DWI Lawyer - When to Hire A DWI Lawyer

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Should You Hire A DWI Lawyer?

A driving-while-intoxicated conviction can be one of the most devastating events that a person can suffer. Conviction can lead to financial ruin, employability issues, and other personal and professional problems. With the potentially catastrophic consequences that a DWI can bring, many people who are facing a conviction invest every possible dollar in a DWI lawyer.

It begs the question: is a DWI lawyer really necessary? Why pay for a DWI lawyer when a public defender will do? First, it would be a grave mistake to tackle a driving-while-intoxicated defense without the aid of an attorney. True, a DWI is considered a misdemeanor offense. However, the fallout from a conviction can be far more costly than a felony. Further, DWI lawyers are highly specialized. Public defenders might excel in defending cases that involve a general knowledge of criminal procedure and the rules of evidence. They can win cases with trial skills alone.

A DWI lawyer, on the other hand, must be well-versed in these areas as well as considerations that are unique to defending DWI cases. There are many scientific issues involved when defending this area. DWI lawyers must know the ins and outs of human physiology, pharmacokinetics, breath testing devices, breath testing procedural flaws, and electronics. They must be able to comprehend laboratory toxicology analysis, particularly blood and urine tests.

In today’s information age, there is a myriad of material available in print and online regarding DWI defense. While it is always better to be prepared and to educate yourself on the finer points of DWI defense, it would be costly to rely on such material as your sole source of defense. Many of these resources are written by pseudo-ambulance chasers who rely on settlements or book sales for income, rather than successful defenses. Even for resources written by the best, its contents in no way guarantee a successful defense in the hands of a layperson. It would be like reading a book about boxing and then picking a fight with Gerry Cooney – you might win with a lucky punch, but why risk it?

Even if you do find a passage that could lead to a successful defense, you likely haven’t watched enough “Matlock” episodes to qualify you as a trial attorney. A blunder in the courtroom could cost you a legitimate chance of winning your case. Hiring a DWI lawyer after courtroom mistakes could limit your options for appeal should you lose the case.

When you consult a DWI lawyer, he or she should give you an honest assessment of your situation and thoroughly explain your options. A competent attorney will be able to maneuver the current laws, but a good attorney will be able to see what changes might be taking place in the judicial system that could be to your advantage.