Drunk Driving Lawyers

Consequences that may follow a DUI or a DWI charge can be quite severe, especially if there was an accident, and can be made worse if another person, such as a passenger in the car or the driver of another car involved in the accident was seriously injured or killed. Enforcement of drunk driving laws in the United States was not heavily enforced by police officers until the 1980's, as it was not considered to be a serious offense, nor an extreme danger on the driver and drivers around him or her.

If a person is caught and convicted of driving drunk, he or she should seek legal counsel as soon as possible from a drunk driving lawyer. Drunk driving lawyers are quite familiar with DUI laws and they keep up to date with the ever-changing laws that come with it. With their knowledge and experience, they may be able to significantly reduce the charges of a DUI, given that it is a person's first DUI charge and injury or death of another person did not occur in the accident.

The cost of hiring drunk driving lawyers depends on several factors involved in a person's DUI case. Legal representation from a drunk driving lawyer requires careful consideration, though the decision should be made as soon as possible. One should consider drunk driving lawyer costs and what they would be able to afford for legal representation. A person may want to make sure that he or she finds a perfect balance between quality representations from a drunk driving lawyer, while still finding one that meets their budget. The cost of drunk driving lawyers vary by the severity of the case. If a case is the second or third DUI offense, a drunk driving lawyer may charge more because the case is difficult to work and successfully defend a client. Sometimes, a DUI case can be quite complex, due to the convoluted DUI laws which may be difficult to understand and out of the ordinary situations can make it even more complex.

Drunk driving lawyers typically charge either in a flat rate up front, or they may charge by hour. The cost of a flat fee will usually range between $600 and $2,500 for their service. If a case is more complex, and a client has had prior convictions of a DUI in the past, the flat fee may be higher. If a trial is lengthy, the price may be raised a slightly as well. If the client is being charged for a DUI felony, the price may be far greater and upwards of $10,000 or more for legal representation.

For an hourly rate, a drunk driving lawyer may charge between $100 and $300 per hour of work. This number can grow for the same reason, as a more complex case or if a case has more at stake, the price can climb to $1000 or more. Some DUI offenders may not be able to afford any time of normal legal representation from a drunk driving lawyer. If this is the case, it is imperative that the courtroom assign legal representation to the defendant from a public defender. Though the public defender is free, he or she may not provide the same service a paid drunk driving lawyer would provide. To be eligible for a public defender, however, a person is required to prove that he or she cannot afford a drunk driving lawyer through financial statements and documents.