Getting a DUI can be a very traumatic event and without a proper defense it can cost you more than you may realize. In addition to the fines and penalties your DUI can have much more far reaching effects including losing your job. It is important that you mount a proper defense and in many cases where law enforcement has not followed the guidelines correctly your charges may even be dismissed with the assistance of a DUI attorney. The specific laws vary state to state, county to county and city to city so it is important that you consult with an attorney that handles cases in your area. Many times general information you find online will not apply to your location.
If you are convicted of a DUI the costs continue to mount. On top of the fines you pay in court you may also have to attend alcohol counseling whether or not you have a drinking problem and that costs you time and money. In many cases you will also have to pay probation and monitoring fees and fees when you are eligible to reinstate your license. It is very important that you select an experienced attorney that specializes in DUI/DWI defense. A general lawyer will not know all of the technicalities involved in a DUI case and will not be able to provide as thorough of a defense as a lawyer that works on DUI/DWI cases everyday. You should meet with more than one lawyer to discuss your case before you make a selection and chose the one you feel comfortable with defending you. The most expensive attorney is not always the best option and the least expensive can end up cost you the most in the long run. Choosing your attorney for your DUI defense is the most important choice you have to make after you are arrested for a DUI offense so take your time and think it through before committing to an attorney.
DUI Costs to consider:
- Fines
- Court Costs
- Bail / Bondsman Fees
- Towing / Impound Costs
- Lawyer Expenses
- Alcohol Treatment Program Costs
- Driver License Reinstatement Fees
- Lost Wages / Loss of Employment
- Higher Insurance Costs
DUI Facts:
- The majority of those who reported alcohol-related DUI in the 12 months prior to a national survey are not alcohol dependent or alcohol abusers.
- Beer is the drink most commonly consumed by people stopped for alcohol-impaired driving or involved in alcohol-related crashes.
- The speed of alcohol absorption affects the rate at which one becomes drunk. Unlike foods, alcohol does not have to be slowly digested. As a person drinks faster than the alcohol can be eliminated, the drug accumulates in the body, resulting in higher and higher levels of alcohol in the blood.
- Impairment is not determined by the type of drink, but rather by the amount of alcohol ingested over a specific period of time.
- The impact of alcohol involvement increases with injury severity. Alcohol-involved crashes accounted for 10 percent of property damage only crash costs, 21 percent of nonfatal injury crashes; and 46 percent of fatal injury crash costs.
- About three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.
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