Clients facing charges for driving under the influence (DUI) are often unsure how to go about hiring an attorney to represent them in court and in their DMV hearing, especially if the DUI arrest is their first encounter with the legal system. Grappling with a DUI is frightening and stressful as it is.
Finding and hiring an attorney after the initial shock of a DUI arrest may seem like an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be. If you have been arrested for a DUI, you need an attorney on your side who specializes in DUI defense and knows the ins and outs of California DUI laws.
Our DUI attorneys at Los Angeles Criminal Attorneys know what it takes to win a DUI case, and we can help you fight the charges and take back your life. Contact Perlman & Cohen today to schedule a free DUI case evaluation.
It is against California law to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, or 0.04% or higher for commercial vehicle drivers. Most DUI arrests in California begin with a traffic stop or a DUI checkpoint where police stop and inspect all or most of the vehicles and drivers traveling along that route.
If the police pull you over and have reason to believe that you are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, they may ask you to take a breathalyzer test or perform a series of field sobriety tests. If you are arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles, you need a competent and capable attorney who will fight to get the DUI charges reduced or dropped.
Your top priority when facing DUI charges should be to safeguard your driver’s license and your future, and a skilled DUI attorney can help.
When hiring a DUI attorney, you should feel confident that your attorney will advocate for you and represent your best interests throughout the duration of your case, which is why it is important to ask the right questions during your initial consultation. The following are some examples of questions you will want answered before you make the decision to retain a DUI attorney:
When you choose Los Angeles Criminal Attorneys, you will leave your consultation with a clear understanding of our extensive experience in handling DUI cases and our skill and commitment to defending your rights.
You will also have an idea of what potential outcomes you can expect, including what penalties you could face for your DUI charges and what strategies we believe will be most effective in defending you against the charges.
California DUI charges carry harsh penalties that can affect your life for years to come, even as a first-time offender. Depending on the circumstances of your case, you could serve time in jail and face hefty fines upon conviction.
You could also lose your license for months or even years and be required to complete mandatory DUI classes and install an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle once your license is reinstated.
Felony DUI charges carry far more severe penalties, particularly if someone is injured or killed in a DUI accident. If you are found guilty of DUI in California, the conviction will go on your permanent record and be accessible to potential landlords, employers, or anyone else who runs a routine background check on you, which could have a significant impact on your future housing and employment prospects.
With these possible outcomes in mind, the last thing you want to do is leave your future in the hands of a novice attorney who has minimal experience handling DUI cases in Los Angeles. Attorneys Daniel Perlman and Matthew Cohen have years of experience practicing DUI defense in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas and can significantly improve your chances of achieving a favorable result in your DUI case.
The main benefit of obtaining legal representation following a DUI arrest or criminal charge is that your attorney will get to work right away protecting your rights, requesting a DUI hearing with the DMV, and preparing your defense. You do have the right to represent yourself in your California DUI case.
However, it is in your best interest to entrust your case to an experienced criminal defense attorney who can handle all aspects of your defense, from dealing with the DMV, to gathering evidence and statements from witnesses, to pinpointing holes in the prosecution’s case.
For misdemeanor DUI charges, your defense attorney may even be able to appear on your behalf at your court dates, to minimize the amount of time you have to spend in court.
If you have been arrested for a DUI in Los Angeles, your situation may seem hopeless, but that is rarely the case with California DUIs. Mistakes are made, investigations are mishandled, and evidence is sometimes tainted.
To maximize your chances of beating DUI charges in Los Angeles and moving on with your life, you will want a DUI attorney on your side who has a good reputation within the legal community and a relationship with the judges and attorneys in the district where your case will be heard.
No one plans to be arrested for or charged with a DUI, and the aftermath of a DUI arrest can be confusing and stressful, which is one of the many reasons you need a reputable DUI attorney in your corner. At Los Angeles Criminal Attorneys, we know how devastating a DUI charge can be, and we will do everything in our power to help you achieve the best possible resolution to your California DUI case. We will work tirelessly to serve your best interests, so don’t hesitate to call.
