You’ve just been arrested for a DWI (Driving While Impaired)-should you call an attorney? Once you’ve been charged with a crime it can be difficult to know the best course of action that you need to take in regards to your charges. Many people are unsure whether or not they need a DWI attorney to defend them or if they themselves can provide proper DWI representation. The price of attorneys and taking the time to find an attorney you trust to defend your case properly is a concern for many. In the United States, you are given a few different options to defend your case in court. You can either hire a private attorney, have a court appointed public defender, or you can defend yourself. Defendants that plan on pleading guilty before the trial has even begun, often see representing themselves as the best option. However, the legislation towards DUIs and DWIs is so steep and intricate, you may be doing yourself a disservice by “hiring yourself” for your DWI representation.
Contact us today: DUI Attorneys – Springfield.
When To Represent Yourself
As mentioned above, defendants who are planning on pleading guilty, usually see hiring a private attorney as an additional expense that isn’t necessary. Assuming you do decide to plead guilty to the charges against you, there should be no aggravating circumstances of your case. This means that at the time of your arrest there was not:
- Excessively high Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). This is usually anything above .08%.
- Any injured person or persons as result of the crime
- Any accidents
- Disputes with law enforcement
- Serious traffic violations, not including the DWI.
If any of these aggravating factors were part of your arrest, you need help from an attorney immediately. If none of these circumstances were part of your arrest and if this is your first offense. You may be able to get away with your own DWI representation. It is important that you study the laws of your state extensively if you decide to take this route. This in of itself, can be a long and tedious pursuit. Criminal defense attorneys who specialize in DWIs have years of education paired with years of experience in order to understand the intricacies of DWI law to help them win their cases. Consider at least discussing your situation with a DWI attorney in Missouri. Consultations are free and they can assist you in determining the best approach for your particular case.
When You Should Seek DWI Representation
Mistakes happen to people all the time. Sometimes a person is convicted of a crime or crimes wrongfully or the legal procedure has been mishandled or misinterpreted, this is where a DWI attorney can help. Being convicted of a DWI, even if it’s your first time can have serious implications on your future that can affect your career, family, and even your social life. Not only is jail time a possibility, you will be charged heavy fines, your license will be suspended, and you may be required to have an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) fitted to your vehicle. This is no way to live for any amount of time guilty or not. As your DWI representation we want to make sure that you are given the best opportunity towards regaining a bright future.
What A DWI Attorney Can Do For You
A private DWI attorney is able to help you win your case in a number of ways, these include, but are not limited to:
- Taking the proper time required to review your case to actually give it a fighting chance during your trial.
- Negotiate plea bargains
- Hiring private investigators and expert witnesses if needed.
- Having evidence tested
- If you are sentenced for the crime, your DWI attorney can negotiate to reduce the terms of your sentence.
- Help you deal with the emotions and stress that go hand-in-hand with being convicted of a DWI.
At DWI Springfield, we believe that everyone deserves the best DWI representation in order to win their case and get back to living life on their terms. Contact us today to discuss your situation and set a free consultation.