What to Do After a DWI Arrest

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What to Do After a DWI Arrest
If youve been arrested for a DWI arrest in
Texas, you need to take it very seriously. A DWI
can be a messy and expensive legal problem. But
by knowing what to after a DWI arrest, you have
a better chance of having your case dismissed. If
youre currently looking for information about
what to do after a DWI arrest because you or
someone you know has recently been arrested, I
encourage you to call us at 1-888-254-7979 or
fill out the form on the sidebar of this
website. We have the expertise to help you with
your case, and we know what to do after a DWI to
give you the best possible odds of winning or
having your case dismissed.
As anyone who has ever experienced a DWI arrest
before can attest, you need to hire a DWI
defense attorney who has significant experience
fighting DWI cases before a jury. While there
are many criminal attorneys who will take a DWI
case, you need to focus on finding an actual DWI
defense attorney who has tried - and won - DWI
cases in court, versus an attorney who will
encourage you to plea bargain. You will need a
good attorney who can help you understand what
to do after a DWI arrest and definitely not the
cheapest attorney you can find. This is
particularly important because a DWI conviction
will stay with you forever, and can have lengthy
consequences in your personal and professional
life. Far too many people plead guilty to a DWI
and regret it for many years.
If you refused to provide a blood or breath
specimen at the time of your arrest, you have
just 15 days to call the Texas Department of
Public Safety and request an Administrative
License Revocation Hearing. AS judge will hear
your case and determine if there is enough
evidence to arrest you on suspicion of driving
while intoxicated. Its critical that you have
your attorney with you at this hearing. An
attorney experienced in knowing what to do after
a DWI knows how to question the arresting officer
and can get valuable information about how to
best proceed with your defense. If youve somehow
missed the deadline to request a hearing, you
still need to hire a good attorney to represent
you and to begin working on your case
immediately. Further, your attorney can help you
in getting an occupational license so you can
continue working while your case is being
prepared for trial. Without an occupational
license, you will not be legally allowed to
operate a motor vehicle.
If you did submit to a breath or blood specimen,
keep in mind that there are several
factors that can alter the outcome of these
tests. For example, the breathalyzer test, which
is the most common method police in Texas use to
determine if your blood alcohol level is above
the legal limit of .08, is outdated technology
and has a margin of error than can show your
blood alcohol level to be at a higher rate than
it actually is. In addition, a person running a
fever will show a higher blood alcohol level
during a breathalyzer test. An experienced
attorney who is aware of what to do after a DWI
will know the nuances of the breathalyzer and
other tests that an ordinary criminal defense
attorney may not.
As part of advising you about what to do after a
DWI arrest, your attorney should
carefully review all the facts of the case,
including the prosecutors file and interview you
extensively about your version of the events
leading up to the arrest. Some of the
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questions he or she should ask include how much
you had to drink, how much you had to eat, what
medications youre taking, if you were traveling
on unfamiliar roadways and how much sleep youve
gotten recently. You attorney should also
question any witnesses, including friends who
might have been with you and waiters or
waitresses who might have served you, if you
were consuming alcohol in a bar or restaurant. If
there is a video of the arrest, an attorney
experienced in DWI cases will be able to decide
your best chances of winning a trial before a
jury. At the same time, the prosecutor will be
reviewing the same evidence to decide if your
case is winnable. He or she will be looking
over the same evidence as your attorney.
Its important to keep in mind that the penalties
for a DWI arrest continue to increase. Fines are
getting steeper and so are probation and jail
times. While the idea of imprisonment and hefty
fines might scare you, keep in mind that It is
also becoming increasingly difficult for people
with a DWI conviction to obtain a hardship
license to travel back and forth to work. The
expense of getting auto insurance following a DWI
arrest can be almost impossible for many people.
Being found guilty of DWI can literally ruin
your life. Its essential that you act quickly
and aggressively understand what to do after a
DWI, and to hire the best possible DWI attorney.