If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence (DUI), you are probably looking for tips on how to win your case so that you don’t go to jail or lose your license. You can attempt to fight the charges on your own, but hiring a Mechanicsburg DUI lawyer gives you the best opportunity to successfully fight your charges and achieve the best possible results.
Unfortunately, someone accused of a DUI faces enormous challenges in fighting their charges, mostly because of the bias surrounding this offense. A DUI defense attorney knows you’re not a bad person just because you’ve been charged with a DUI, and they know how to convince other people of that as well. You have to remove the bias behind a DUI to be successful in court.
Experience is the biggest advantage a DUI defense lawyer has when defending a DUI case. They know how to present your defense in the best light possible and the right questions to ask witnesses in the case so that weaknesses in the prosecution are revealed. DUI attorneys are skilled in de-emphasizing the facts in your case that are not in your favor while at the same time highlighting points that are in your favor. They can poke holes in the prosecution’s case.
Additionally, they know the rules of the court, such as when the defense is able to give a rebuttal to the prosecution’s case, whether you should take notes during the case, how to give jury instructions, how to dispute scientific evidence, and more. You simply don’t have enough time to become an expert in DUI law before your case shows up on the docket. Hiring a Cumberland County DUI lawyer gives you a head start in defending your case.
As the defendant in the case, you don’t necessarily have to appear for each hearing and procedure in your case. Your attorney will be able to represent you in many instances so you’ll be able to stay at work or spend time with your family instead of being in the courtroom. If you represent yourself, you’ll have to appear each and every time.
Evidence in a DUI case is critical, but you may not know what you need to obtain to bolster your case, and by the time you learn, it may be too late. For example, the police dashcam video could be critical to your defense, but if you don’t request it in a timely manner, the footage could be erased. A DUI defense attorney will not let this happen because they’re aware of the deadlines and procedures required to obtain evidence.
Moreover, DUI cases generate a ton of paperwork, some of which must be filed by specific dates to make sure your case is not dismissed. You don’t want to lose your case on a technicality. An attorney knows when documents must be filed and will ensure all deadlines are met. Organizing paperwork is not as easy as it sounds, but your DUI attorney has it down to a science, which makes you more prepared to face a jury.
It’s often forgotten that even in a DUI case, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and just because you were charged with a crime, doesn’t mean you actually committed one. Society is often too willing to convict people charged with DUI before they ever get their day in court. An experienced DUI defense attorney will make the jury understand that your guilt is not a foregone conclusion by presenting a comprehensive case that flows from one point to the next.
Once your Mechanicsburg DUI lawyer decides a strategy in your case, they will link all evidence back to the main defense, which could be any mitigating circumstance surrounding your case. Perhaps the field sobriety test was not performed correctly, or the breathalyzer results are questionable. Maybe you weren’t even drinking that night, but your behavior made someone think you had. Whatever the main defense is, all facts presented should support that defense and be kept in the front of jurists’ minds.
Jury selection is arguably the most important part of any DUI case for both the defense and the prosecution. An experienced DUI lawyer will know what jurist profile to look for when selecting those who will hear your case. This comes with years and years of practice, and if you try to select a jury yourself, you may not recognize when someone is chosen who could be detrimental to your case. You simply can’t take the chance of that happening.
One of the hardest things to do when you’re defending yourself against a DUI charge is staying quiet when you want everyone to know you’re not guilty. If you represent yourself, you’re likely going to want to take the stand, which can be a mistake in many cases. Your DUI defense lawyer will advise you when taking the stand is beneficial and when you are better off saying nothing. It’s difficult to remain calm during cross-examination, and that can hurt your case.
Sometimes, not going to court in front of a jury is the best thing that can happen in a DUI case. If it looks like you’re going to be convicted, your lawyer can negotiate with the prosecutor to get you the best deal possible. If it’s your first charge, your attorney might be able to keep you out of jail and allow you to keep your license by agreeing to attend alcohol classes and counseling or to perform community service.
In the event that you do not win your case, your attorney knows what to say and do to get you a lighter sentence than the maximum allowed under the law. If you are guilty of the DUI charge, a light sentence can be viewed as a win. Perhaps you won’t have to go to jail if you complete an alcohol treatment program, or maybe you can keep your license if you perform a certain amount of community service.
Sometimes, if your goals are to stay out of jail and keep your license, a conviction isn’t necessarily the end of the world, especially if your Cumberland County DUI lawyer can negotiate a light sentence. Plus, there may be ways to prevent future employers from seeing a DUI conviction on your record as well. Your attorney will advise you on what is the best path forward in your case and will fight for you to achieve your goals.
Even if you are eventually convicted of a DUI charge, an attorney can still help you by attempting to get your record expunged, which means it won’t negatively impact your employment or credit. It’s not easy to get a conviction expunged, and the procedures vary widely according to location, so having an attorney navigate this process is important. A DUI conviction should not ruin your life, and an attorney will do everything possible to prevent that from happening.
Whether you have a strong defense for your DUI case or you’re facing a sure conviction, a DUI attorney will help you navigate the process to get you the best possible outcome. Contact Jameson Stone Law today to learn how we can help you win your DUI case.