What to Expect After Being Charged With a DWI in Houston TX

Home » What to Expect After Being Charged With a DWI in Houston TX

Facing a DWI in Houston TX can be confusing and can leave you with many concerns. This is why hiring a skilled attorney is the best course of action for you to fight your case. The charges that you are facing are serious; a DWI conviction can follow you for years, so there is no reason to take a chance with this case. Hiring a general criminal attorney or someone who is inexperienced in defending a DWI can lead to higher fines and potentially more severe punishments. 

Andreea Ionescu is a former Harris County prosecutor who understands the intricacies of DWI cases and is ready to fight for you and your case. She takes all of the knowledge that she gained of the protocols police officers, labs, and the district attorney must follow and uses that to defend you and your case. She is a well-known lawyer in Houston TXwho has handled hundreds of cases with many positive results. To schedule a free consultation with Andreea where she will review your case with you, call 832-509-0222 today.  

Understanding the details of the charge against you can help you as you fight for your rights. 

Is a DWI different than a DUI? 

DWI stands for Driving While Intoxicated, while DUI is Driving Under the Influence. DWIs are charged when someone over the age of 21 has a breath or blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or greater. DUIs are for those under the age of 21 with a BAC of .08% or more. 

What are the next steps when charged with a DWI? 

The most crucial step to take is finding a skilled DWI lawyer in Houston TX to defend your case. Thanks to the internet, you can have a list of hundreds of attorneys and law firms in your area in seconds. But with so many options available to you, it’s vital to select an attorney who is trustworthy and knowledgeable. If you find a lawyer with online reviews on their website, you can quickly get an insight into their work and can understand how they might respond to you if they take your case. 

Many attorneys offer a free consultation where they will meet with you to discuss your case and detail the sequence of events in DWI cases. During this important meeting, they should ask you many questions about the circumstances surrounding your DWI. If the lawyer fails to inquire thoroughly about your case, it could mean that they are simply trying to get you in the door, instead of beginning to strategize your defense. 

What are the options when charged with a DWI? 

A DWI lawyer will examine the State’s evidence for any lapses of protocol that they could use to get the evidence suppressed. If anything was obtained improperly, in violation of your rights, it could weaken the prosecution’s case, and they could end up dismissing it. By hiring one of the best DWI lawyers in Fort Bend County, you can increase your chances of receiving a favorable result. 

Your lawyer may not be able to get the case against you dismissed, but that doesn’t mean they will stop working on your behalf. Your case can go to court, where they will employ the best possible defense based on the county of the traffic stop, your criminal and driving history, and if anyone was harmed while you were behind the wheel. These factors will also come into place if a plea agreement is pursued. 

Because of the complex nature of these charges, it’s imperative to have an attorney who is well-versed in DWI cases fighting for you and your rights. 

How is a DWI case defended? 

After you choose a lawyer that you trust, they will get to work examining the evidence to determine the best course of action. They will pour over the details of the traffic stop, the DWI investigation completed by the police officer, and the results of the tests for any areas they can use to defend you against the charges. 

If there wasn’t a clear probable cause to pull you over, such as a traffic violation, it can be a severe blow to the prosecution’s case. Or if the police officer was inexperienced in conducting a DWI investigation, the results can be called into question. Your lawyer will also look at the lab results for any potential impropriety when handling your breath or blood samples. If it turns out that your samples were processed by someone who was unqualified to do so, that can also be detrimental to the prosecution’s case. 

Even if you were declared intoxicated above the legal limit at the scene, that doesn’t mean that you are out of options. An experienced DWI or DUI lawyer in Houston TX will be able to quickly spot anomalies in the prosecution’s case and construct an appropriate defense strategy. 

What can I expect during a DWI case? 

These cases can last from a few months to a couple of years depending on the particulars of your case. The county the infraction took place and whether or not your case is going to court can play a large role in determining how long your case will take. Having a lawyer defend your case can help reduce the length of time you will have to fight for your rights. 

DWI charges are serious and, because of this, the penalties associated with the charges are severe. In addition to lost time at work to appear before the court, you will be facing fees, fines, court costs, and increased insurance rates. Depending on the outcome of the case, you will incur extra expenses if sentenced to probation or an Interlock Ignition Device. Choosing an experienced attorney is vital in helping get the best possible result for your case. 

“Attorney Andreea Ionescu is the best of the best. She not only got my case dismissed but she advised me all of my options and explained the whole process to me and was always candid and honest. Her experience as a former Harris County Prosecutor is invaluable to her clients.” Troy

Andreea Ionescu is one of the top lawyers in the Houston area who has defended hundreds of clients. She has extensive knowledge of DWI investigations and the charges the district attorney will bring against you. As your attorney, she will use her years of experience to fight for your rights. To schedule a consultation with Andreea, call 832-509-0222 today.