Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Blog
Do I Need an Attorney for a First DWI Charge?
In North Carolina, the legal limit for a driver age 21 or older is 0.08% BAC. A driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more is considered impaired. If you are stopped by police and the officer thinks you might have been drinking, they will ask you to do some field sobriety tests and may ask you to take a breath test. You could face DWI charges. Driving while impaired, DWI is a serious charge and one that will negatively impact your life if you are found guilty. You will want to consult with an experienced DWI attorney as soon as possible.
Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “How can an attorney help me with my DWI?”
How Will a DWI Attorney Help?
Getting arrested for DWI can be terrifying, and you may not know what to expect. The legal process can be daunting and a skilled criminal defense attorney will help alleviate your fears and make things easier. The potential consequences of a DWI conviction can be quite severe, and you will want a knowledgeable lawyer to lead your defense. Generally, those who have legal representation are more likely to achieve more favorable results than those who try to handle their own legal defense.
How Soon Should I Speak to an Attorney?
If you are arrested or charged with DWI, you will want to talk to a qualified criminal defense attorney immediately. Do not wait to contact a lawyer. Your lawyer will provide you with guidance for every step of the process. Importantly, your lawyer will work to protect your legal rights and will be with you when you meet with law enforcement personnel. The law allows you to remain silent, and you should always invoke that right until you have a lawyer present. Your attorney will also answer your questions and begin the defense process.
How Do I Choose a DWI Attorney?
You will want to choose a DWI attorney with knowledge and experience handling these types of cases. When choosing a DWI lawyer, you will want to seek a law firm that has worked on many similar cases. Consider a law firm that often deals with criminal defense. A lawyer who regularly defends DWI cases understands the process and knows the best options for obtaining reduced charges or lower sentences. Read reviews and testimonials to find out how other clients rate the law firm, particularly in regard to DWI cases.
Defending DWI Charges
There are various ways to defend a DWI offense and you will want to hire a lawyer who understands these options. If evidence is lacking or in situations where evidence was obtained improperly, your lawyer will request the evidence to be excluded. If the traffic stop was made illegally, the charges might be dropped. In some cases, your lawyer can facilitate a plea deal.
In the event that you might be found guilty of the charges, your attorney can help mitigate the sentence.
If you have been charged with DWI, the sooner you call a skilled attorney as soon as possible. Call us immediately at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to talk to our legal team.
The criminal defense attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC make it their mission to zealously defend their clients on a wide range of criminal matters at both the state and federal levels. These matters may include any charge from traffic offenses; DWI/DUI; drug charges (from simple possession to possession with intent to distribute and trafficking); gun permit denials; weapons offenses; and property crimes (larceny, breaking and entering, robbery, fraud, embezzlement, white collar offenses); to sexually related offenses (indecent exposure; sexual assault, crimes against nature, removal from sex offender registry); and violent crimes (domestic violence; assault; manslaughter; homicide, murder). Other legal issues that Arnold & Smith, PLLC criminal clients may be facing include restraining orders, restraining order and probation violations, expungements; appeals; and immigration issues related to criminal charges. Our criminal defense attorneys are passionate about ensuring that individuals empower themselves by being informed about their constitutional rights, and stand at the ready to fight in the defense of those facing criminal charges.
Source:
https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_20/gs_20-138.1.html
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/drinking-1327398
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