Every year, it’s estimated that nearly one million people are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Because of the dangerous nature of this traffic offense, it carries some serious penalties and fines.
Even your first conviction has the potential to get you some jail time. And that only increases with each subsequent offense. That’s why it’s vital to find a DUI attorney. With the right strategy, they can either dismiss your case or help reduce the sentence.
Sadly, not all DUI attorneys are equal. So how do you find the right one for your specific case? In this guide, we’ll go over some tips that can help you find the cream of the crop for your DUI case.
1. Ask Around Your Network
Beginning the search for a qualified attorney is one of the first things you should do the day after your DUI. The first thing you should do is ask around your network.
Many people, whether they’re friends, family, or colleagues might have similar experiences as you. As such, they can recommend DUI attorneys whom they have worked with in the past.
They might also be able to suggest law firms that you should avoid. If your network doesn’t turn anything up, or you’re too embarrassed to ask them, you can always turn to a Google search.
However, you’ll need to do a bit more research since you can’t rely on a referral. The best way to do this is to read online reviews for the practice.
This will tell you a lot more information about what the average client’s experience has been like. Make sure you only look at reviews that talk about their DUI defense services. Then gather a list of two or three practices you want to contact.
2. Look for Specialization
You want to make sure that your attorney has experience with DUI cases. As such, be careful around firms that offer a wide array of legal services. These professionals can often be jack of all trades, but masters of none.
Why is specialization important? DUI attorneys are familiar with strategies and laws that regular ones might not be.
They might also have a personal connection to the judge. All of these things can increase the potential of getting a favorable outcome on your side.
3. Schedule a Consultation
You can think of your attorney consultation as a two-way interview. The legal firm is deciding if they want to bring you on as a client and you’re deciding if you want them to represent you.
As such, you should prepare for it by getting some questions ready. Pay close attention to how they answer these questions. If they change the subject or ignore the questions, you should look elsewhere.
Communication is vital for any DUI case. As such, you want to make sure that they’re taking your questions seriously.
4. Discuss Potential Strategies
Different DUI cases are going to require different strategies. For example, if the officer didn’t follow the procedure during your arrest, your attorney might be able to get the case dismissed.
However, if the evidence against you is strong, dismissal might not be an option. In these cases, you should pivot to a strategy to minimize your sentencing.
This might involve providing character evidence to show that this hasn’t happened before and won’t happen again. Your strategy will depend on the specifics of your case. So describe them in detail to the attorney during your meeting.
Then see what they suggest in terms of strategy. While you should hope for the best with your case, it’s also important to be realistic when it comes to your chances.
5. Talk About Fees
Different law firms will provide you with different fee structures. Some will offer flat rates for their services through trial. Others might rely on hourly rates that increase depending on how much time they spend preparing.
There are pros and cons to both options. The important thing is that they disclose their pricing structure so you can know whether or not you can afford it.
6. Go With Your Gut
Is the DUI attorney giving you a bad vibe? If so, trust your gut and look elsewhere. The stakes of DUI cases are too high to go with bad attorneys who don’t care about your case.
What’s more, DUI cases can be scary and emotional things to go through. As such, you want to make sure that you can 100% trust your attorney.
Why Is Finding the Right DUI Attorney So Important?
In Florida, DUI suspension laws tend to be pretty strict. That means there are extensive penalties and fines associated with them. The specific penalties and fines will depend on things like how many past DUI convictions you have against you.
As you can guess, around your second or third DUI, the consequences can be quite serious. However, even your first conviction can result in things like expensive fines, license suspension, DUI school, and potential jail time.
On top of that, a DUI conviction will stay on your driving record forever. It can be accessed by insurance companies and employers which can negatively affect your life.
That’s why DUI attorneys are so important. Often, they can minimize the penalties of your DUI charge by suggesting alternatives like community service or education centers.
If the evidence is on your side, they might even be able to get the DUI charges dismissed entirely. Without a DUI attorney on your side, you’ll likely need to rely on a public defender.
While these professionals are hardworking, they’re often overwhelmed by their caseload to provide individualized attention to your DUI case.
Need the Best DUI Attorney?
We hope this guide helped you know what to look for when searching for the best DUI attorney. We know how stressful it can be after getting a DUI ticket.
Often, you only have days to find a DUI lawyer and attend your arraignment. Sadly, most law firms can feel like dinosaurs when it comes to getting back to you. That’s not the case here at RHINO Lawyers.
That’s because we use modern communication to respond to you as quickly as possible. So if you need DUI help as soon as possible, get in touch with us today.
CONTACT TAMPA TRAFFIC TICKET ATTORNEY
RHINO Lawyers can help and guide you through a system molded by law enforcement, judges, and lawyers for decades. Having won cases for our clients in similar circumstances, our criminal defense team knows what it takes to fight on your behalf.
Let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at (844) RHINO-77.
