DWI Lawyer in Asheville, NC
North Carolina is known to enact strict laws when it comes to DWI or DUI offenses. This should come as no surprise, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA has already reported on the rising number of deadly, alcohol-related traffic accidents in the state from 2014 to 2015. For those involved in a DUI offense, a conviction could spell imprisonment, license revocation, and enormous fines. If you are charged with DUI, your best course of action is to seek the help of a reliable DWI lawyer in Asheville, North Carolina.
Despite strict laws and penalties in North Carolina, there is always a chance that your DUI charges may be reduced or dropped. The difference between a hopeless drunk driving case and an optimistic one rests on the kind of North Carolina DWI lawyer that you hire.
The severity of a DWI charge doesn’t always translate to an outright conviction. Talk to a DWI lawyer today to learn more about your strongest defense options.
What to Consider When Hiring a DWI Attorney in Asheville, North Carolina
The costly nature of a DWI charge in North Carolina can be cumbersome for many. Although financial costs like fines and DWI attorneys’ fees will have to be factored in, it is clear that a DWI offense also carries more than just monetary repercussions. License revocations are common, and the stigma from a conviction may affect an individual’s career and job prospects.
With the help of a DWI lawyer, however, a severe drunk-driving offense can be dropped or reduced to a probationary sentencing.
To say that you need DWI lawyers to navigate through your DWI charges is an understatement. Before you can get the services of a DWI attorney, however, you will need to choose the right Asheville, North Carolina lawyer for your case.
Below, you will find some things to look for in a North Carolina DWI lawyer:
Go for a trusted DWI attorney with specific experience in drunk driving cases. It is good to choose someone who specializes only in these types of offenses, but you may also want to consider hiring someone who has broad experience in criminal offenses and has the ability to defend you in a criminal court.
DWI laws may differ from county to county and from state to state. Although DWI attorneys who practice across different states are not unheard of, a lawyer who practices in your state or county may be more familiar with its rules and penalties regarding a DWI or DUI charge. For your drunk driving offense in Asheville, NC, it is best to reach out to a DWI lawyer who practices in North Carolina or in Asheville, specifically.
As much as possible, don’t hire a DWI lawyer without first seeing if you can schedule a meeting with them. There are various DWI lawyers in North Carolina who offer free consultations. Take advantage of these offers. It is better to sit down and weigh your options first than to rush into choosing an incompetent legal representative and end up changing your DWI attorney mid-trial.
Prior to hiring a DWI attorney, you can also try getting recommendations and reviews from people who have experienced DWI charges in your county or state. Word-of-mouth recommendations are still one of the best ways to review a product or service. When it comes to obtaining legal services, endorsements from previous clients can be a reliable basis.
Finally, DWI lawyers’ fees should be a point of consideration in your choice of a legal defense counsel. It is best to inquire about these fees before you make a hire. You also have to be wary about lawyers who charge fees that are too low. A DWI lawyer who plans to commit to your case from the very first day understands that their services deserve fair compensation.
It will also be best to arm yourself with questions prior to hiring a DWI attorney. Many defense representatives offer consultations free of charge. In addition to inquiring about the possible strengths and weaknesses of your case, you may also use this consultation time to learn more about the criminal defense lawyer, including their background in handling DUI cases.
Some important questions to ask are as follows:
What is your prior experience in DWI law? Do you also handle other criminal cases?
Have you handled DWI cases specifically in relation to Asheville, North Carolina DUI laws?
How often will we be able to meet personally for discussions and updates?
How often will you be physically available for court hearings?
Do you practice in this state or county, or do you also travel across states to work with other clients?
After my failed sobriety test, do you think these charges will stand a chance of getting dropped?
Will my charges mean an automatic revocation of my license?
How much will you charge as an upfront fee and for other court and hearing fees?
When you finally meet with DWI attorneys, preparation on your part will be crucial. Here, you can ask questions pertaining to your case as well as the lawyer’s experience and expertise. You will also want to take down notes during the consultation.
Bringing the following with you may be helpful:
Reports obtained from the police, if any
List of eyewitness and victim names, if any
A court document that outlines the DWI charges
The schedule for the next court date
Bail documents
It is important that your DWI lawyer examine the facts of your case and discuss the possible penalties that you may face.
Clearly, DWI defense requires reliable legal representation. There has to be no shortcuts in choosing a lawyer who will lead the legal defense battle for you, both criminally and administratively.
The DWI Penalties in Asheville, NC That Your DWI Lawyer Will Explain to You
In North Carolina, as in many other states, DUI and DWI offenses are taken very seriously. These criminal offenses will potentially alter the lives of the offenders, affecting their ability to look for jobs or gain custody of their children.
