There can be nothing more frightening than the moment you realize you might be facing charges for driving while intoxicated. A simple mistake can lead to this terrifying moment, but the consequences can be life-changing. This happens all too frequently.
As the idea of a DUI case looms, you might feel completely uncertain about what it is you should do to help fight for your future. You might be trying to prove your innocence or make an argument for lighter punishment.
Either way, the path forward will be difficult and will require a clear head and the proper information. Need help knowing how to win your DUI case? Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know in the form of some key tips.
1. You Have the Right to Remain Silent
By the time you’re reading this, the opportunity to adjust your behavior when first stopped by the police might have passed. However, if there’s still an opportunity, there’s one thing you should remember in the moments after being pulled over: keep quiet.
You’ve heard it a million times on television and in movies, the specific portion of one’s Miranda rights: you have a right to remain silent, anything you do or say can be used against you in a court of law…
This is true! Anything you say to an officer during your interactions with them can be used against you later as evidence in your DUI case. The best thing you can do in this situation is to give the prosecutor as little evidence to work with later as possible.
That doesn’t mean to go completely mute. You’ll still need to comply with the officers in a polite and reasonable manner. However, you can decline to give information when asked and wait until you can speak to an attorney.
This idea extends past the traffic stop and includes any questioning you might face if you’re brought to the police department or put behind bars. The only thing you should be legally required to disclose is your name and current address.
Anything beyond that? Try to keep it to yourself.
2. Keep an Eye Out for Details
Many DUI cases are thrown out due to technicalities. If an officer makes a mistake at some point during the arrest and charging of an individual, there’s a chance that the whole case can be dropped entirely.
You might not know the laws that a police officer has to abide by off the top of your head. But if you can focus on the details of what’s happening as you’re charged and brought in, you can recount them to someone that does know better later on.
An experienced attorney might be able to get certain pieces of evidence thrown out or get the whole case dropped entirely depending on events that might have occurred.
Staying focused and mentally making note of how things proceed at the time of your arrest can do wonders for your case later on. If you can remember the names of the officers you come into contact with, even better.
3. Contact an Experienced DUI Attorney
Being charged with a DWI can be a very tricky situation. It can be a difficult charge to fight or negate the severity of the punishments involved. It’s certainly something that you won’t be able to do on your own without a deep knowledge of the law.
However, fighting a DUI charge can be essential for the well-being of your future. The punishments involved with even misdemeanor DWI charges can be debilitating to one’s life. You could owe thousands of dollars in fees and fines and spend months or even years behind bars.
This is why it is so important to contact a DUI attorney as soon as possible after being charged. If you can, you can call them from the police department.
An experienced attorney will have dealt with many cases just like yours before. They will know how to best approach the details of your case and design a strategy intended to help you prove your innocence or mitigate punishments leveled at you.
An experienced attorney might have prior relationships with judges and law officials and will know how best to present your case to them to ensure a positive result.
They will also be knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the justice system. A DUI case requires a lot of paperwork to be filed, deadlines to be met, and dates to keep track of. An attorney will help stay on top of this and will make sure your case proceeds as it should and that you put your best foot forward.
4. Gather More Evidence
With a DUI attorney at your side, you’ll work together to build a case that can help protect your future. That might mean gathering more evidence.
There are a lot of possible sources of evidence for your case that you might not have thought of.
Any surveillance cameras located at the location where you were drinking, on roadways you drove on, and near the area you were pulled over might provide evidence that can be helpful to your case.
Heading back to this route and making note of any all road conditions that might have contributed to one’s driving as well can also help your case in some situations. Construction, road issues, and other such factors all might be contributing evidence for your case. An attorney can help you determine how this evidence might best contribute to your legal strategy.
Understanding How to Win a DUI Case in TX
The state of Texas takes drinking and driving very seriously. If you’re about to proceed forward in a DUI case, it’s important you understand how the above tips can help lead you to a better final decision. Here are 7 things to look for in a DWI lawyer.
Need immediate help with your case? Learn more about me and see how I can help you get the outcome you deserve.