5 Biggest DUI Defense Mistakes In Houston
Part 1
If you have been arrested or charged with a DUI in Houston, there are 5 common mistakes that you need to avoid:
Mistake # 1 – Assuming You Don’t Have A Defense
The biggest mistake is simply assuming that you don’t have a defense against the DUI charges and not even attempting to avoid the criminal charges that are now pending against you. This assumption can have only one outcome – guilty as charged – and should be avoided at all costs. Always keep in mind that you may regret not defending the charges against you but you will never regret making the effort.
An experienced Houston DUI attorney will assess your case to determine what the best defense is in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney and to defend yourself. There are literally hundreds of different defenses that your attorney can use and every case deserves to be defended. The trick is to find just the right defense for your unique case depending on the circumstances and the facts involved. The only way to determine what is best is to have an expert assess the case and use their knowledge of the law and skills to defend you. No matter what, never assume that you have no option but to plead guilty!
Mistake # 2 – Worrying About Attorney Fees
The cost of an expert defense should be a secondary consideration to how a DUI can negatively impact the rest of your life. The value of not having a permanent criminal record is way beyond what any attorney will charge to aggressively defend your case. Think about what your life will be like if your driving license is revoked or how a criminal record will change your future employment prospects. A DUI may seem like a minor charge but it will have life-long consequences. An expert lawyer is well worth the cost of providing you with the best defense to avoid life-altering consequences.
You need to carefully consider what type of attorney you would like to represent you. Drunk driving is a complicated area of the law and it takes an experienced lawyer to navigate the legal system to your advantage. It takes more than just knowledge of the law to beat a DUI charge – it takes skill to rise to the challenges that your case may present along the way.
You also want to take into account the skills and expertise of the prosecutor. You want a lawyer who is confident and has the expertise to stand against the best prosecutors that the state has available. Plus, you need a representative who will do their utmost to win the hearts and minds of the judge and the jury.
Lawyers’ fees are however not always an indication of the expertise that you can expect. The highest fee doesn’t necessarily mean that you are getting the best legal representation for your case. Lawyers may charge a retainer and then bill you for the different services that they offer. They may also charge an hourly fee which is applicable in increments. Before hiring a lawyer, be sure that you understand their fee structure, how you will be billed and how much they will charge for the services that they offer.
It is recommended to choose a lawyer you feel will provide you with the best expertise and will fight for you rather than simply focusing on the cost.
Give Jim a call today and let him give you a free consultation so that you can get the help that you need. You can contact Jim for your free consultation! Click here for the second article in this series.