Archive for category hiring a dui lawyer
Denver DUI Attorney Advice
Posted by bulldzr in DUI Lawyer Denver, DUI defense Attorney, DUI/DWI, Denver DUI attorney, Englewood DUI Lawyer, dui lawyer, hiring a denver dui attorney, hiring a dui lawyer, sobriety test on September 3rd, 2009
If you get arrested for DUI, the worse thing you can do is exacerbate the situation by incriminating yourself or doing something that can possibly make the charges against you heavier.
Never discuss your case with the arresting officer. Limit the information you give to what is necessary. This includes your name, birthday, permanent address, etc. Do not answer questions related to the arrest – do not tell them if you have been drinking, how much alcohol you consumed, if you were driving the vehicle, etc. You have the right to speak to an attorney before you say anything to the police. Exercise that right.
Everything that you say or do can be used against you, so stay calm and do not resist even if you think you are innocent. Avoid arguing with the police at all costs. Don’t attempt to run, and always keep your hands where the arresting officer can see them.
Contrary to popular belief, you can refuse to take any chemical test (blood alcohol concentration test) until you have spoken to a Denver DUI lawyer. You likewise have the right to set up an additional privately-administered test upon your arrest, while you are detained in the police station.
Try to write down or at least memorize the arresting police officer’s badge number, patrol car plate, etc., especially if you suspect that you have been arrested unjustly. If there are other people who can be possible witnesses, get their names and contact numbers. Immediately inform your Denver DUI attorney if you suspect that your rights were violated, so he or she can help you file a written complaint in the police station right away.
Attorney Helps Client with DUI Charges
Posted by bulldzr in DUI Lawyer Denver, DUI defense Attorney, DUI/DWI, Denver DUI attorney, Englewood DUI Lawyer, dui lawyer, hiring a denver dui attorney, hiring a dui lawyer, sobriety test on September 3rd, 2009
A Denver DUI attorney gets a number of calls each week from people who find themselves needing his or her services. A Denver DUI lawyer is commonly called upon to help a person who has been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. When a charged person contacts a legal representative chances are they know very little about what happens next. Unless they have been charged before, they are typically unaware of the details which must be attended to following the arrest. Most people are more than willing to let their counsel handle the details of their case. There are several things best left in the hands of legal counsel.
Often the first thing one’s legal counsel must attend to is securing a person’s release from custody. Someone who gains their knowledge of legal matters through watching movies or television shows might have a skewed sense of this process. Fictionalized dramas can make this seem like an easy, automatic occurrence. However, that is sometimes far from reality. Several factors can affect the timely release of an accused person. Is it a first offense or is the accused a repeat offender? Can the accused individual post the necessary bail or will they be released on their own recognizance? Is the accused a resident of Colorado or a visiting tourist? Is the individual a minor or of legal drinking age? Are there any additional outstanding arrest warrants out for the accused? Has the person’s driving caused injury to another person or persons? A legal representative can make sure that the accused is aware of the charges levied against them and they can then help them secure a release from custody. Without a legal explanation of the charges, one may have difficulty understanding the charges, as read to them.
One’s legal counsel next explains to the accused, in layman’s terms, how to respond to the charges. The representative helps enter a plea for their client. Often times, if wrongly accused, that plea is a simple, “not guilty.” Other times, when a person enters a plea of “guilty,” a representative can help explain some of the potential punishments they may face. A representative can go through the arrest report to see if all the proper methods were employed. Any questions concerning improper procedure can be addressed. For example, did the arresting officer read rights in a timely fashion? Was a breathalyzer test administered? What was the blood alcohol level reading? These are all areas to be evaluated.
The next thing one relies upon counsel for is representation during the actual court proceedings. In the worst case, a guilty charge could result in jail time, but a legal representative will work hard to keep their client from serving. They may be able to help one come away with merely a fine, or perhaps mandatory attendance at AA meetings. Quite likely, an offender will incur some driver’s license restrictions as penalty for the crime. A good representative can petition the court for leniency, particularly in the case of a first offense. Reliable counsel presents one with the best opportunity to come away from a drunk driving charge with a minimum penalty.
Hiring the Right DUI Attorney
Posted by hantge11 in DUI Lawyer Denver, DUI defense Attorney, Denver DUI attorney, Englewood DUI Lawyer, Uncategorized, dui lawyer, hiring a denver dui attorney, hiring a dui lawyer on August 13th, 2009
By: Grayson Thrush
If you have been charged and/or arrested for driving while under the influence (DUI), you will need to locate and employ the services of a Denver attorney at once. You don’t need just any Denver attorney though; you need one that specializes in representing such cases. Bear in mind that a DUI brings with it criminal charges, not civil. That means that you could end up serving jail time if found guilty and sentenced.
You can easily find many Denver DUI attorneys through the Internet or a phone book. How do you know if you’ve found an excellent one? You can enquire about a particular Denver attorney with the local Bar Association and the Better Business Bureau. But that won’t tell you if they are extremely competent; it will only tell you if they have had previous complaints lodged against them or not. Ask for references and call them. This will give you a slightly more complete picture.
To discern competency, however, you need to directly interview a given attorney. Do they know about the “dram shop acts,” under which a tavern owner or bartender may be held liable for injuries caused by a person who either became intoxicated at the bar or who was already intoxicated before being served? Do they know that “social hosts,” those serving alcohol at parties in their homes, can similarly be held liable? These constructs can be applied in an attempt to shift liability to another party.
