The Importance of Hiring Experienced DWI Attorneys in Harris County

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You’ve been charged with a DWI, what do you do next? Simply put: hire a DWI attorney.

DWI cases have strict timelines and deadlines, especially if your license was taken for any reason. This is why understanding your rights and the law in your particular county is vital to defending your case. Due to the intricacies of the law and the unique details of each case, it’s best to have a lawyer on your side who will explain your rights and will challenge the State’s case against you. While there are many attorneys in Harris County, Andreea Ionescu has unmatched expertise in these cases. As a former prosecutor, Andreea understands the processes and protocols police officers and the district attorneys are required to follow. Her unique perspective from handling hundreds of cases gives her the uncanny ability to spot inconsistencies in the evidence quickly, leading to the best possible results for her clients. 

As you begin this process, it’s imperative that you understand the basics of the case against you so that you and your lawyer can mount the best possible defense. 

DWI vs. DUI

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is charged when someone over the age of 21 has been drinking and their alcohol content is above the legal limit, .08% or higher. Similarly, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is when someone under the age of 21 is found with alcohol in their system. If arrested for a DWI or DUI in Harris County, know that you can fight these charges. 

After being arrested and charged with a DWI or DUI, it is essential to find a lawyer to represent you who understands these types of cases. There are many websites out there that will tell you information on DWIs or DUIs and you might be tempted to fight the charges yourself. Choosing to defend yourself can cost you time, energy, money, and can end up leaving a mark on your permanent record that could come up when pursuing future employment. Instead of leaving these severe charges to chance, it’s best to hire a knowledgeable lawyer who will fight for your rights. 

Getting the Case Dismissed

“She got my cases dismissed. She told me that the process would be long, but to be patient. It paid off!” Vivi Lewis 

The best DWI attorneys in Houstonwill examine the merits of your case and determine which course of action to take. In most cases, they will try for the best possible outcome: a dismissal of the case. A case can be dismissed if your defense attorney gets a vital piece of evidence suppressed, leaving the prosecution with no choice but a dismissal.

If, as they examine the State’s case against you, your lawyer decided that dismissal is impossible, they will come up with a strategy that gives you the best chance at getting the charges against you reduced. If a plea agreement isn’t reached, then they will go with you to court with the best strategy for your specific case. 

Examining the Evidence

After you hire a lawyer to represent your case, they will begin pouring over the evidence against you. They will look at the recording of the traffic stop and the subsequent interaction between you and the police officer who pulled you over. If there is no probable cause for the traffic stop, such as a traffic violation or a concern for your safety, the prosecution’s case can be damaged. Anything said to the officer during the course of the stop or the resulting investigation can be used in the State’s case against you, so your lawyers will need to find a way to mitigate the damage from any information shared, even if you shared it innocently. 

The DWI Investigation

Next, your attorney will look at the process of the DWI investigation. If the officer wavered from proper protocol or violated your rights at any point, a skilled attorney like Andreea will know and will use that in their defense of your case. If the arresting officer was inexperienced in conducting a DWI investigation and technical protocols were not followed, it can cast doubt on the validity of the prosecution’s case. 

The Breath Test

If a breath test was administered, your lawyer may call into question the accuracy of the test. If an Intoxilyzer 9000 was used to collect your breath sample, this could become a focus of your attorney’s defense as this machine has a reputation of being unreliable. They will also examine if consent was given voluntarily. If there are questions surrounding your consent to provide a breath sample, your attorney may pursue that as another line of your defense. 

“I am very grateful for Ms. Ionescu…. She fought for me and I am very happy with the result I got.” Neil Kelly

The Blood Test

Another element of the officer’s DWI investigation is the collection of a blood sample. If you consented for your blood to be collected, was it a voluntary consent and was the process handled correctly? If you didn’t consent and a warrant had to be executed, was it filled out properly? An experienced lawyer will be able to spot and call into question any potential problems with the collection of evidence against you. 

After your blood sample is collected, whether voluntarily or as a result of a warrant, it is then sent to a lab for testing. If those handling your sample were inexperienced or unqualified, the resulting charges may be questioned. 

The Value of Hiring a DWI Attorney

A DWI conviction can have lasting consequences, which is why DWI attorneys in Harris County can be invaluable in defending the case against you. Due to the complex nature of DWI cases, these can linger on for years if they end up going to court and can cost you many thousands of dollars. An experienced attorney who is familiar with defending these types of cases can reduce the cost and amount of time that you will fight the charges against you. 

Due to the serious nature of these charges, it’s best to have a knowledgeable attorney like Andreea Ionescu fighting on your side. Call Andreea today at 832-509-0222 for a free consultation to discuss your case. During this informative and thorough meeting, she will describe the DWI process and help put you at ease as the next steps are explained. Call Andreea today.