When Charged with a DUI: How to Locate and Retain an Attorney for your Case

It’s likely that everyone knows that driving under the influence (DUI) is against the law. For some reason, however, there were still 1.41 million DUI arrests in 2010 alone. When an individual faces these charges, it’s imperative that they seek out legal help. A drunk driving arrest, even with breathalyzer evidence, isn’t an automatic conviction. An experienced attorney can often help their client receive a positive outcome in their case, but those charged must first know how to find the attorney for their case.

Finding Potential Attorneys

Finding a list of potential attorneys is much easier than choosing the right one for a DUI case. A simple online search of “DUI attorneys” followed by the city the arrest occurred in will likely yield a large number of results. The great thing about finding attorneys this way is that former clients will often leave reviews of their experiences with the attorney, so it’s possible to immediately get an idea of who might be the choice for you.

Additionally, it’s important to contact an area’s local bar association for a list of attorneys who handle DUI cases. The bar association will not likely give advice on a specific lawyer to choose, but they’re a good jumping-off point. Many areas also have legal aid numbers which will provide this same service.

Choosing a DUI Attorney

Once an individual has a list of potential attorneys, it’s important that they don’t just pick one randomly. As mentioned, looking at online reviews of specific attorneys can go a long way, but nothing can compare to an actual consultation with a legal professional. During this consultation, it’s important to ask how often the attorney has actually dealt with DUI cases. More descriptive ideas of what to ask a DUI attorney during an initial consultation can be found online at www.kellislaw.com. In a majority of instances, it’s advisable to choose a lawyer who has mainly helped their clients with unlawful drinking charges rather than other criminal charges.

It’s also important to ask whether or not an attorney is specialized in any specific area. Specialization doesn’t just mean that an attorney has worked extensively in certain legal aspects; it means that they’ve actually received a specialty certification in a specific area of law. These specialization certifications may not exist everywhere, but if an attorney has one in criminal law, it’s ideal. The simple fact is this: even the best civil, corporate or environmental attorney in the world may not be able to properly defend a person against a DUI charge.

Is there any Defense?

Many people wonder why they should even look for an attorney after getting a DUI. After all, in many cases, a breathalyzer reading has shown that a person was over the limit. It’s important to realize, however, that these devices can be inaccurate. In fact, hundreds of DUI convictions were called into question when it was discovered that a few breathalyzers in Pennsylvania hadn’t been properly calibrated.

In addition, there are also factors other than alcohol that can explain a high blood alcohol content reading on a breathalyzer. These factors can range from a person’s diet to the type of oral hygiene that they practice. The main point is that no DUI charge equates to an automatic conviction.

Facing a DUI charge is a serious situation, and if an individual doesn’t have the right legal professional to help them, they could easily face extreme consequences. As mentioned, however, a DUI conviction is never a foregone conclusion. There are several defenses against DUI charges; it just takes an experienced legal professional to know which defense to use in which case. It may be difficult to find the right attorney in these situations, but simply following the aforementioned tips can help a great deal.