Criminal Law Attorney: Why You Need A Criminal Defense Lawyer for a DUI

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs falls under criminal law, especially when a motorist causes an accident resulting in the injury of another motorist or pedestrian. Thus if you get arrested for a DUI, you face criminal charges that could have you serve time in jail.

It is essential to note that a DUI lawyer is a criminal law attorney specializing in cases involving DUIs. Hence, if you find yourself facing a DUI charge, it is vital to seek the legal counsel of a criminal law attorney to serve as your defense lawyer. 

Here are three reasons to hire a criminal law attorney to defend you against a DUI.

1. Avoid Incriminating Yourself

When you get arrested for a DUI, you will most probably get interrogated by the police. If your criminal law attorney is not present during the interrogation, you are more likely to provide the police with incriminating information that will get used against you in court.

However, if you have a criminal law attorney present, they will direct you on answering the interrogation questions without incriminating yourself. A good criminal law attorney can even negotiate the DUI charges to get dropped if there is no incriminating evidence to prove that you were driving under the influence.

2. Avoiding Jail Time

In most cases, if you harm another person while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the public prosecutor aims to make an example out of you. As a result, the prosecution will try to sentence you to a jail term as a warning to discourage other motorists from driving under the influence.

A seasoned criminal law attorney can provide a credible defense in your favor to either get the DUI charges dropped or sway the court to provide a lighter sentence. If it is your first DUI, then a criminal law attorney can sway the court to disregard a jail sentence. Instead, they may have you attend AA meetings, enroll in a rehab facility, or conduct community service duties for a given period as punishment for the DUI.

3. Avoiding a DUI on Your Record

A DUI record carries negative effects on a person's future. For instance, it might reduce the chances of getting hired as a driver. If a potential employer discovers your DUI record, they will most likely reject your employment application.

Additionally, a DUI record gets flagged by auto insurance companies when determining your monthly premiums. A DUI indicates you are likely to cause an accident, and thus, the insurance company will set your auto insurance premiums higher than average.

However, if a criminal law attorney manages to get your DUI charges dropped, you will not have a DUI record which means you can avoid these consequences of a record.

To learn more, contact a criminal law attorney and talk about your case.