Typically, dealing with serious criminal cases, such as DUI charges, can be an overwhelming experience for you and your loved ones. There are many things to consider, and some of them are the legal consequences in case you’re convicted of the crime charged against you. Moreover, you might be wondering when you should contact a lawyer who can guide and defend your rights in the courts of law.

Continue reading this article to help you determine at what point you should hire a criminal defense lawyer. 

When You’re Arrested And Under Investigation 

DUI (Driving Under The Influence) charge is one of the most common criminal charges you might have to deal with. Since it carries serious penalties when convicted, hiring someone to protect your rights is extremely important. 

If you don’t understand how a DUI conviction can result in the loss of a professional driver’s license, payment of hefty fines, jail time, and many more, a criminal defense lawyer can help you. 

For instance, being investigated and arrested for a DUI charge requires the assistance of a lawyer. Although the police authorities might tell you that a legal counsel isn’t needed for the preliminary investigation process, you should have someone on your side to make sure all your constitutional rights are. In some cases, the investigators might trick you in providing answers that can be used as evidence against you later on. For that reason, you should hire a criminal defense attorney at this stage. 

Remember, lawyers are trained to know and understand the legal system, and as such, their presence during the investigation can help reduce or eliminate your DUI charge.   

When You Undergo The Criminal Trial Process

If you’ve decided to defend yourself against a DUI charge in court, you should be equipped with the fundamentals of the criminal trial process. This is where hiring a criminal defense lawyer becomes beneficial. Using their expertise in the criminal justice system, they can protect you while you’re being tried in court. 

Use An Expert Witness

Most DUI trials observe specific scientific measurements to require the presence of an expert witness or a person who has expertise in a particular field to prove the charge against you. Thus, if you want to give cast doubt on what this witness has to say in court, your experienced criminal defense lawyer will not also hesitate to bring an expert to build your defense instead of depending on cross-examinations. 

This can be a solid defense strategy your legal counsel can make to protect your rights and get the best outcome possible. 

File A Motion To Suppress Evidence

Another instance when you need the assistance of a dedicated criminal defense lawyer is the filing of a motion to suppress evidence. If you believe that the law enforcement authorities have no probable cause to arrest you of DUI and that the evidence was obtained through force, threat, or intimidation, then you should work with your legal counsel to help you suppress all pieces of evidence against you. 

However, it’s important to note that motions to suppress evidence in DUI charges are highly technical and complicated since it involves the cross-examination of the arresting police officer. In such a case, you shouldn’t try to handle the process by yourself. Instead, hire an experienced lawyer to do it for you. 

File A Motion To Strike A Prior Conviction

Typically, if you’re convicted with a second or third DUI offense, you’ll suffer more severe penalties than what you get for your first offense. To get a heavier penalty, you should have a prior DUI conviction against you. 

However, if you’ve been charged for a DUI offense for the second time and you admit it, you might not be able to question their validity based on the technicalities. This is where the filing of a motion to strike a prior conviction comes into play. 

When you request for the striking out of your previous conviction, you’ll obtain a less severe penalty for the current charge. Just like the motions to suppress evidence, this procedure is also technical and requires the expertise of a criminal defense lawyer. 

Prepare Your Testimony

You, as the accused, is the only person who can contradict the police authorities’ version of events. Therefore, if you’ll take the witness stand and you want to convince the jury of your defense, working with a lawyer can be beneficial. 

They can help ensure the viability of your testimony and improve your composure and expressive skills while sitting at the witness stand. 

Conclusion

With the information presented above, you’ll know when’s the right time to hire a criminal defense lawyer for DUI charges and other offenses. Remember, getting a lawyer means having an advocate on your side who can fight for your rights under the law. 

The earlier you retain your lawyer, the lesser the risk of going through all the legal processes alone.