If you’ve been arrested for drunk driving, drugged driving or a combination of the two, you’ll want an experienced and effective DUI attorney representing you. What comes to issue is how to find one. The best way to narrow your search is to ask another attorney for a referral. That attorney might be the person who closed on your house for you, the lawyer who represented you in your divorce or the lawyer who helped you when you got hurt at work. We’re likely to be one of those referrals, so and make an appointment with us as soon as possible, especially in light of the fact that you’re only allowed 20 days from the date of your arrest to request a hearing on your driver’s license. Once you’re in our office, here are some questions that we commonly answer.
Is the Lawyer’s Practice Focused on DUI?
One of our attorneys focuses on DUI. Please see our Spokane DUI Lawyer page for additional information.
You’ll want to know whether the attorney concentrates his or her practice on DUI cases. These types of cases can be complex. They can call for detailed knowledge of DUI arrest procedures, how field sobriety tests were conducted along with how breathalyzer testing was performed, whether the individual who performed breath testing was certified to do so and whether the machine itself was certified. If blood was drawn, regulations are in place as to how a person’s blood must be drawn and preserved. An experienced DUI attorney will examine all of these procedures.
Who Will Be With Me in Court?
You’re putting your trust, confidence and hard earned money into the person who will represent you in court. You’ll want to be certain that the lawyer you hire will be with you every step of the way. You don’t want your defense passed off to an inexperienced junior associate.
What’s Included in Your Fee?
It’s unlikely that you’ll be charged for an initial consultation, but you’ll want to know specifically what you’re paying for. Most DUI lawyers charge a flat fee. You’ll want to know if there are going to be additional costs for motions or even a trial. If money is tight, you can inquire about a payment plan, but you’ll have to stick with that plan. You expect to be paid in full at your job, and the attorney expects to be paid in full too.
How Often Do You Appear in the Courtroom I’m Assigned To?
If the attorney regularly appears in the courtroom that your case is assigned to, it’s likely that he or she has developed a good professional relationship with the prosecutor and the presiding judge. If so, that attorney will have a good sense for the policies and preferences of those individuals. That might operate to have you treated a little differently than other people who are there for the same reason as you.
What Are the Best and Worst Case Scenarios?
Keep in mind that a lawyer can tell you what he or she thinks can be done for you, but it’s against the law for that lawyer to guarantee what the result will be in your case. Of course the best case scenario is a dismissal or not guilty verdict. The worst case scenario can be 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000. Your judge might impose other conditions like an ignition interlock device or completion of a drug and alcohol education program. Those add considerably to the financial pain that comes with a DUI.
What About My License?
You’re facing a 90 day suspension of your driver’s license. Remember that you must request a hearing on that suspension within 20 days of the date of your arrest. You’ll want to know whether the lawyer who you’re speaking with is going to make a timely request for a hearing and whether he or she will be representing you in it. If so, is that included in his or her legal fee?
Contact a Spokane DUI Lawyer
During the course of your consultation, a highly experienced DUI lawyer will have answered many of your questions before you even have an opportunity to ask them. Don’t be afraid to ask about anything else. If you’re facing a DUI charge anywhere in or around Spokane, contact us right away to arrange for a free consultation and case review with a DUI lawyer from our office.
