When Should I Hire A DUI Defense Attorney?
It is widespread for people to think they have an excellent chance of winning their case or getting dismissed. They're basing this on the fact that they have a clean criminal record, a good driving record, a good family, and a good job.
Of course, these factors don't affect how the prosecutors will handle their case. They will look at hard evidence, like your blood alcohol level and what type of driving you were involved in.
You can win a DUI case, but you have to show a problem with the evidence against you, or the police illegally stopped you.
A DUI conviction can have serious and long-lasting consequences, including fines, license suspension, and even jail time. Given these potential outcomes, it's crucial to seek legal advice as soon as possible.
It's crucial to provide your attorney with all the information you believe is relevant and mitigating to your case, as well as any information you think the police might use against you. This will ensure that your attorney is fully equipped to defend your case.
For instance, mitigating information could include your good driving record or the fact that you were not driving recklessly. On the other hand, incriminating information could be your high blood alcohol level or any admissions you made to the police.
As soon as you're arrested and taken to the police station, it would help if you had an attorney because you won't say or do anything that will incriminate you.
However, that could be more realistic. In reality, the best time to get an attorney is once you get out with all your paperwork. Please set up a meeting with an attorney right away and give them all the relevant information.
Then, they can help you and proceed from there. If it's a situation where it is a felony DUI, and you're a family member trying to help out one of your relatives, you should hire a lawyer right away and have the lawyer available to go to court the first time your loved one goes to court.
Things are going to happen very fast in a DUI case. The police want to get as much information as possible as quickly as possible to put together their police report and move on to their next case.
When you provide your attorney with information related to your case, it's important to be completely honest. Don't hold anything back or put a spin on things. Your attorney is there to work for you, and your honesty will help them build the best defense possible.
While you can share your expectations with your attorney, it's important to listen to their advice. A trustworthy attorney will give you a realistic assessment of your case, including your chances and the potential outcomes. This guidance can help you navigate the legal process with confidence.
If your blood alcohol level was double the legal limit and there was a lawful pullover, they're not going to dismiss the case.
There has to be some glaring problem for the prosecutor even to consider dismissing a DUI case in Los Angeles County.
When Do I Enter A Plea Of Guilty Or Not Guilty In My DUI Case?
Typically, in Los Angeles County, when the attorney appears in court for the first initial arraignment, they are going to get all the paperwork related to your case.
Sometimes, we don't get all of it, and we have to file a motion or send a letter asking for certain things that have yet to be handed over to us.
Some courts will let you continue the arraignment; other courts will require some plea in the first appearance.
Typically, you'll enter a not guilty plea. I often have my clients not show up to the initial court appearance because all we're doing is picking up the paperwork and having a brief conversation with the prosecutor.
I would like the client to make their first court appearance, having had a good, solid discussion with me about all the information related to their DUI and having started to shape a game plan. Having a game plan in place can help you feel prepared and in control of your situation.
I will get the paperwork related to the case and send it to the client via e-mail or regular mail. I would like the client to have already read the paperwork when we meet.
Then, we have the other side's version of events, and we can have a straightforward discussion about the case and make some decisions on whether we're going to try to negotiate by way of a plea bargain or take it to a jury trial.