According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, three people are killed every two hours in drunken-driving accidents on the highway in America. Arrests, collateral loss, disabilities, and thousands of deaths are all results of drinking and driving.
In 2010, an unprecedented 4 million people in the United States confessed to driving under the influence at least once, resulting in approximately 112 million alcohol-impaired driving incidents. Men were involved in 81 percent of the cases.
Every state considers driving while drunk to be a felony. As a result, DUI charges are dealt with in a criminal court where you have the right to defend yourself. However, the majority of defendants employ a criminal defense attorney to represent them in court.
The Work of a Criminal Lawyer
Since no two criminal cases are equal, criminal defense attorneys are qualified to identify the aspects of each case that differentiate it. In other words, they use their expertise to uncover hidden evidence and arguments why you should win the case.
Besides, the right criminal defense attorney would spot those arguments and facts that might help minimize or even eliminate any possible crime. They might be able to help you limit fines and prison time even though you are convicted and the evidence is against you.
They Will Find out the Loopholes in Law Enforcement
Your criminal defense lawyer may discover that the policeman or even the prosecution made a mistake. Normally, the following defenses are included:
- Your criminal defense lawyer will be able to challenge how police forces stopped, tested, and convicted you of justifying your DUI charge.
- In the charging papers relating to your conviction, the police or prosecutor’s office made mistakes.
- The police won’t be able to prove that you drove the vehicle
- You were stopped for no good reason by the police.
- Someone conducted incomplete field sobriety or blood checks.
Sentencing
Your lawyer can think up a suitable sentencing plan for your trial. If you’re convicted, your criminal defense lawyer might be able to have your probation reduced. Frequently, they are altered in such a manner that you can not re-enter the criminal justice system.
For example, instead of serving ten months in prison for drug abuse, the criminal defense attorney might recommend serving six months in prison followed by four months in a drug rehab program. This method is designed to assist you in dealing with the opioid addiction that got you into the mess in the first place.
Plea Bargains
A “plea bargain” can be negotiated between you and the judge by your criminal defense attorney. A plea bargain can help you get a lighter sentence or have any of the charges against you withdrawn. Prosecutors, on the other hand, are frequently unwilling to bargain with the accused that represent them.
Final Lines
Though you have the legal right to defend yourself in a DUI case, it’s rarely a smart idea. The learning process for trial practice is intense, and it normally only comes with a lot of practice. A lack of legal experience and courtroom expertise will place you at a significant disadvantage.
Judges are also impatient with self-represented claimants who are unfamiliar with the laws of the court. In the end, you shouldn’t try a DUI case on your own; if you’re going to be arrested, you should get an attorney.