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Getting a DUI charge as a first-time offender might make you question the necessity of getting a DUI lawyer Laguna Beach. While it is within your rights to go through the court process without representation, there are a number of reasons why it is a good idea to seek legal counsel instead.
Pleading Guilty Might Not Be in Your Best Interests
If you have been charged with your first DUI offense, it’s likely that you are scared, confused and more than a little worried about what this could mean for your life now and in the future. There is often the desire to simply plead guilty — especially if it seems to be an open and shut case — so that the incident will go away as quickly as possible.
However, such cases are often more complex than they might seem to those who are involved in them. It’s a good idea to get the advice of a DUI lawyer in Laguna Beach before making any decisions that could affect you for the rest of your life.
Plea Bargaining Experts
When a crime has been committed, there is often a sentence range that the judge can draw from. Depending on the circumstances, the judge may enact the highest level of sentencing or settle on something more lenient. Securing the services of an attorney who is skilled in DUI cases means that you have an expert in plea bargaining at your side.
Reducing Your Sentence
You can request a sentence reduction of the judge without using a DUI lawyer in Laguna Beach. However, as a skilled professional that has experience in handling this particular type of offense, an attorney knows how to concisely and accurately portray your case to the judge.
Highlighting Unique Circumstances
Many DUI cases have circumstances that might make them stand out from the typical charge. For example, even as a first-time offender, if your blood alcohol content (BAC) was extremely high, you could be charged with a felony.
Other instances in which a DUI could be charged as a felony include causing an accident, injuring others or having a minor in the vehicle with you. Because these charges are serious enough to warrant possible prison time, it’s crucial to consider hiring a DUI lawyer in Laguna Beach.
While it’s a good idea to hire an attorney as soon as possible after you’ve been charged with a DUI, you can do so at a later date as well. Hiring one right away provides more time to assist you with your case.
