are some examples of questions you can raise to a DUI lawyer while your DUI case is ongoing:
- Police Lied on the Report: What if the arresting policer lied on the DUI report? False claims are possible, wherein some police officers intentionally lie about the details of the DUI. A DUI attorney can help you prove that the police officer has false claims, such as presenting relevant evidence.
- Pleading Guilty: Can I just plead guilty for a lesser charge? In the case of Justin Bieber’s DUI arrest in January 2014, the arresting police officer claimed that Bieber smelled like alcohol and appeared to be impaired. Later, Bieber pleaded guilty for a lesser charge and avoided jail time.
A DUI lawyer can help you find some options to have your case dismissed or at least have a lesser penalty.
- Possible Defenses: Never allow things to escalate to the point that it ends up to additional charges, like assaulting an officer or felony. If you think that your arrest was unjustified, a DUI lawyer can help you determine the possible defenses for a resisting arrest.
Questions About the DUI Lawyer
The questions above would help you gauge the expertise of a DUI lawyer. Now, it’s time to ask questions about the DUI lawyer, including the educational background, professional experience, and other relevant questions that can help you narrow down your options and land into a final decision.
Here are some examples:
- How long have you been a DUI lawyer in this state?: You want to hire someone who is highly knowledgeable about your state’s DUI laws. This way, you can benefit from it and the lawyer’s connections that could influence the result of your case.
- What’s the best legal action we need to take?: An experienced lawyer can clearly explain the possible outcomes of your DUI case based on the police report, your story, and supporting evidence.
Conclusion
Asking the questions above will help you choose the best DUI attorney to represent you before the court. Knowing the credentials, expertise, and capabilities of the lawyer will give you peace of mind that your DUI case is in good hands. This way, you can go back to your normal life as soon as possible.
The post DUI Lawyer: Critical Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring One appeared first on The HR Gazette.
