Did you know that nearly 30 people in the United States die each day due to a car crash involving alcohol impairment?
Drinking while driving is a serious offense that can endanger the safety of yourself and everyone around.
If you were involved in a crash and need a DWI lawyer, there are a few things to look for.
Continue reading to learn about the most important factors when you need to choose a DWI lawyer!
Contents
Experience with DWIs
One of the most important things to know when you choose a DWI lawyer is their experience.
It is best to avoid new lawyers without much experience with DWIs. Experience with these cases is helpful because the lawyer will likely have a better understanding of the processes.
With them having more DWI case experience, you can trust that they know what they are doing. When a lawyer is new to a case, they have to do a lot more research and could miss obvious solutions.
Training & Certifications
If you want to find a certified DUI defense attorney, you need to check their credentials.
The NCDD and the ABA recognize each lawyer’s certification based on them passing exams. It takes knowledge and experience for people to get this certification because they deal with difficult cases such as DWIs.
Finding someone with criminal law training is beneficial because DWIs are so serious. A law degree is a minimum requirement for someone that you want to represent you. The internet is a good resource for searching for a lawyer’s credentials to ensure they are working legally and successfully.
Confidence Levels
If you have several options for lawyers, you should compare their confidence levels.
Having a confident DWI defense lawyer can provide you with comfort and trust. When a lawyer is second-guessing themselves and isn’t confident, it shows weakness and can make you question why you are paying them so much.
Try to find a lawyer that is confident with handling DWI cases. This typically means that they feel comfortable with their experience levels and knowledge of the problems. If you end up working with a lawyer that lacks confidence, you should try to replace them or discuss your concerns.
Ability to Communicate
A successful lawyer should have excellent communication skills.
Effective speaking and active listening are essential components when you are looking for a lawyer. You shouldn’t question your lawyer’s listening skills, that means that they could be missing key information. If the lawyer is confirming information that you said by relaying it back and asking questions, you can trust that they are listening.
Your DWI lawyer should also have good communication skills when dealing with others. Being respectful, punctual, and precise can help your case and give everyone a better image. You can get a feel of their communication skills by having phone conversations and meeting them in person.
Excellent Reputation
Looking at references and reviews can help you learn about a lawyer’s reputation.
Researching reviews and experiences that other people had can give you access to a lot of information. These experiences are typically positive or negative and you can ask follow-up questions to the person who made the post.
If you find a good candidate for your lawyer, search for them online. You can help prevent yourself from getting ripped off or scammed. It is also helpful to look at reviews so that you know about their connections in the industry and how many cases they have won.
Within Your Budget
Comparing lawyer fees is important because you don’t want to hire someone that is out of your budget.
Setting a budget for your case will help prevent you from going into debt and getting into a worse situation. Take a look at your income and savings to determine how much you can invest in a lawyer and legal expenses. It is best to add more money to your legal expenses so that you are prepared for surprises.
If you notice that you are going over your budget and the case is ongoing, you should have a conversation with the lawyer. They might be able to offer a discounted rate or refer you to other help.
Resourceful
Lawyers deal with a variety of cases and people, which makes them very resourceful.
Make sure that you find a DWI lawyer who is resourceful and works smarter, rather than harder. Since many lawyers bill per hour, it is best to get someone invested with resources and not one that uses long methods of getting information.
You can tell that a lawyer is resourceful by looking at the references, experience, and range of services. They might also be someone with a lot of experience in a local court system that is familiar with the judge.
The more people that your lawyer knows, the more they will be able to help you with your case.
Knowledgable
It takes a long time and many hours of studying to get a degree to practice law.
You should search for DWI lawyers that are knowledgeable about the case and local laws. New lawyers aren’t as experienced and don’t know much about the cases until they gain confidence and knowledge. An experienced lawyer should have a lot of knowledge so that they can provide you with the most benefits.
Don’t underestimate the value of knowledge, as it has helped many people save money and avoid jail time.
Do You Need to Choose a DWI Lawyer?
If you need to choose a DWI lawyer for an accident you were involved in, there are a couple of key factors to search for.
Trusting that your lawyer is experienced with DWI cases can help you get a smaller sentence. When lawyer is resourceful and knowledgeable, they will be more likely to help you and save you money.
Pay attention to the lawyer’s communication skills and research their reputation if possible.
Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about options for lawyers and getting your life back on track!