When to Work with a Dallas DWI Attorney
If you have been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Texas, you may be feeling scared and overwhelmed. These charges can come with severe consequences, including jail time, substantial fines, and suspension of your driver’s license.
DWI Basics in Texas
What constitutes a DWI and the related consequences will depend on the state in which you are driving. In Texas, a DUI typically results in a small fine, some community service, mandatory alcohol awareness classes, or at worse a suspension of your drivers’ license. However, a DWI can result in very extreme results. Let’s look into some of the basics when it comes to getting a DWI in Texas:
- Blood Alcohol Concentration. The legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in Texas is 0.08%. More stringent requirements apply to commercial drivers, and the legal limit is generally lower.
- Criminal Charge. In Texas, a first time DWI offense can range from a Class B misdemeanor to a felony depending on the BAC, any prior DWI convictions, and whether there was an accident with serious injuries or death.
If you have been charged with a DWI in Dallas, there are a number of factors to consider as you approach your defense. A DWI lawyer in Dallas with advanced knowledge in forensic science will be able to help you understand the process, analyze the evidence clearly, and develop a strategy.
How a Dallas DWI Attorney Can Help
Working with an experienced DWI attorney will be essential to ensuring that you achieve the best possible result in your Texas DWI case. A DWI attorney in Dallas can help navigate all aspects of the proceeding, including:
- Ensuring Proper Protocol. When arresting someone for a DWI, the police are required to follow strict protocol. For example, a police officer must have probable cause to pull over your vehicle. An attorney can help review your specific case and determine if any protocol was violated. If so, the odds of overturning the arrest are significantly higher.
- Understand the Charge. As noted above, whether a DWI charge is a misdemeanor, felony or worse will depend on several factors. A lawyer can help you understand the severity of the charges you are facing.
- Evaluating Consequences. The consequences for a DWI offense can be numerous and varied. In addition to jail time and fines, it can include suspension of your license, an increase in your insurance fees, and also the potential loss of your job depending on your profession. Because a DWI offense is a criminal charge, it may show up on background checks run by future employers.
- Negotiating a Plea. A Dallas DWI lawyer can help you decide how to plead and can strategize whether it makes sense to accept a plea or to take the case to trial. What can be achieved with a plea bargain will depend on the jurisdiction in which you are facing charges and the strengths or weaknesses of your case. With a skilled Dallas DWI attorney, you may be able to avoid a number of the consequences associated with the charge.
Given the serious impact a DWI arrest can have on your future, securing a skilled and competent Dallas DWI attorney can make all the difference in your case.
