At Tillotson & Martin, our first-time Virginia dui lawyers have nearly 40 years of experience and know how to fight the charges. Driving under the influence is considered a crime in every state. Therefore, DUI charges are handled in criminal court. You have the right to represent yourself in criminal court.
But most defendants hire a private attorney or are represented by a court-appointed public defender. Having a Virginia DUI defense attorney examine your case can help you present other defenses as well. In addition to what is listed below, there may be other penalties depending on whether there was an accident that caused property damage or personal injury, whether you were under the age of 21 at the time of your DUI arrest, or whether there were minor children in the car with you at the time of your Virginia DUI arrest. For example, if your attorney successfully argues that the arresting officer did not have sufficient probable cause to pull you over, and the traffic stop is ruled invalid, then everything that happened after that invalid stop (such as the results of your breathalyzer test) will also be thrown out.
The free legal advice provided by an online DUI review is beneficial, as it helps you make an informed decision regarding whether you need an attorney for dui defense against the charges. The importance of a strong defense for your first DUI charge is paramount, as a subsequent conviction will guarantee jail time. A driver should absolutely hire the best affordable dui lawyer closest to their location to establish a strong defense and avoid a license suspension over time. There are pros and cons to this defense strategy, so it should be discussed with your attorney to make sure it is in your best interest, but in general, pleading guilty to a reckless driving charge carries less severe penalties, lower fines, fewer points added to your driving licence, and less potential jail time than a DUI conviction.
Another benefit of hiring an attorney is that you will typically get more contact time than with a public defender. While reviewing your arrest, an attorney will evaluate your best chances of success in court and assess the possibility of getting the DUI charges dismissed or the entire case dismissed. This is just one of several vital reasons why you should always use a dui lawyer to evaluate your situation online with us for immediate, free help and advice on what options are available to help you get your DUI charges effectively expunged. When determining whether it is worth getting a DUI lawyer, a person should realize that hiring the nearest experienced local attorney to their location is always the best defense option to fight the charges successfully.