What Questions to Ask a DUI Lawyer

You are bound to have many questions if you face drunk driving or drugged driving charges. After all, facing DUI in Alberta is no joke. According to the DUI legal experts at Alberta Criminal Defence Lawyers, someone arrested on these charges should ask their DUI lawyer multiple questions in the first meeting. To help you get the information you need from your first meeting with a lawyer, some of these inquiries are listed below.

First Things First: Hire an Experienced DUI Attorney

 Before meeting with a DUI lawyer, it is important to know the gravity of your situation. You can be found guilty of impaired driving under Canada's criminal code if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08 percent or higher. You can also be charged if you are driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. It is a police officer's duty to determine whether you are impaired by alcohol or drugs when they pull you over on the roadside.

 Being charged with DUI in Calgary, then found guilty or convicted, will change your life. These changes are far from minor or positive. You can actually face serious criminal penalties, including spending time behind bars.

 The penalties you face and the life disruption your charges will cause make it critical that you hire an experienced DUI attorney. You need a legal representative who has a solid track record of helping people facing DUI charges like yours. This lawyer should advocate for you, help you understand the law and charges against you, and help you achieve the best possible outcome for your case.

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer

Below are some of the questions you should ask a potential lawyer in your first meeting with them about your DUI case.

How much experience do you have?

It is very important to ensure that your potential DUI attorney has enough DUI case defence experience to benefit you. You definitely need a skilled lawyer who is very familiar with the courtroom and represents DUI defendants on a routine basis. For example, experienced lawyers understand issues such as the difference between molest and assault. They must have trial experience for these cases, too.

 If the judge and crown prosecutors in your case are familiar with your DUI defence lawyer, they are more likely to offer a better plea deal. If your attorney has had success at trial, the prosecutors will not want to put their time into a trial they risk losing because of defence skill. Instead, they may recommend probation or reduced charges, such as reducing your DUI to careless driving charges.

What defences can you potentially use in my case?

As with any criminal case, your defence lawyer has a variety of potential defences they can use to fight your charges. It is important to ask about these prospective defences from the outset of your relationship. One such defence is alleging that law enforcement officers violated your Charter rights by improperly conducting the traffic stop. With the right legal defence and strong arguments to back it up, you can even achieve dismissal of your DUI case.

What potential penalties do I face if I am convicted?

 It is very important to understand the potential penalties you face if you are convicted of your DUI charges. Some of those potential penalties may include:

• Fines
• Jail time
• AALS licence suspension
• Mandatory probation

 From the outset, AALS licence suspension is likely one of your biggest concerns. You also face the possibility of mandatory alcohol education class attendance, installation of an ignition interlock device on your personal vehicles and community service.

Immediately Contact an Experienced DUI Defence Lawyer about Your Case

 It is very important to immediately contact an experienced DUI defence lawyer in your area to discuss your DUI case and get the support you need. You will need to be honest with your lawyer about the specifics of your case, such as how much you had to drink and your interaction with the police. Take a copy of your police report and any other supporting documents to your lawyer's office. Full disclosure is the best way to ensure that your lawyer has the information he or she needs to achieve the best outcome.