If you’ve been charged with drunk driving or driving under the influence of drugs, you’ll need a good DUI attorney to stand by your side and help with your defense. Even if you plan on pleading out your case, you will almost certainly get a better result if you have a good lawyer helping your through the process. But even if you are entirely innocent of the charges, you must never think about representing yourself in court. While having the public defender try your case isn’t the ideal by any means, it is still a far better choice than going in without any representation at all. Still, there are much better choices out there. Here’s how to find them Chicago nursing home abuse lawyer.
Before you get started on your search for a DUI attorney, there are some things you should keep in mind. It’s easy to become intimidated when you’re looking down the barrel at a determined prosecution, hostile police force, and a society that looks down on drunk driving. But you still have rights. One of those rights is the presumption of innocence. This means that any jury or judge must give you that presumption until the prosecution has proven their case or you have pled guilty. Another thing you must remember is that even if you are guilty of the charges, that doesn’t mean the police acted properly as they pulled you over and arrested you. If there can be shown to be a breakdown of your rights along the way, the charges may be invalid.
If you pop open the phone book, it won’t take long to realize that you have an enormous range of choice when it comes to hiring a lawyer. These choices will take many forms. The public defender, the dedicated DUI attorney, the general practitioner, and discount practitioners. Without question, you’re looking for someone who is dedicated to the type of case you’re involved in. They will have the experience, knowledge, and expertise to see you through the case. Avoid the discount practitioners if you can. You may not get results any better with one of these than you would if you had represented yourself. Take the public defender if you must, but if you can scrape together the money, it’s far preferable to find someone who can really make a difference.
While you should find a good DUI attorney as soon as you can, this doesn’t mean you should rush through the process. Meet with a few different lawyers, have a consultation (which will usually be free of charge), and make your decision with a clear head. It could be the most important one you make when it comes to preserving your rights and your freedom.