Brierwood Hills DUI Lawyer

If you have been caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, then you are probably afraid that consequences could severely damage your future. While your fears are justified, you can only help yourself by hiring a skilled Brierwood Hills DUI Lawyer. Below, we will discuss how DUI charges are prosecuted and how we can help your odds.

Understanding DUI Charges

DUI charges begin on the road. You are pulled over, ostensibly for a traffic violation, and the police officer has cause to believe that you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and this is why the violation occurred. A common example of a traffic violation resulting in a DUI charge is failing to maintain a lane.

The police will collect evidence including conducting roadside sobriety tests, breath tests, or blood tests, and the arresting officer will provide testimony against you in court. The prosecution still must meet their burden of proof and show that, beyond a reasonable doubt, you were operating your vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Many folks are under the erroneous impression that it is not worth fighting the charges if the police had chemical tests that can prove you were drunk. The truth of the matter is, these chemical tests prove far less than law enforcement would have us believe.

Understanding DUI Defenses

A skilled DUI attorney can ensure that the evidence against you is unimpeachable if the prosecution wants their conviction. Standard defenses to DUI charges include attacking the scientific evidence, raising procedural defenses (such as unlawful detention), and simply questioning whether the prosecution has enough evidence to convict.

In many cases, the evidence used against you will not be definitive. A skilled DUI attorney will explain the science behind breath tests, blood tests, and roadside sobriety tests to ensure the jury understands the shortcomings associated with these methods.

Consequences of a DUI Conviction

Before you plead guilty, you should contact an attorney. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, an attorney will help you protect the integrity of your defense. Second, just because you were driving under the influence of alcohol, it does not mean that you are guilty of the crime of DUI in Indiana. 

If you do not fight the charges, you can expect that there will be four categories of penalty that you will face. The first, of course, is criminal. You can be subject to fines, probation, and even jail time. Second, there are administrative penalties. These include license suspension or a requirement that you install an interlock ignition device on your vehicle. Third, there are civil penalties in the form of lawsuits against you for injuries or property damage. And lastly, your insurance premiums will skyrocket.

Before Pleading Guilty, Contact a Brierwood Hills DUI Lawyer

If you are facing DUI charges, do not plead guilty. All The Bellinger Law Office to look over the charges against you, investigate the incident, and at the very least, negotiate a reduced plea on your behalf that will not destroy your future decades down the line. Call today to learn more.