However, hiring a private dui lawyer (assuming you can afford one) can be well worth it. Of course, when you are hiring a lawyer, you can decide who that lawyer will be. Lawyers who specialize in DUI cases often have an in-depth knowledge of DUI law and defenses that other lawyers do not have. In some cases, this experience can lead to perhaps a more satisfactory outcome, a better plea bargain or dismissal of the charges altogether.
After a first DUI arrest, some drivers make the mistake of assuming that they do not need an attorney for a first DUI charge. While fighting a DUI on your own is a driver's constitutional right, getting a lawyer will be much more likely to get the charges dropped or a case dismissed than trying to fight the DUI charges on your own. Some people may also wait too long on the defense asking can you get out of a DUI with a public defender or is it worth it to get a DUI lawyer? DUI is a serious offense that can affect your future and employment. Most attorneys will tell you that you need to hire an attorney who focuses on drunk driving defense.
Attorneys promise that they may be able to save your driving licence or get your drunk driving charge reduced or dismissed. The key is the word may. A DUI conviction can result in costly fines, the loss of your driving licence, and could affect your job and your daily life. If you are concerned about your driving privileges and want to keep a criminal conviction off your record, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible after a California DUI arrest.
The money you spend on your attorney will likely be well worth it. He or she can help reduce your charges, which will ultimately help reduce the fines associated with the charges. If your attorney gets your charges reduced, that is less money you will pay for the actual offense. In other words, you will most likely spend that money anyway through fines.
The difference is that when you funnel these funds through your attorney, he or she is working to help preserve your reputation, your record, and as many of your freedoms as possible. Your attorney will be fighting to keep you out of jail and working to help you keep your license and reduce insurance increases. There are considerable long-term insurance savings for drivers who can get their DUI dismissed or reduced to a negligent driving charge. Perhaps you had friends or other family members who were arrested on DUI or DWI charges, and are comparing what possibly turned out in your case to how your own will turn out.
Anyone still wondering "do I need a dui lawyer needs to be aware that only an experienced attorney will know how to fight a case at trial and when taking it to trial is the best bet. The last reason you should get a DUI lawyer is because the technical legal defenses of the best lawyers often provide the best possible outcome and have the highest chances of winning the case at your next court date. When you hire a private DUI attorney, it is typically to represent you in DMV and criminal court proceedings. An experienced DUI defense attorney will have represented many clients in a similar situation and can explain the process so you can relax knowing you are in good hands.
Even if you plan to plead guilty later without an attorney, experienced DUI attorneys recommend the course of action at this first "arraignment hearing" is to plead not guilty to the DUI charge. An experienced DUI attorney will carefully review all of the arrest information and evidence in the case, and will let the driver know the best chances of success in the case and any possible plea bargain negotiations that may work as a better outcome. If you registered .08 or above, there is little doubt that you will be convicted and will have to pay all fines, fees and additional expenses involved with having a DUI conviction on your driving record. Any DUI or DWI charge will cause both a criminal court case and a separate Administrative License Review hearing at the DMV.
An experienced local DUI attorney recommended by clients for a history of winning the case will always improve the odds of a good case outcome and getting a suspended license back soon. Therefore, when deciding whether it is worth getting a DUI lawyer - if a person expects to have any realistic chance of saving their driving licence, they will need to hire a lawyer who also has experience in trying cases involving drunk or drugged driving charges.
