I was charged with DUI here in Kent, Washington and everyone is telling me that I should hire a lawyer. To save a lot of money, why can’t I just represent myself?

Howard

Kent, WA

Yes, you may be saving a lot of money without a lawyer by representing yourself in your DUI case in Kent, Washington but this could give you a risk of spending a lot more money later on if you lose your DUI case. An old saying that says, “He who represents himself has a fool for a client,” could be true for most criminal cases. It would be almost never a good idea to respond to a criminal charge like DUI without a good, experienced lawyer because a DUI case is such a specialized and technical matter.

An experience DUI lawyer could spot and develop the favorable issues in your DUI case. The DUI lawyer could also assess the value of your DUI case in the particular court and community where it is being heard and he/she could also negotiate the deal that would have the least harmful impact on your particular life situation. No matter how bright you may be, or how much Nolo reading you do, a lay person accused of DUI is almost never gonna be able to do this as effectively as a skilled DUI defense lawyer.

I got charged with DUI in Washington and it seems impossible for me to get out of this. Would it still be possible for me to win my case or shall I just give it up?

Mae

Bellevue, WA

Nothing would be impossible and anything could still happen if you try to fight your DUI case in Washington. All you need is a DUI lawyer who has an extensive track record of fighting and winning DUI cases. Through an experienced DUI lawyer, it’s not only possible to get DUI charges reduced to a lesser offense, but in some cases, a good DUI lawyer can be able to get them dismissed entirely. The DUI lawyer can also be able to put up DUI defenses applicable in your case. The line of DUI defense includes arguing constitutional violations and challenging blood alcohol content test results.

A DUI specialist would systematically review police reports for any lapses and inconsistencies in procedure. The DUI lawyer could also request complete disclosure concerning the machine used to test your blood alcohol level, the lab certification and the personnel involved in the maintenance and operation of the machine. With all these DUI defenses and more, you don’t have to think that it would be impossible for you to get out of your DUI charge.

I would not know what to do if I will be arrested for DUI in Washington because I haven’t experienced it and I don’t know anyone who already has. Can I contact a lawyer before deciding to take the blood or breath test or will they take it as a refusal?

Dan

Tacoma, WA

If you will be arrested for DUI in Tacoma, Washington, you should tell the officer that you are not refusing to take the blood or breath test, only that you want to talk to a lawyer before making the decision. This answer would demonstrate that you have the normal use of your mental faculties and most of the jurors will think that is what they would want to do if they were under arrest for DUI.

But Washington State DUI laws state that the person making the arrest shall take the arrested person or have him taken without unnecessary delay before a magistrate. The magistrate should then inform the person arrested what he/she is being charged with and his/her rights to hire a lawyer, remain silent, have a lawyer present during any interview with peace officer or attorneys representing the state, terminate the interview at anytime, request appointment of a lawyer if they cannot afford one and an examining trial. Therefore, an officer is being unfair if he/she tells you that you don’t have a right to a lawyer if you have already been arrested for DUI.

I know that it is necessary for me to get a DUI lawyer to defend me in my DUI case here in Washington. But what are the things that I need to know when hiring a DUI lawyer?

Stephanie

Enumclaw Plateau, WA

The first thing that you would need to take note when hiring a lawyer to defend you on your DUI case in Washington is that the lawyer practices mainly on DUI cases. A lawyer who focuses his/her attention in DUI cases is what your really need because this kind of has knowledge and materials necessary for you to fight your DUI charge.

Next is that you also have to know if the lawyer is trustworthy. We know that some lawyers have a reputation for being money-hungry fast talkers. So, would you be comfortable in talking with this person? Make sure that the lawyer treat you with respect and is patient and upfront with you. If you don’t feel that the conversation is right, chances are that lawyer is not the one for you. Also, the DUI lawyer should explain exactly what he/she will do for you and would let you know if there are any extra charges for certain services, also known as “hidden fees.”

My son has been arrested because of a DUI offense in Everett, Washington. Many have emphasized about the importance of getting a lawyer to represent him on his case. But what can a lawyer do in my son’s case if they have hard evidence against him?

Fallon

Everett, WA

You should take your chances on your son’s case, Fallon, even if you think they have hard evidence against him. That’s more reason to get a good DUI lawyer to defend your son on his DUI case in Everett, Washington. The laws in the state of Washington are constantly under review and augments and revisions are constantly pending. You have to keep in mind that the consequences for DUI conviction have become very onerous so the old adage of “get a good lawyer” still holds true. Just think hard about this, your son’s financial well being, maybe including yours, as well as his mental well being is at stake.

