DWI Attorneys
If you were charged with drinking and driving in New Jersey, it is
important that you speak with a New Jersey DWI attorney. When you find
a DUI/DWI lawyer in this state, you’re increasing your chances that
you’ll win your case. Even if a chemical test showed you were beyond
the legal limits, with a New Jersey DUI lawyer on your side, you could
win your case.
When you need an Attorney
Anyone who wants to fight a DUI charge in this state should talk to
a New Jersey DUI lawyer. It is not hard to find a DUI/DWI lawyer, and
having someone on you side can help to prove your innocence. With harsh
penalties that include time in jail, thousands of dollars in fines and
surcharges, license suspensions, community service, and sometimes even
more, you can’t afford not to call a lawyer.
When should you make that phone call? If you are pulled over, the best
course of action is to remain calm and politely refuse to answer
questions or perform field sobriety tests. You will likely then be
taken to a station for a chemical test or asked to perform a
breathalyzer test on the spot. At this point, call a New Jersey DUI
lawyer if you know one already. If not, don’t wait long before calling
an attorney. The fresher the case is, the better.
Services of DWI Attorneys
Most New Jersey DWI attorneys will hear your case for free. They’ll
listen to your side, offer a bit of advice, and pass or agree to take
your case. Few New Jersey DUI lawyers will pass on a case, though some
will only take a case they believe they can win. It depends on the
lawyer.
You’ll officially be charged with the violation and a court date will
be set. Unless your violation also caused a fatal accident or was
otherwise more than just a DWI, you’ll be tried in traffic court. You
probably will not have the right to a trial by jury. Instead, a judge
will hear your case. Because there is no jury, it is even more
important to have a lawyer on your side.
At a preliminary hearing, your court date will be set. Your New Jersey
DUI lawyer will attend this hearing on your behalf. The date will be
set for sometimes in the next two to four months in most cases, an
during this time, your New Jersey DUI attorney will be busy gathering
evidence on your behalf. This includes your prior driving record,
expert witnesses, statistics about chemical test failures, and
more.
Before the trial or during, you and your lawyer may decide to plead
guilty in exchange for a lower sentence. However, this will always be
your decision ultimately, as a guilty charge will still be on your
record for many years. In most DUI cases, there is no plea bargain, and
instate, you go to trial. At the trial, your New Jersey DUI lawyer will
argue your case, giving opening and closing statements, as well as
offering up evidence and calling witnesses to the stand. The judge will
then ultimately decide the verdict of the case.
Costs of a Lawyer
Hiring a New Jersey DUI lawyer is not like hiring another kind of
attorney. In this case, you won’t be winning money. Therefore, the
lawyer isn’t paid as part of your winnings – you have to pay the New
Jersey DUI attorney out of pocket, whether you win or lose. Most New
Jersey DWI attorneys are paid by the hour, although some have flat fees
for DUI cases. You can expect, in New Jersey, to spend anywhere from
$500 to tens of thousands of dollars for a DWI lawyer. However, in many
cases, the cost of the New Jersey DWI lawyer is much less than the cost
of the fines you’d have to pay if you lost.
Risks of not having an Attorney
The biggest risk of not having a New Jersey DUI attorney is, simply
put, losing your case. In this state, there are very harsh penalties
surrounding DUI laws. On your first offense alone at a low BAC, you
will be facing over $3,500 in fines and surcharges, the loss of your
license for 3 months, and up to 30 days in jail. If your BAC was higher
or if this was not your first offense, the penalties only get
steeper.
In addition, points will be added to your license. When your license is
returned, you might find that it is nearly impossible to find New
Jersey health insurance. You can take a New Jersey defensive driving
class once every five years to knock off two points, but when there is
a DUI charge on your record, that isn’t enough to save you from
financial problems with insurance.
Benefits of having a Lawyer
A New Jersey DUI lawyer can help you avoid fines, suspensions, and
more, but you might be thinking to yourself that your case is strong
enough to be argued without professional help. While you might have a
strong defense to your case, keep in mind that the attorneys working
against you are real professionals and will do all they can for that
guilty verdict.
A trained New Jersey DWI attorney will know exact what information you
need to be declared innocent. Look for someone with experience, because
with that on your side, you chances of winning will increase tenfold.
With a lawyer, collecting evidence won’t be a burden.
New Jersey DWI Attorney and Lawyer
Remember, not all lawyers are the same. If you need a New Jersey DWI
attorney, the best way to help your case is to find a DUI/DWI lawyer
that is right for you. Look for experience, availability, cost, and
friendliness. At the end of the day, it is your money and freedom on
the line, so working with a great New Jersey DUI lawyer isn’t just
important – it is a necessity.
