Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a highly prevalent crime in the US. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Uniform Crime Report 2010, roughly 1.4 million people were arrested in the US for driving under the influence (DUI) in 2009. DUI and DWI cases contribute to the demise of almost 30 people daily in the country. As a deterrent to these offenses, DUI charges in court usually attract jail time for repeat offenders, cash fines, community service, license revocations and similar penalties that vary across state lines.
DUI suspects often worry that their charges will turn into felony cases. Criminal cases in the US are classified as either misdemeanors or felonies. While most DUI cases are generally misdemeanors, the circumstances surrounding arrests such as accidents, are likely to raise charges to felony, or worse reckless homicide. This usually happens when the accident caused by the DUI suspect results in grievous bodily harm, or death of some victims. Whatever the case maybe, criminal offenses of any nature are recorded in your personal records by law enforcement agencies. Thus, it is imperative to have such cases sorted out quickly by a defense attorney somekeyword, in order to avoid ruining your personal reputation. So, how do you go about selecting suitable legal representation for such criminal cases?
Personal Referrals: Ask for recommendations from friends, family or colleagues. Speak directly to someone who was represented by the lawyer in his DUI case, and ask about his personal experience. What was the outcome of the case? How did the lawyer charge for his services? Does the lawyer respond positively to questions, and how well does he communicate with clients? These questions are important in determining the legal competency of an attorney, as well as his professional background and communication skills.
Internet Search: It is quite simple to research information about particular lawyers from the internet. Some domains provide free profiles of legal professionals for users to scrutinize their credentials, fields of specialization, recommendations, citations and contact details. Many defense lawyers also have personal websites that indicate their credentials, individual philosophies, experience and case studies. You can obtain information about DUI lawyers somekeyword from the internet and narrow down your preferences to two or three individuals, whom you can later contact for consultation.
Phone Calls/ Email: Once you have zeroed-in on two to three attorneys, get in touch with their offices via phone or email. Explain your case in detail and answer any questions asked honestly. How long does it take to get responses from the lawyer? Do they reply to email messages quick enough? Are their responses generic, or detailed and explicit to your case? Communication is an essential part of attorney/client relationship. If you are not comfortable with talking to an attorney, it is best to search for a more amicable one. State Bar Verification: Once you determine the law firm or specific attorney you wish to hire for your case, confirm his/her status of practice, licensing, possible client complaints and other information at the State Bar website. The lawyer must have excellent professional standing and personal records in order to represent your case successfully in court.
DUI is a fairly common but serious offense in the country. Such cases are classified as either misdemeanors or felonies depending on the aggravating circumstances. The steps outlined above will prove handy in picking the right criminal defense attorney to provide representation for such cases in court.
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