Legal Help for Dui

Getting legal assistance for DUI situations is something you must consider if you are arrested for driving under the influence. DUI is a criminal offense and the penalties can be harsh and severly impact the quality of your life in a bad way. You may think hiring a DUI attorney will be way too expensive, but think about it in terms of your how you life will be affected. Instead of thinking of it as a cost, think of getting legal assistance for DUI as an investment in your future. If you don't consult with a DUI attorney, you may be convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to jail time, fines, probation, and other penalties. If you do work with a DUI attorney, especially one that's knowledgeable and aggressive, you'll have an experienced legal professional working with you to help you win your case. Although your attorney can't promise you a successful outcome, getting qualified legal assistance for DUI cases is the optimal way to handle your DUI defense.

Physical Impairment Cases - One of the ways a prosecutor can handle a DUI case is by choosing to focus on your physical impairment at the time when you were arrested. Being physically impaired means you that were unfit to safely operate a motor vehicle at the time of your arrest. When the prosecutor handles a case based on physical impairment, he will attempt to prove that you were impaired at the time of your arrest. Law enforcement officers or other witnesses may testify about your driving habits, behavior, and appearance at the time you were stopped on suspicion of DUI. Your results on field sobriety tests may also be introduced to further prove that you lacked the motor and mental skills required to safely operate a motor vehicle. Getting legal assistance for DUI when the prosecutor is focusing on your physical impairment is quite important.

Per Se DUI Cases - Another way a prosecutor can manipulate a DUI case is by concentrating on the results of chemical testing done after your arrest on a DUI charge. The theory behind a per se charge of DUI is that having a blood alcohol concentration level that exceeds a certain limit means you were driving under the influence, regardless of whether you showed any signs of physical impairment or not. In most states, the legal limit is 0.08% for driving under the influence cases. Getting legal help for DUI cases involving a per se DUI is especially important. Testimony concerning chemical testing may be complex, so you'll need a qualified advocate to sort through all of the information and defend you against the charges. Your lawyer may also have expert witnesses called to testify during your trial to show that the test results were not valid or that testing was not performed properly.

Fighting License Suspensions - You'll need legal assistance for DUI charges and for handling another part of your DUI case - suspension of your license. When you're arrested for DUI, your driving privileges are automatically suspended as an administrative penalty. The suspension happens even before you present your defense at a trial. You'll need a qualified attorney on your side so you have someone who's qualified to speak for and represent you during any possible appeal hearings that take place. If you have a skilled attorney, you might be able to get a restricted license or a temporary license that will allow you to drive to work, school, and other necessary destinations until your criminal trial takes place. For most people, not being able to drive can really mess up your life - having an attorney help you get your driving privileges reinstated is extremely important.

Sentencing - Getting legal help for DUI is also extremely important even if you are convicted of the DUI charge. The reason is that judges can consider a number of circumstances prior to sentencing convicted offenders, your attorney may be able to convince the judge to impose probation instead of jail or to reduce the penalties imposed against you in some other way. Your attorney can speak to the judge on your behalf and let him know about anything that could work in your favor. This information can include any disabilities you have that could not be adequately cared for in jail, family responsibilities like caring for your children while your spouse works or caring for an elderly family member, or the fact that you are the only source of income for your family. Although you won't be able to get out of the DUI or erase it from your record, this information might persuade the judge to sentence you to probation and other penalties instead of jail time, if it's appropriate based on the number of convictions you have and any aggravating circumstances that may be part of your case.