The cost of hiring a California dui lawyer depends on a number of factors, including the lawyer's experience and the amount of time they spend on your case. Generally, attorneys cannot give a fixed price up front. They will charge by the hour. However, the work the dui lawyer can pay substantially can make a real difference in your case and your future.
It is unwise to face a DUI charge without one. In almost all cases, if your DUI charge goes to trial rather than being settled out of court, there will be additional costs to account for the attorney's investigation, trial preparation and litigation services. An experienced, local DUI attorney or criminal lawyer will be able to file all necessary motions in your case. Some states maintain different classifications for different types of DUI, such as alcohol, illegal drugs or non-prescription drugs.
However, an attorney will still calculate the cost of a DUI based on how long they estimate they will need to bring the case to resolution. To defend clients at trial on DUI charges, Ashelee Weeks of Weeks Law charges a flat fee that is bifurcated meaning that a client pays one flat fee for her to handle the case through trial, and then a second flat fee for her to defend them in court. In addition to the risk to others on the road, those who are arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) face a number of costly monetary penalties and fines to regain driving privileges. In Los Angeles DUI cases, defendants must get an ignition interlock installed to regain driving privileges.
An attorney with close relationships in the city or district attorney's office may have an easier time negotiating good plea deals. Without the experience of an experienced DUI attorney, it is difficult for a defendant to operate in court without making mistakes when it comes to talking to the judge, the prosecution, or others such as the police or potential witnesses. An experienced DUI attorney will know what your options are and can guide you through what is certainly a stressful period of life. After a first time DUI charge or drunk driving arrest in California, you will first have to post bail, ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars, which will be returned to you minus non-refundable CA DUI fees if you appear as scheduled in court.
If, for example, a defendant was involved in a collision that caused a significant injury, the amount of time an attorney will spend on the case could be 8-9 months and 20 court appearances before reaching a resolution. By first having the details of your arrest reviewed through us free online, an experienced DUI attorney in your area will look at all the facts and help find the best defense options based on any flaws in the evidence collected, or any possible violations of your rights. This means that the BAC limit is much lower for people under the legal drinking age; in most states there is a zero tolerance law, which means that any amount of alcohol detected in a minor's blood can lead to a DUI. If a lawyer charges a flat fee, he or she has probably determined that he or she can negotiate a favourable settlement.
