The police receive specialized training to detect and arrest drunk drivers. In addition, state prosecutors are highly motivated to convict those who are facing DUI charges. Therefore, if you have been arrested and charged with DUI, you are facing an uphill battle. And trying to represent yourself in your criminal case can only make things more difficult. Fortunately, with the assistance of a criminal defense attorney, your odds of a successful outcome in your DUI case substantially improve. In this article, we discuss how an attorney can help you in your DUI case.
Investigating the Arrest
First, a DUI attorney will review your arrest report to determine if the officer adhered to the law during your arrest. If the officer improperly pulled you over or failed to follow other procedures, then this can result in the dismissal of your case.
Reviewing Chemical Tests
Next, your lawyer will review the results of any blood or breath tests that you submitted to at the time of your arrest. If the breathalyzer wasn’t properly calibrated or maintained at the time you took the test, or if proper procedures weren’t followed during the administration of a chemical test, then your attorney will seek to have the test results excluded from evidence at trial.
Identifying Additional Defenses
Depending on the facts of your case, your criminal defense attorney may be able to assert additional defenses on your behalf. For example, when an intoxicated person is found alone in a vehicle, the arresting officer typically assumes that he or she was driving. However, the prosecution must prove that a person was driving with an over-the-limit blood alcohol concentration to obtain a conviction. In this situation, your attorney would deny that you were driving at the time of your arrest and present evidence to refute the prosecution’s claim.
Negotiating
Most DUI cases never make it to trial. In fact, the majority of criminal cases either result in plea bargains or are dismissed. If a dismissal is not an option in your case, your attorney will advise you on the pros and cons of accepting a plea bargain. If you determine that a plea bargain is in your best interests, your attorney will negotiate on your behalf to obtain the best outcome possible. When doing so, based on the available evidence, your lawyer will highlight the weaknesses in the prosecution’s case against you. Generally, the weaker the case against you, the better the deal you can expect to get.
Contact a Virginia Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you have been arrested for DUI in Virginia, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side. At Walker Jones, PC, our experienced and knowledgeable DUI defense lawyers are here to defend you against your DUI charge. When you come to us for assistance, we will do everything possible to obtain a successful result in your Virginia DUI case. Please contact us today to arrange a free consultation with one of our talented DUI defense attorneys.