Drunk-driving is not only dangerous, with over 10,000 lives lost in the US each year as a result, but can see you get charged with a DUI too.
If this happens to you, there are some things that you need to do immediately. Keep reading to find out what they are, so that you can minimize the impact the DUI will have on your life.
Detail as Much as Possible
For the best chance of winning your case, it’ll often come down to the detail.
What do you remember about the situation? Consider the five ‘W’s:
- Who
- What
- When
- Where
- How
Think about what you remember seeing, hearing, and touching, and get it down. Were you caught at a DUI checkpoint? What happened?
Even if something’s small, or seems pretty insignificant, you should still make a note of it as you never know what could come in useful later on.
Once you’ve done this, don’t share your notes with anybody.
Keep Things Private — Particularly Online
Be mindful of what you post to social media, as it can seriously impact your case. First of all, it’s recommended that you make your profiles private, while of course, it would be a mistake to post anything relating to the DUI too.
Prosecutors will often go through your social media in the hope of finding things to use against you — are there any photos or videos from the night of your arrest? If so, delete them!
Find Witnesses
Whether you were with family, friends, colleagues, or acquaintances on the day of the incident, you should ask them if they’d be willing to testify in court on your behalf.
If anyone was with you during the incident or shortly before or after, they’d be the best person to testify. However, the more witnesses to back you up the better. A number of witness statements taken fairly promptly can help your case.
Contact a Lawyer
If you’re serious about minimizing the impact of your charge, you need to find a DUI lawyer.
Speak to a few before deciding on who would be best to fight for you — a good attorney will have plenty of experience, and be well-versed in forensic science.
There are certain scientific procedures that are supposed to be followed when it comes to the test reports, and only a lawyer who’s got the relevant knowledge will be able to successfully challenge the police and the district attorney.
Request a DMV Hearing
This is something else to remember.
Normally, from your arrest, you’ll have ten days to formally request a DMV hearing — this will determine whether or not you’re allowed to keep your driver’s license.
If neither you nor your lawyer request one, your license will be suspended by default.
Getting Charged With a DUI
A person charged with DUI is often viewed in a negative light, and as a result, it’s always best to avoid the situation altogether.
However, these are the steps you should take straight afterward — you may be able to avoid some of the more serious repercussions as a result, though you’ll likely still need to attend DUI classes.
For more legal advice, don’t forget to check out our other posts.