Is It Worth Hiring A DUI Attorney?
Introduction If you are facing a DUI and plan to plead guilty, you may be questioning whether hiring a DUI attorney is worth it. You are going to plead guilty, so why should you waste more money on a DUI attorney? Well, while it may seem like a waste of money, avoiding working with DUI lawyer to represent you when pleading guilty for DUI case could be a big mistake. To keep you informed, here is why it is absolutely worth it to hire a DUI attorney even if you are going to plead guilty.
Table of contents What it means to plead guilty for a DUI How a DUI attorney can help Helping you present the facts of the case Protecting your rights Reducing sentences or ensuring that the punishment fits the crime Consider all other options
What it means to plead guilty for a DUI While many people believe that pleading guilty to a DUI charge is different from conviction, the opposite is true—it is the shortest route to a conviction. Even a first-time DUI where there is no injury to another party or damage of property carries high fines and jail time in most states. Besides, several court-required activities may be imposed on you, including the possibility of alcohol rehabilitation and attendance of a DUI School. Your car may also be impounded and stored at your expense. Additionally, your criminal records may not be sealed for up to 7 years after the completion of the case.
This may have detrimental effects on your chances of getting any professional license or employment. In other words, a guilty plea won’t avoid the following: Probation Loss of professional license Deportation Loss of your driver’s license Reducing your earning potential and/or employment options Impeding you from getting into a public housing program Being denied a chance to own a firearm
So, even if you think that you are guilty of a DUI, there are a lot of details of the charges that you are probably not aware of, and that should be proved by the prosecutor for them to be considered binding upon you. However, pleading guilty to the charges simply means that you have accepted all the charges at face value and the court will slap you with all the penalties prescribed by the laws you’ve broken.
How a DUI attorney can help
Helping you present the facts of the case Even if you think you are guilty of a DUI, you still have the right to defend yourself in court. A DUI attorney will help you establish and state the facts of your case. While this doesn’t imply that you will be proven innocent, it will give the court a hint of what happened on the day or night you got arrested.
Protecting your rights Even if you are found guilty, your rights must be respected. A DUI attorney will ensure that you get a fair trial in court and that any evidence gathered incorrectly is not used or admissible in court. If a lab technician didn’t store your blood sample correctly, for instance, the evidence shouldn’t be admissible in court.
Reducing sentences or ensuring that the punishment fits the crime A DUI attorney can help determine the type of punishment that you get if you are found guilty. A good attorney will ensure that you get reasonable jail time, fines, community service, etc. and some attorneys might even help you avoid jail time even if you are found guilty. Generally, attorneys are experienced negotiators and know the strategies to use to properly negotiate with the prosecutor on the appropriate recommendation for sentencing. Lawyers know what should be said before the court and how to represent your case in a way that can be favorable to you.
Consider all other options No prosecutor will sit down with you when you face a DUI. In other words, they won’t discuss or explain to you the options that you have should you plead guilty. The judge is not concerned about explaining or giving you the best options for your case. They are just interested in doing their jobs.
If you don’t get the representation of a DUI attorney, for instance, you will never know that you might qualify for an Alcohol Education Program. But even if you are found guilty and you are a first-time offender, you qualify for this program and a couple of others in most states. Attending some of these programs can benefit you in the long run because some will mean that you don’t get DUI on your record.
The Bottom line DUI punishments can be severe and life-altering. Getting the representation of a DUI attorney who will argue your case in court and help you get the best outcome is very important even if you plan to plead guilty. An attorney understands the law better, knows the aggravating factors that apply in your case, and understands what sort of mitigating factors he or she needs to present before the court to mitigate any sort of potential punishment.
Contact Details Kirk Freeman Law
Address: 200 Ferry Street, Suite A2, Lafayette, IN 47902 Phone: 765-429-7035
Email: kirk@kirkfreemanlaw.com Website: https://www.kirkfreemanlaw.com/