Being pulled over for DWI in Texas - driving while intoxicated - isn't the end of the world.
Remember, the law states that you are innocent until proven guilty. Since one has to adequately defend themselves to be considered innocent it's best to have all of the available at your disposal to do so, namely the skill of a qualified DWI attorney. Picking a defense lawyer is never an easy task - whether you are facing DWI charges in Houston or elsewhere. There are so many factors to consider like his/her customer service, how successful he/she is, whether the pricing is affordable, and even the chemistry between the parties.
First off, the prospective lawyer should be looked into in great detail. Research should be done on his/her previous clients, including things like how happy they were with said lawyer when it came to handling their legal problems. A lot of the time legal questions may arise and a good lawyer will always be available to answer them or at least return phone calls in a timely manner. Another thing to look for would be if this lawyer has a practice limited strictly to DWI law or all types of criminal defense. Although many criminal defense lawyers can handle DWI cases with ease, sometimes a DWI lawyer that has a practice focused on DWI will more than likely give extra knowledge about situations because it's their specialty. Doing the same thing over and over again, in this case DWI cases, one can't help but to notice holes or easier ways of doing things which someone who does a bit of everything may over look.
Another thing to take note of when choosing a DWI lawyer is how successful they are. Take note of the office they are located in. When looking into some of their clients see how many cases have they won, how many they have pled, etc. It's also important to know how long they have been in practice because with age comes wisdom. Of course more successful attorneys will cost more money but considering this will affect your life any price for victory is well worth it.
Last and most important is the chemistry, which is just how you feel around this person. Do you trust this person with something so very important? Do you feel this person will fight for your rights with the best of their ability? There are many hack lawyers out there who only do the minimum to get by yet charge for the full service. Get a feel of the lawyer make sure it's someone you can trust. To do this it's always best to arrange a meeting prior to hiring the lawyer. That way they can sell you on why they should represent you. Reading into this person if very important at this time because they will be showing you the best side of themselves so you'll have to see under it all. Just remember if it sounds too good to be true it usually is. Now days when it's hard to trust even your neighbor you must look out for someone who would con you out of your money. Always have questions already prepared before meeting your DWI attorney.
There are far more than four reasons to hire a DWI lawyer. DWI (driving while intoxicated) is a term with a variety of uses. New York, for example, uses the term DWI for general drinking and driving cases,while many other states use the same penalties for DUI. We'll focus on the drinking and driving usage of DWI by New York and other states.
All that really matters is they both involve drinking and driving. If you drink, you shouldn't drive. If you do drink alcohol and then get behind the wheel of a car, you may think it's not a big deal until the officer arrests you, your license is suspended, you get fines, and potentially jail time.
How do you avoid those penalties? Hiring a DWI lawyer is perhaps the biggest step. There are hundreds of DWI cases across the country every day. Officers know how to catch you, and judges know how to punish you. However, there are ways to lessen penalties. Here are fours things a DWI lawyer can do and reasons to hire one.
How do you plead after a DWI?
Should you plead guilty or not guilty? An experienced DWI attorney can lessen charges correctly by helping you decide how to plea. You may plead not guilty based on how the officer arrested you--perhaps he/she did not read you your rights or was improper. These are things you need a lawyer for.
Pre-Trial Work
Before the trial even begins, you typically have conferences between the prosecution and defense. You may make a deal before you even go into a court room. But how do you do that? What do you say? What do you fight for and bargain with? These topics can be technical, and require experience in handling DWI court cases. A lawyer can help.
Motions in the Defense
An experienced DWI lawyer does more than talk or negotiate. They also, you could say, attack the prosecutions charges with motions on your behalf. You might want certain statements suppressed, or see any evidence the prosecution does not want you to see.
Handling Trial
Finally, the trial begins. You were received a DWI. The first step, you may think, is the trial. But as you can see, there is much that goes on before the trial even begins. The case may in fact be completed the moment you walk in after making a deal with the prosecution.
However, in many cases you face a judge and/or jury in court. An experienced DWI lawyer will know how to handle witnesses, experts, and testimonies from the officer. The lawyer should be able to lessen the charges against you in some way; he/she directly fights for your rights and tries to sway the judge or jury in your favor.
Once you get done with it, the important thing is to never drink and drive again so you can keep your license, avoid fines, and never worry about court case again.