If you, unfortunately, have a DUI (driving under influence) charge on your head, the best thing to do is to get the best drunk driver lawyer in California to to turn the case in your favor.
A DUI lawyer offers you the required legal advice and makes sure the outcome of the court sitting is favorable to you. If you have been charged with driving under the influence or you just want to know more about DUI lawsuits, then you’re at the right place.
This article will guide you on reasons to hire a DUI lawyer and factors to consider before choosing one.
Why Hire a DUI Lawyer?
If you’ve been caught driving under influence in Hayward, California then you need to consider hiring a DUI attorney in Hayward to give you legal advice and make sure the judgement ends in your favor.
The best DUI lawyers in California will guide you as your case is progressing and give you the strong defence you need. This is why it’s always best to find an attorney who is knowledgeable with years of experience and will fight for your rights and make sure that you get the best services that they can offer.
While your insurance companies can try to fool you into accepting liability, your DUI attorney will make sure you don’t say anything that will have a detrimental effect on your case.
Your attorney will advise you against taking a stand in your defence if they think you might say something that will be held against you and lessen your defence claim in the criminal court.
An added advantage of getting an attorney is they know how the courts work. They’re already experienced with the court you’ll taken to, which can be a massive advantage to you.
DUI cases are very difficult to handle and often have strict deadlines that have to be met. Only an experienced DUI lawyer in Hayward can be able to meet that deadline and track down all the witnesses that need to defend you when you’ve been caught driving under the influence of alcohol.
This however doesn’t mean a DUI lawyer will help you get your case dismissed, but they could help in lessening the maximum fine for drinking and driving and other charges. This feat is very beneficial as it will reduce the amount of money you’ll spend and possibly stop your conviction from affecting your career.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a DUI Lawyer
Choosing the right DUI lawyer can be overwhelming especially as they’re most needed in times of emergency, so it will be hard for you to make the right choice. To prevent you from jumping into any lawyer you found, here are certain factors to consider:
1. Experience
An important thing to consider for any type of lawyer is their experience. When hiring a DUI attorney in Hayward, experience should come before anything else.
It’s good you know that choosing an experienced attorney will give you more chances of winning your case compared to choosing an inexperienced one. Though experienced DUI lawyers tend to charge more, it’s still better to go for them as you’re likely going to win the case.
Therefore, before you hire any lawyer, be sure to ask about their experience.
2. Reputation
Another critical factor to consider is the reputation of the attorney. It’s good you choose an attorney that hasn’t been disciplined by the state bar.
Lawyers that have been disciplined have a bad record and that can affect your case. Therefore before selecting, check their state bar.
This can be easily done by getting their full name and state bar number. Read about the disciplinary action they’ve faced and consult experts on whether it will affect your case or not.
3. Previously Handled DUI Cases
General experience is needed for a DUI lawyer, but there’s also the need to look at the success rate of their previously dealt with DUI cases.
If a lawyer has previously handled many DUI cases and trials and got success, they’re in a better position to handle your case. On the other hand, if you choose a lawyer that’s a novice in DUI cases, you might end up losing your case.
4. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Experience
Another important thing to consider when choosing an attorney is their DMV experience.
If you’re charged with driving under influence of drugs or alcohol, you might end up losing your driving license. Right, when you’re arrested, the officer will give you a DMV form to fill, from then the department can hold a hearing and seize your license.
To avoid this, you need to get a lawyer that’s very experienced in the DMV field and knows how to defend you there and help you retain your license.
5. How Much Does the Attorney Charge
What an attorney charge is also a factor to consider. At times clients end up underpaying or overpaying lawyers because they just compare fees.
It’s essential you know that different attorneys charge different fees. Sit with your lawyer and discuss how much they’ll charge to represent you. The cost also varies depending on the severity of your case and whether it ends up going to trial or not.
Don’t negotiate too much as some lawyers can agree to your negotiation and end up not representing you well.
Conclusion
When charged with driving under the Influence, it’s not a must you get a lawyer but it’s very essential if you don’t want to risk paying a huge fine, losing your job and your driving license.
The risk of not getting an attorney to properly represent you depends on your DUI case. Though if you think you’re good enough to represent yourself you can, you’ve to remember that trials can be difficult and you need immense experience to be able to succeed in them.
If you’re representing yourself and you don’t have this experience, you might end up losing the case especially if you were caught in aggravated DUI in California. Therefore pay attention to the results you get from your DUI law firm near me Google query to get a professional attorney that will turn the case to your favor. Goodluck on your search!