Your son is risking much more than a differential in paying higher fines. He could be risking his liberty and his driving rights for many years, if not permanently that’s why having a qualified and competent Washington DUI lawyer is very critical at this point. Finding a DUI lawyer is not difficult and even negotiating a competitive rate is attainable because they know you can go just down the corridor. The bottom line here is the end result and the status of your son’s life going forward.

They say that I would have to hire a lawyer to represent me in my DUI case in Washington. I’m still thinking twice in doing so because it may cost me a lot of money. Is it really expensive to hire a DUI lawyer?

Evan

Yakima, WA

People caught operating a motor vehicle who are driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol are charged with a criminal offense. It is unlawful to drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the state of Washington. Compared to other lawyers, DUI lawyers have a detailed knowledge of DUI laws and have a good experience in handling DUI cases. They are familiar with all the nuances and particulars involved with DUI offenses. People involved in DUI cases are strongly advised to consult and hire the services of an experienced and well-qualified attorney because the law enforces harsh measures on offenders.

The fee actually depends on the arrangement. Make sure that the fees fully clarified and are set in a written contract to protect yourself. Some DUI lawyers ask for an initial retainer. Some give ‘all-inclusive’ packages, but be careful with this kind of lawyer. You always have to make sure that the package covers extra costs such as those related to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) license hearing, the fee for the expert witness, fees for blood reanalysis (if needed) and subpoena costs, among others. In general, DUI lawyers charge $500-$1,000 but it may go up in cases of repeat offense.

Do I have a right to an attorney when I am stopped for a DWI investigation by the Washington police?

Mark

Bellingham, WA

The law in Washington provides that all people brought to a halt for driving with Intoxication initially do not have the privilege to an attorney. In actual fact, you do not have a privilege to even talk to a lawyer until after the primary investigation on the street of Washington is complete and you have been brought to jail. Most citizens of Washington do not comprehend that subsequent to their arrest, in which they are not at liberty to speak to a lawyer when confronted with the decision of taking or refusing a blood, breath or urine test. Keep in mind, that it is still a best to request an attorney when you are first stopped by the police and you want to continue requesting to speak with your lawyer before continuing further with any of the law enforcement officer’s other other requests. Requesting to speak to an attorney is one way of protecting yourself. The hired attorney will help you go through the process while the investigation is on going. The lawyer can help you a great deal with the investigation by representing you in court or just simply to talk to the law enforcements. The attorney can also help clarify and explain the law regarding DWI especially if you don’t know anything.

The agreement will tell you what your Bellevue Washington DWI lawyer is able to do for you, and at what price. It will include payment method, charges, and information on what your responsibilities are with the case that you need to do so that your lawyer can do what they need to do. Ask these questions:

• What will you be charging me for representation? How?
• In what way will I pay? Will you charge interest?
• Is a down payment required?
• Do charges vary? How?
• Is this fee agreement an estimate or a set quote?
• How high can it go? How low?
• How can I keep it as low as possible?

I see the phrase AV rated Kent Washington DUI lawyer a lot. What does this mean, that the lawyer has an AV rating?

Jenny

Kent Washington

Glad you asked.

An AV rating is simply that–a rating, and just because you see an AV rated Kent Washington DUI lawyer doesn’t mean you should jump immediately into their client pool, as these ratings can be both good and bad.

AV ratings are a system of ratings that are determined by lawyers to rate other lawyes, so someone who is AV rated has been judged by the law community. There are many things which may influence an AV rating, but the most important ones are a lawyer’s type and level of experience, and how good they are at defending their clients.

Typically, the highest rated AV rated Kent Washington DUI lawyer will also have high prices, since, well, they can. Because of this, you should probably only hire one if you have a ton of money or in very bad circumstances. Even so, there are many ways that an expensive attorney might be able to help you pay out what you owe.

–Fashun.

• Often times, a Washington DUI lawyer will send an assistant to do consultations while they get other work done. Don’t go to some incredibly busy office where this is necessary, but someone not to small and not too big you can speak to personally.
• Request a fee agreement and discuss it in detail with the lawyer. This is an estimate and could change, so talk about possible changes in charges as well.
• Check out the office and see what kind of degrees the lawyer has. Get numbers concerning the percentage of cases the lawyer takes on concerning DUI, and make sure you know how they usually end up.