Everyone knows that driving while under the influence of alcohol is not a wise idea. Even after a single drink, your reactions can become impaired, your ability to make smart and sensible decisions is reduced, and many more of the key skills required to drive safely and sensibly are negatively affected too, which is why drunk-driving causes 28 deaths a day in the US alone.
Still, reports and statistics show that millions of people do get behind the wheel after having one or several alcoholic drinks. Indeed, over 100 million Americans admit to alcohol-impaired driving every year, and over one million of them get caught by the police and issued with DUI charges, which can lead to jail sentences, suspension of licenses, and other serious consequences too.
If you find yourself charged with a DUI, you’ll need to get a lawyer. A DUI lawyer will be able to argue your side of the story and help you get the lightest possible punishment, potentially helping you get your license back more quickly and avoid spending any time behind bars too, but it’s important to find the right lawyer for the job. You can click this url and see how picking the right one can help you with your conviction. That being said, here are some tips to find the right lawyer for your case.
Read Reviews
A good place to start when looking for the best DUI lawyer is to head online and read through reviews of DUI firms in your state. Remember that DUI laws do vary from state to state, so it’s best to find a local firm with lawyers who understand the specifics of the situation in your area, and you can learn a lot from reading reviews and testimonials.
Many legal firms will have their own websites, which they can use to sell themselves and show off the best parts of their track record, but independent reviews and testimonials help you to see beyond the marketing and get a real view of how people view each firm. This can be invaluable when it comes to finding a lawyer who can help you deal with your DUI.
Consider Your Options
There are a lot of different ways in which you can find lawyers to handle your DUI case. As stated above, you can head online and start looking for the best-rated firms, for example, and this is a popular and proven method. However, it’s not the only option available to you, and there are other avenues to explore.
You might want to speak to friends, colleagues, and family members, to see if they have any recommendations, for example. Be careful with this method, however, as friends may sometimes recommend legal firms that don’t have much experience with DUIs. You can also consult legal directories like Martindale-Hubbell to find an attorney in your area.
Pay Attention to Ratings and Awards
The legal industry is just like any other industry; it has some firms that are very successful, with great track records and plenty of proven success, as well as firms that simply aren’t as successful and don’t tend to do as well when it comes to winning cases and getting the results that their clients want.
In order to find the right firm for you, it’s important to take a look at any special awards or ratings that each firm might have been given. The best firms will often appear in ‘Top 10’ lists, for example, produced by leading organizations like the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys or National College for DUI Defense.
Book Consultations with Firms Before Hiring Them
Once you’ve made use of reviews, testimonials, and recommendations in order to narrow down your search and find a few of the best DUI legal firms you might like to hire, the next step is typically to book some consultations with these firms and see what they have to offer before making the final choice and choosing which one you’d like to work with.
Consultations can be invaluable, and they’re often provided for free by many firms. During a consultation, you’ll be able to sit down with a representative of the firm and ask them a range of different questions regarding their fees, their experience levels, their track record, their way of working, and so on. You can use these questions to learn as much as possible and then make an informed decision.
Final Word
Getting a DUI can be quite a worrying and intimidating experience, but there’s no need to fret too much, especially if it’s your first time. The right lawyer will be able to help you get the best possible result, so use the tips above to find a firm you can trust.
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