Having a BAC (blood-alcohol concentration) of 0.04% to 0.08% can land you a DUI charge in the state. If your BAC is higher than 0.08%, the charges could be even more serious. Other elements that the state will factor into the classification of the offense include the following: possible mental or physical impairment, the age of the offender, the occupation of the offender, and any DWI conviction prior to the present offense.
It is at this point that you need a DWI lawyer who will explain which classification you belong to as an offender based on your offense number and the severity of your offense on the sliding scale.
In terms of penalties, there may be variations according to your age, the type of license you carry, and the type or number of offense (first, second, or third). Nonetheless, the kinds of penalties are more or less the same. These include fine payments, license suspension, imprisonment, community service, and participation in an alcohol and drug assessment program.
In less severe cases, the imprisonment may be suspended, and the offender may seek for a driving privilege that allows him or her to drive the vehicle for a few hours within a day despite a license suspension.
A typical DUI offense in North Carolina involves both criminal and administrative penalties. Criminal penalties refer to jail sentences that could span anywhere from 24 hours of imprisonment to three years of jail time for the most serious cases. The administrative penalties sanctioned by the North Carolina Department of Transportation involve license revocation of anywhere from 30 days to a full year. In the most severe offenses, the judge may order for the seizure of the vehicle involved in the DUI.
Because of the severity of these penalties, it is important to reach out to a DWI lawyer as soon as possible. No matter if this is your first or third offense, an experienced DWI lawyer can ensure you receive a fair trial and can examine your case to see if your charges can be reduced or eliminated.
How Will DWI Lawyers Help Get My Life Back on Track After a DWI Charge?
The far-reaching consequences of a DWI conviction are many. Some of the long-term effects of a DUI conviction often include more exorbitant car insurance rates, lost job prospects and opportunities, and restricted overseas travel.
Once your license is revoked, your driving privileges will soon follow suit. Your driving record will bear a black spot as an indication of your offense if your conviction is considered a felony. The most severe DWI cases can even lead to a lifetime of license revocation. And the worst of all is that a conviction usually translates to a criminal record.
Despite having been minimized, a previous offense may result in steep car insurance challenges. There are instances when offenders were denied car insurance policies or granted only the highest insurance rates. After your driving classification is considered high-risk, your car insurance policies may easily be up to $10,000 per year.
However, the help of DWI lawyers means that a DWI charge will not necessarily result in the worst possible scenario.
Your DWI lawyer can still take strategic steps to keep your license from being revoked. It is important for your DWI attorney to determine the events that took place during your arrest and see whether some of the officer’s actions may be put into question. Furthermore, your DWI lawyer will help to ensure that you attend and are prepared for the first administrative hearing of your case. Usually, this will determine whether or not your license is suspended.
How a DWI Attorney May Help Despite a Failed Sobriety Test in Asheville, NC
You may think that a failed field test for sobriety can spell the end. On the contrary, it doesn’t have to be the case. It is always possible to contest a failed sobriety test with the help of a reliable DWI lawyer.
Although the BAC percentage can be an indicator of inebriation, there are other factors that typically affect test results. It is possible, for example, for a driver to suffer from certain physical impairments that hinder a successful field sobriety test. Another case is if the driver has taken any type of medication that inadvertently increases the BAC percentage results.
There are also instances of questionable or unfair test administrations by law enforcers. If camera footage is obtained and the authorities are found to have violated certain test procedures, the results may be questioned in court.
Additionally, North Carolina penalties are dependent on the number of the offense. This means that for first DWI offenses, there is a higher chance for the charges to be significantly minimized or completely dropped. For second and third offenses, the state will have to classify them according to levels, with Level 1 as the most severe and Level 5 as the least serious.
All of these possible scenarios may be compiled and studied by your DWI lawyer in order to plan a defense strategy that will cause the failed test results to be dismissed. The important thing is to work with a DWI attorney at the earliest time as is possible. This will help avoid any legal mishap that may affect the successful outcome of a DWI case.
Hire a Trusted DWI Lawyer for Your Drunk Driving Charges in North Carolina
A drunk-driving charge can change your life for the worse in just one moment of negligence.
Whether you have failed a sobriety test or any field test for the first time or have had DWI charges in the past, one thing remains clear: You need a reliable defense counsel to work on your case.
Consult with an Asheville, North Carolina DWI Lawyer Today
Anyone at the receiving end of a DWI charge will find it difficult to navigate through rough legal waters without the help of a trusted DWI lawyer. Drunk driving laws are often complicated, and in most cases, a defendant and his lawyer need to have an early start on a well-planned defense.
If you or a family member is going through a DUI case in Asheville, NC, don’t hesitate to seek the services of a legal representative. Talk to a DWI lawyer in North Carolina to get an early start on your case today.
