After being charged with driving under the influence, finding an attorney should be one of your top priorities and number-one goals. When you start your search for legal representation, you should look for an attorney who can help you with both the criminal and DMV proceedings against you. This is an important thing to inquire about for the following reasons and more.
Many Attorneys Help With Both Aspects of the Case
It should not be difficult for you to find a DUI attorney who will help you with both aspects of your case. After all, many attorneys do understand that their clients need representation for both aspects of the case. However, you shouldn't assume that your attorney will help you with both the criminal proceedings and the DMV proceedings; instead, during your consultation, you should ask about this. The consultation gives you a chance to ask about other things, too, such as how much you will be charged for your case, what you can expect when your case is being handled, and which steps you need to take yourself so that your case can be properly handled, too.
It's Important to Take the Criminal Proceedings Seriously
First and perhaps most importantly, you should be concerned about how you can be impacted by the criminal proceedings against you when you have been charged with a DUI. These are some of the possible things that you have to worry about in criminal court:
- Facing active jail or prison time
- Being put on probation
- Having a criminal record that could impact your life in various ways
- Being fined
Hopefully, your DUI attorney will be able to help you minimize the sentencing for the criminal aspect of your case.
It's Also Important to Take DMV Proceedings Seriously
Not only should you be concerned about the criminal proceedings against you, but you should also be concerned about the actions that the DMV might be taking against you. Even if you haven't been convicted yet, there is a chance that your driver's license has been temporarily suspended because of your DUI arrest. You might need to take action so that you can get your license back while you are awaiting your court date. Additionally, you may have to pay fees and fines, go to DMV hearings, and more. If you are convicted, you could lose your driver's license, and when you're eligible to get it back, you might have to go through a process. Fortunately, an experienced DUI attorney can help.
