States all across the nation are cracking down on DUI’s. Blood alcohol thresholds are falling, punishments are becoming more severe, and tolerance everywhere is abating. Even the media are calling for individuals to be more responsible.
With all this pressure and intolerance, getting your first DUI can be terrifying.
If you were lucky enough not to hurt anyone else, your mind will race with thoughts about the coming months — the trials, the sentence, how your friends and family will perceive you — and probably with regrets about the decisions you made in the hour prior to your arrest.
As bad as it may look initially, there are people who are willing to represent you to make sure that you aren’t unjustly tried and sentenced, and who can help you get back on your feet with as little collateral damage as possible: DUI lawyers.
All legal counsel, however, was not created equal. To help ensure that you find the right lawyer for you when fighting your DUI citation or arrest, it is imperative that you do your research. Here are a few important attributes to look for:
- ABA approved. This means that the lawyer you are choosing to represent you has passed the Bar Exam and is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) in your state.
- Clean record. Often, you can access reviews or complaint files on attorneys; try to do this while searching for lawyers, and look for any relevant complaints or negative reviews the lawyer has received. Sometimes the complaints aren’t important, but sometimes they are, and you don’t want to leave that to chance.
- Clear payment plan. Depending on your offence and the state you are in, DUI’s can be extremely expensive. Add on to that exorbitant lawyer’s fees and even if you don’t go to prison, you will be imprisoned by debt. Make sure that you understand and can afford your lawyer’s fees. Some firms aren’t completely transparent, to be sure to ask directly about cost, and any other pertinent payment options.
- Follow-through. Lastly, make sure your lawyer can handle your case from opening to close. You don’t want to be half-way through the trial and find out that your attorney doesn’t have the full resources he needs to represent you.
DUI charges are extremely serious. You may face jail time, even if it is only your first offense. Given the stark nature of the charges, you want to make sure that you find a lawyer who can minimize the damage.
Byline:
This is a guest post from Jacelyn Thomas. Jacelyn writes about identity theft prevention for IdentityTheft.net. She can be reached at: jacelyn.thomas @ gmail.com.