How to Choose the Right DUI Lawyer in Florida

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol in Florida you may need an experienced DUI lawyer. There are things you need to know about the hiring process.

Penalties for drunk driving in Florida include a fine between $500 and $4,000, mandatory community service, probation, prison time, mandatory residential substance abuse program, revocation of driver’s license, and completion of DUI school.

This criminal charge is serious. Therefore, you should not try to represent yourself before the court or choose just any lawyer either. It is very important to choose the right drunk driving defense lawyer for your case.

One way to get the names of prospective lawyers is asking your friends, family members, and work colleagues whether they have a lawyer to recommend. In case they have, you’ll want to know what they know of the attorneys. Ask their strengths and weaknesses. Did they achieve the results they wanted? Would they retain the services of the lawyer again if needed?

In case you do not want to discuss your arrest with people you know, then it is recommended that you look for one online and read reviews of the clients that your prospective lawyer has worked with.

It is recommended that you find a lawyer who has worked with clients who face similar criminal charges of driving under the influence. It is also advantageous to get a lawyer who knows personnel at the court where your case will be heard. It is an advantage if the lawyer knows the prosecutor in your case. It is important to find out at the first meeting how frequent the attorney has appeared in the same courthouse to which your criminal case is assigned.

A DUI in Florida can lead you to three possible options: plead guilty to the charges, try to negotiate a plea agreement in which your guilty plea can be exchanged with a lesser charge, or plead not guilty and go to trial. Ask your lawyer for the consequences of each option.

Strategy for handling drunk driving charge will be unique to each case. For instance,  a Delray Beach DUI lawyer may have some DUI defense in case the police based their arrest on field sobriety tests like alcohol breath analyzer or witness testimony. After knowing the evidence against you, your lawyer will likely come up with a legal defense.

In so far as legal fees, ask your lawyer upfront about the billing methods. Usually it is either an hourly fee or a flat fee. Ask the lawyer about the other expenses you need to pay.