When Do You Need A DUI Attorney?

According to the United States Department of Transportation, there were more than 1.4 million DUI arrests in 2010, making it one of the highest arrest rates among all major crimes. Yet, many people arrested for DUI wonder if they need a DUI attorney to represent them when the time comes to go to court.

The answer to any questions related to whether you need a DUI law firm to represent you is an emphatic and resounding, "Yes!" You absolutely need a skilled DUI attorney on your side to represent your interest if you've been arrested for driving under the influence. Any time you are arrested for drunk driving is a good time to hire a DUI lawyer. It is especially critical to do so in the following situations.

When Accidents Occur as a Result of Driving Under the Influence

No matter how minor the accident appears to be, if there was a fender bender, a slight mishap, or a major mashup worthy of a demolition derby, you need to hire a DUI attorney if you were involved in an accident while under the influence — even if the other driver was the cause of the accident.

When Your Livelihood Involves Driving

DUI convictions are especially harmful to those who drive professionally. Whether you're a truck driver, bus driver, Uber driver, or simply make deliveries for your local pizza company, a DUI attorney may be able to bargain for a lesser charge on your behalf that might help spare your livelihood. They may be able to successfully argue various technicalities that result in charges being dropped completely.

When Someone Is Injured While You Were Driving Under the Influence

Accidents such as these can result in not only devastating criminal charges resulting in any one or all of the following:

• Steep fines.
• Suspended driver's license.
• Jail time.
• Permanent criminal record.

If someone is injured, or even killed as a result, you also face civil charges from the injured party of that person's survivors. In these cases, hiring a DUI attorney won't spare you from your responsibility. However, hiring a good DUI law firm can certainly help.

If you or someone you love has been arrested for driving under the influence, the most important thing you can do is hire a DUI attorney early so that your attorney can get to work quickly to reduce the impact this arrest will have on every aspect of your life. Reach out to a DUI attorney to learn more.