It is time-consuming to carry out proper due diligence when selecting a Denver DUI attorney. It is the only way that you can be reasonably assured that you have retained the best counsel, though. You need an expert Denver DUI attorney on your side.
Reasons to hire a DUI Attorney
Posted by hawkeye11 in DUI Lawyer Denver, Denver Attorney, Denver DUI attorney, Hiring A Lawyer, hiring a dui lawyer on June 12th, 2009
by Chris Miller
Besides a familiarity with case law a DUI Attorney brings extensive trial experience to your side of the proceedings.
Refusing to consider hiring an experienced DUI Attorney because of the cost can be a costly mistake. Accepting the court appointed lawyer who may not have much experience with DUI case law will not result in the lowest fines or jail time. And in most cases you will still be required to pay the court appointed lawyers fees.
A competent DUI Attorney will know what facts to bring out in the testimony of witness or law enforcement officers and when to challenge that testimony. They will know what evidence may be available to help you win your case and file the necessary motions. They will be able to work with witnesses testifying on your behalf and to judge the value of each. An experienced DUI Attorney will also have access to expert witnesses to refute the accuracy of blood or urine test results.
Many experienced DUI Attorneys are familiar with the lack of reliability of most field sobriety tests and know the best ways to present this evidence in court. They will also be knowledgeable on the various breathalyzers in use and their accuracy. Breathalyzers also require legal certification and maintenance records, your Attorney will know where to find that information and how to use it in court.
Also facts such as whether or not you handled certain types of chemicals or took over the counter cold medicine prior to your arrest can have an effect on the breathalyzer results.
Even if you do not want to go to trial a DUI Attorney will help in bringing about a speedy end to the situation and the least amount of fines or jail time possible.
The best reason to hire an experienced DUI Attorney is so that you wont have any regrets afterwards. Many people walk out of the court room afterwards saying they should have hired a lawyer to protect their rights.
Don’t make that mistake.
What a DUI Attorney Can do for You
Posted by hawkeye11 in Criminal Attorney, DUI Lawyer Denver, DUI defense Attorney, Denver Attorney, Denver DUI attorney, Englewood DUI Lawyer, Tax Lawyer, denver law firm, dui lawyer, hiring a denver dui attorney, hiring a dui lawyer on June 12th, 2009
Everyone thinks at some point in time in their life they are invincible. I believe everyone thinks if they have a few drinks they will make it home without getting pulled over and arrested. The thought of getting into an accident doesn’t come to mind, the thought of hitting an innocent pedestrian doesn’t come to mind and certainly harming yourself doesn’t come to mind. Heck, you’re a great driver, you are not even drunk and you certainly know how to get home. We’ve all been there and unfortunately some unlucky individuals have been in an accident or arrested for a DUI.
If you are one of these unlucky drivers who have made the wrong choice to drive intoxicated or maybe you were wrongly accused of driving under the influence the first thing you need to do is contact a DUI Attorney in your area. In Denver, there are a ton of attorneys who handle these traffic cases but you want to make sure you find a Denver DUI attorney specialist. You want to have someone who handles traffic cases daily to ensure you get the best legal representation.
Sure you have the right to represent yourself in the court of law and that might be ok in small claims court but something with as high of punishment as a DUI or DWI it is not worth the risk. The amount of money, time and even criminal charges a DUI attorney will save you is worth the legal fees they will be collecting from you.
Here are a few things a DUI Attorney can do for you:
Save you time and an appearance in court: Once you find the right attorney, they will immediately save you time by handling the scheduling of your court appearances and legal documentation. Another nice thing about having an attorney represent you in court is you will not be required to attend your first court hearing. Your attorney will represent you in the court room and give your plea.
Help reduce your sentence, fine, or points on your license: The DUI attorney you hire can present mitigating factors to the District Attorney to help you obtain a favorable plea bargain. This could mean showing a lack of previous criminal history, doing public service, or even starting on alcohol or drug treatment before the Court requires it. You could have your sentence or fines reduced as well as keeping your license or reduce the points against you on your license saving you a ton of money on your car insurance.
They also will formulate sentencing programs tailored to a client’s specific needs, often helping defendants avoid future brushes with the criminal justice system. This is very beneficial for the rest of your life when trying to get a desired job.
Save you from feelings of Fear, Embarrassment, or Anxiety: Criminal charges often times bring feelings of fear or embarrassment and with an attorney on your side they will help reduce these feelings. You will not have to speak in court or represent yourself which often times more than not bring on anxiety to individuals in the court room. You can be calm and relieved knowing you are in good hands with your DUI attorney. Your attorney will always look out for your best interest.
It is important to remember each traffic case is different and unique. Only an experienced and specialized attorney can assess the case and give you a fair deal out of it. They can negotiate for you the best deals with prosecutors (the state) and often reduce the charges and penalties to benefit of the pleader. They also help you to cope with fear, embarrassment and reduced self-esteem.
Remember that DUI is a mark that remains with you throughout your life. The DUI lawyer will be familiar with all important legal rules, especially with the local court customs. The DUI attorney will help you to figure out whether you even actually have a case to fight.
