7 Ways a DWI Attorney Can Help You With a DWI Charge

Every year, around 1.5 million drivers are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Did you recently receive a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charge?

If so, it’s wise to seek legal representation right away. While you can navigate the charge on your own, having a lawyer on your side can help improve the outcome of your case.

Wondering how a DWI attorney can help? Read on. Today, we’re sharing seven reasons to call our team today.

1. Expert Case Review

For your charge to have any ground in court, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol.

A DWI attorney is well-versed in police officer rights and responsibilities.

They can examine every detail surrounding your traffic stop to make sure those duties were properly carried out. This means looking for any area in which your arresting officer might have infringed upon your rights or otherwise broken code of conduct.

If the evidence gathering process was improper or unfair, they can file a motion to suppress it. In some cases, this can lead to a full case dismissal.

2. Judicial System Knowledge

Unless you’re in the legal field, the judicial system can be overwhelming, full of jargon and difficult to understand. You might feel pressured to sign documents or agree to terms that you don’t fully comprehend.

A DWI attorney can walk you through the entire process, from start to finish. They are deeply familiar with how the court systems work and can ensure that your rights are always upheld at every step.

If you have any questions about the proceedings, they’ll be on hand to offer professional counsel to put your mind at ease.

3. Access to Expert Witnesses

An experienced DWI attorney will have access to expert witnesses who can help in your case.

These professionals have expertise in a specific field based on their education, training, and job experience. These might include field sobriety experts, forensic toxicologists, law enforcement officials and more. 

They can help explain certain factors that might influence your case outcome, including medical, scientific or environmental data. As a result, their expert opinion can help:

• Support your case defense
• Challenges the prosecutor’s case
• Expose faults in the state’s evidence
• Convince a prosecutor to dismiss or reduce your charges

4. Driving Privilege Protection

When you’re charged with a DWI, the arresting officer will confiscate your license on the spot, replacing it with a Notice of Suspension. This is a 40-day temporary license that precedes an automatic suspension.

If you’re a first-time offender, this suspension could last between 90 days and one year.

If you refused to submit to a blood or breath test or your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) registered .15 or more, it could last up to two years. It could also last up to two years if you’ve had at least one prior DWI conviction on your record in the past 10 years.

A DWI lawyer knows this and will act fast.

Your attorney can request an Administrative License Revocation (ALR) hearing within 15 days of your arrest.

At this hearing, your team will scrutinize every detail surrounding your case, including arresting officer behavior. They can contest your license revocation or seek certain limited privileges, helping you get back on the road quicker.

5. Field Sobriety Test Knowledge

If you were asked to perform a field sobriety test prior to your arrest, your future could hinge on those results.

A DWI attorney knows precisely how these tests work. They also know that sometimes they can be skewed, misread or tampered with. Using this knowledge, they can thoroughly examine your test results to ensure they’re 100% accurate.

If there are any holes in the way the test was administered or handled, they can have the data eliminated from your evidence, strengthening your case.

6. Fine and Jail Time Reduction

Your DWI attorney is skilled in the art of negotiation. If you are found guilty of driving while intoxicated, they can work with the prosecution to negotiate a reduction in your fines or jail time. 

In some cases, this can help keep a DWI from going on your permanent record.

A criminal record can affect your current and future employability, as well as increase your insurance premiums. Your attorney may be able to reduce the sentence to community service or allow you to pay other fines to keep the information private.

7. Monetary Savings

Considering hiring a DWI lawyer, but concerned about the legal fees? In reality, working with a lawyer can result in major cost savings compared to tackling the case on your own.

When you handle the case yourself, you’re responsible for handling all of the administrative and investigative tasks. This means you’re the one hiring expert witnesses, conducting investigations, and building your defense. 

All of these tasks add up and cost more than you might think. Knowing this, hiring a lawyer to take care of all the legwork for you is more than worth it.

Do You Need a Houston DWI Attorney?

A DWI charge doesn’t have to be the end of the road.

If you’ve been convicted of driving while intoxicated, you have rights and we’ll help you fight for them. 

While internet research can help you understand more about how the Texas state court system works, it can’t equip you to fight a charge on your own. Only an experienced DWI attorney knows the system forward and backward, with years and even decades of law experience on their side.

If you are charged with a DWI in Houston, it’s time to get in touch with a Houston criminal defense attorney who can start on your case right away. Time is of the essence, and there’s none to waste.

Contact the offices of Christopher T. Gore to set up a consultation and learn more about how we can take these next steps forward together.