I don’t want to make another mistake after being caught for DUI here in Palm Beach so I want to hire an attorney to defend me. Problem is, how would I select a DUI attorney among the available ones who could help me?

Eric

Palm Beach, FL

Certain DUI cases can just be resolved by having a plea bargain and you won’t need an attorney for it but that could end up having more jail time than if you have chosen to hire a DUI attorney.

When selecting a DUI attorney in Palm Beach, it is highly suggested that you hire one who is experienced in defending DUI cases. That attorney should also be one that offers free consultations in order for you to ask the right questions before hiring them. A lot of very good DUI attorneys may not offer free consultations but you can still be able to find ones that do. There are also DUI lawyers that have Websites in which you can learn more about their practice. Before you hire a lawyer to defend you, you must know first you would be contacted regularly about the status of your DUI case. Also, you need to make sure whether that lawyer you talked to will be the one who would handle your case or one of his/her associates. Feel free to ask the lawyer as well as to what the estimate cost of total fees would be.

Keep in mind that the one you choose to defend you on your DUI case can spell all the difference and can help you avoid jail time or pay very high fines. A good DUI attorney would push you to be involved in an AA program so that you can show the courts that you have been transformed. It is also very important that you trust your DUI lawyer and have confidence in him/her and at ease working together.

I’m afraid I might just lose my DUI case here in Palm Beach, Florida because I really don’t know what to do. I know this would cost me too much time and money, but how would I know what it would really cost me to have a DUI conviction?

Franco

Palm Beach, FL

The first thing that you would have to do now after you have been charged with DUI in Palm Beach, Florida is to get a lawyer who would represent you. Hire a lawyer who specializes in DUI cases if your income allows it. This kind of lawyer would be able to give you solid information on what you could expect in terms of cost for your DUI case. You can add the lawyer’s fees into your total and you could also request an estimate or you may estimate this cost based on your lawyer’s hourly rate.

A lot of DUI lawyers offer a free consultation to go over the basic facts of your DUI case. You may ask for a ballpark figure on what the defense would cost you based on your particular situation. Also, remember that a DUI conviction could be costly for years to come. For some people, a DUI conviction would be costly in terms of employment because they’ll have limited options for the future and, in some cases, termination. Your DUI may also cost you for your car insurance rates to increase. So if you’re in search for a justifiable car insurance rates after your DUI, go on and get an online rate quote from this website.

Is it true that I don’t have to talk to anyone but a lawyer about my DUI case here in Palm Beach, Florida?

Jagger

Palm Beach, FL

Yes, it’s true, you definitely don’t have to talk to anyone but a lawyer about your DUI case in Palm Beach, Florida because anything you say to anyone could be used against you. If you discuss your DUI arrest with family or friends, you are risking turning them into involuntary witnesses against you. It would be in your best interest to remember the details of your DUI arrest because it would help you in your defense. In any criminal case, you should be represented by a competent defense lawyer who specializes in the specific field of law you are charged with and one who has years of experience.

You could either choose a DUI lawyer or risk the consequences of representing yourself. By hiring a DUI lawyer immediately after your arrest, you would not miss any deadlines. Judges would not know if they must protect your rights unless someone defends you. An example is that overworked prosecutors could use reports from inexperienced or over-zealous police officers to over-prosecute a DUI case. DUI lawyers are absolutely aware of these tendencies and they are trained to handle such situations. So do not ever choose to be your own lawyer because you do not know the law and you don’t know how to challenge the elements of your DUI case.

Is it true that even sober people would fail the field sobriety tests if they try to take it? All of the people I know here in Palm Beach, Florida who have been arrested for DUI have failed these tests.

Renzie

Palm Beach, FL

There are a lot of field sobriety tests that are being used by police officers to various extents, including those in Palm Beach, Florida. Known to DUI lawyers and most officers as FST’s, these roadside tests are basically a series of exercises created to test coordination, divided attention (an individual’s capability to perform two actions simultaneously) and balance. The most popular FST’s are the horizontal gaze nystagmus test (watching an object moving only your eyes), walk-and-turn, one-leg-stand, fingers to thumb, finger-to-nose, alphabet recitation and hand-pat.

One very important thing to know is that these tests have been scientifically disputed several times. And yes, it is true that even sober people would often have difficulty, thus failing these tests. One more thing is that to “pass” the tests is to be determined by the officer’s better judgment which means that it would be a subjective judgment. The popular public doesn’t seem to know that these tests are not legally mandatory. Aside from possibly irritating the police officer, a motorist could opt not to take a test without any legal consequence.

Finding a good DUI defense lawyer to help me on my DUI case in Palm Beach, Florida seems rather a not very simple thing to do. What is the utmost important thing that I should be careful about in getting a DUI lawyer?

Shanda

Palm Beach, FL

It pays to know the things that you should be careful about in hiring a DUI lawyer who would defend you in your DUI case in Palm Beach, Florida. There are some DUI lawyers who have deceptive advertising and you should be cautious about that. We can rightfully say that free market competition amongst lawyers is good but there are things that you should avoid.

Bait and switch applies to some law firms too. It is like meeting with a named DUI lawyer which is the one whose name appears on the door or in the yellow pages. Then that lawyer spends some time selling the services of his firm, hinting that he will be intricately involved in your DUI case. The lawyer has other highly skilled associate lawyers working for him/her and he/she will tell you that it is going to be a “team” effort. You have to ask that lead lawyer as to how many times will he/she will promise in writing to go to court with you. If the lawyer answers something like “we can’t promise that,” you can count that you’d never see that lawyer ever again after you give him/her your money.

I was charged with DUI here in Palm Beach, Florida and this is already my second arrest but the first one was dismissed. I didn’t hire a lawyer the first time I was arrested because I knew it will cost me too much money but I was lucky that I was not convicted. Now, could you tell me how important is having a DUI lawyer on my side?

Nick

Palm Beach, FL

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence, a Palm Beach, Florida DUI lawyer could help you to minimize the penalties imposed if convicted or even help you to successfully defend yourself against the charges. DUI lawyer responsibilities range from consulting clients when they are initially charged to seeing clients through their criminal trials and any administrative proceedings that take place. Qualified DUI lawyer would be able to counsel DUI defendants and educate them about what will take place. Knowing what constitutes DUI in Palm Beach, Florida and the penalties you may face is important for all drivers, so keep this information in mind.

The DUI lawyer would help you prepare for your case by reviewing evidence and gathering information that can be crucial to your situation. Having a qualified DUI lawyer on your side gives you a better chance of a positive outcome than representing yourself or working with a lawyer who does not specialize in DUI cases. Specialized DUI lawyers have more experience in handling DUI cases and also have access to a number of experts that can provide testimonies during your criminal trial.

• you can present your situation to the Palm Beach FL DUI attorney and they can figure out how serious your case is an explain what it means.
• they can help you understand DUI laws for Florida, and the consequences you will face if you are found guilty, as well as what your options might be for clearing your record.
• you can find out about the projected costs for your case, as well as payment plans.
• by speaking with your lawyer, you can find out if they’re the type of person you could cooperate with and whether they have knowledge about DUI situations.

Most DUI lawyers give free consultations, so you can go to as many as you want, although unless you have a lot of time to waste it’s best to pick and choose. You may even find, after your consultation, that you don’t even need a Palm Beach FL DUI attorney at all.