A DUI conviction can tarnish many things that are important to you, but your integrity is most important. A DUI conviction can cause the people in your life to view you as untrustworthy, irresponsible, and negligent. You may struggle with such a reputation for years. That reason alone is enough to hire a DUI attorney to represent you in your California case. The following are some additional reasons to that you should schedule an appointment with a lawyer the moment you receive a DUI citation.
Jail Time Can Crush You
The main reason that you should hire a DUI lawyer and not take a chance on going it alone is the jail time that you may receive. A first-time offense for DUI in the state of California can land you in jail for at least four days. You may even get up to six months in jail. Any amount of jail time can cause you to lose your job, your family, and any community support that you might have.
You May Lose Your Car
Another devastating blow that a DUI conviction can get you is a license suspension. The first-time penalty for DUI in California may very well cost you your license for a minimum of 30 days. You can lose it for a total of 10 months the very first time that you receive a DUI conviction.
Your Livelihood Is at Stake
A DUI conviction can rob you of everything that you have worked so hard to achieve. You can end up losing your family, friends and any opportunity that you have to regain employment and take care of your basic necessities. A DUI charge is a serious charge in that it can continue to affect you for many years to come after you receive the charges.
Your Finances Can Be Ruined
A drunk driving charge can outright ruin your finances. Court costs can be a pretty penny with fines as much as $1,000. You will also have to spend money to get your license reinstated if you lose it. You’ll need to try to continue to pay the bills at home, as well. The best thing you can do for your family and your finances is fight to stay out of jail.
How an Attorney Can Help
A responsible attorney can help you in many ways. This person can challenge the procedural integrity of the office who ticketed you. The attorney can force the burden of proof on your accusers, as well. Another thing that an attorney can do is fight for leniency if you do receive a conviction. Such an attorney will strive to keep you from getting one, however.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Schedule a consultation with a lawyer as soon as possible to talk about your DUI case. You do not have to lie down and just take the accusation. You can hire someone who is skilled in defending people who are in your situation.
