Despite the fact that everyone knows all the dangers associated with drunk driving and the risk of a DWI, there are people who still do it. Most people assume that a glass of wine or bottle of beer is harmless until they are stopped by a police officer for driving while intoxicated and things become very serious, very fast. The next mistake people make when stopped by an officer is treat the case the same way they would a traffic ticket.
DWI is a serious offense that could change someone’s life, considering the fact that they could go to jail for as long as 180 days, lose their driving license and spend thousands of dollars on fines and penalties. In addition to that, the DWI charges will stay on their record and this could make a lot of things complicated, like getting a job.
If you happen to find yourself in this situation, the best thing you can do is get a professional DWI Houston lawyer as soon as possible. There are many reasons why hiring a lawyer is your best bet at winning a DWI case, some of which are listed below.
1. They are going to act fast
First of all, you will have 15 days to request an ALP, administrative license revocation hearing. This will help you get important information from the Department of Public Safety and this might help you pin the officer on some elements regarding the case. In addition to that, memories tend to fade and considering that you were intoxicated, you need to talk to a lawyer about what happened as soon as possible.
2. They will analyze everything
DWI lawyers are experienced in DWI cases and they know what every little aspect could mean for a certain case. The lawyer will go over all the details regarding the arrest, which will include making sure that the officer who arrested you was in full compliance with the law. The lawyer will also talk to any witnesses, if there were any, to hear their side of what happened. Using this information, they could maneuver the case to your advantage, something you would not be able to do alone.
3. They will plan a strategy
With all the useful information the lawyer will gather, they will be able to determine if they can seek a lesser charge. This could mean that you will not face some of the serious consequences that come with DWI charges. The lawyer will explain how plea bargaining works and help you understand the possible outcome and the impact it will have on your life from then on.
For instance, the lawyer might be able to change the charges to reckless driving, which has lesser consequences compared to driving while intoxicated. Of course, it will also have an impact on the insurance rates and your license but it might be a lot easier to overcome.
4. They will help in license suspension
While charged with DWI, you risk either short term or long term license suspension and a DWI lawyer can help you avoid a long-term suspension. DWI lawyers know the system all too well and they know exactly what to do in order to prevent a long-term suspicion.
5. They have trial experience
DWI lawyers in Houston such as Vinas & Graham know all the ins and outs of drunk driving and traffic laws. A competent lawyer will know how to get fines, penalties and jail time reduced. The lawyer will know exactly what facts need to be presented in court in order to challenge the charges and they will know what evidence will be most helpful to your case.
In addition to that, DWI lawyers are well versed with field sobriety tests and will be able to determine if the results are valid or not. Breathalyzers, for instance, need to have legal certifications and maintenance records and the lawyer will find any information that could be used in favor of your case.
6. They will fight for your rights and freedom
Considering how serious DWI charges are, you should not take any chances with your freedom and the moment you hire a professional lawyer, they will take it very seriously. They will let you know all your rights, help you understand every possible outcome of the case depending on the charges and do everything possible to make sure your case gets the best possible outcome.
Conclusion
Hiring a competent DWI lawyer is a wise decision because you will only make things worse should you decide to use a court appointed lawyer or worse represent yourself. Court appointed attorneys do not specialize in DWI and they might not do everything possible for you. Despite the fact that a professional lawyer will cost you, it will cost you even more if you lose the case.
For help with your case, contact us today to schedule an appointment so we can discuss your options.
