Driving under the influence is an extremely serious offense that has the potential of affecting your future and especially your employment. If you are found guilty for this offense, not only will you risk losing your driver’s license, you also risk being imprisoned. It is therefore imperative that you get an attorney who focuses on defending people who have been charged with driving while intoxicated. Here are some reasons why you should consider hiring a DUI lawyer Wichita KS.
Knowledge and experience
DUI lawyers possess vast knowledge gained from experience, having handled numerous situations that are similar to your own. They will therefore be in a position to assist you with the preliminary assessment of your chances of winning the trial, based on the strengths and weaknesses of your case.
Pleading not guilty
Sometimes you may fail the sobriety test in spite of the fact that you were not drinking. In such instances where you completely believe in your innocence, you should by all means hire an attorney. The lawyer will help by ensuring that you are adequately prepared for the impending trial by giving you an insight of what will be expected of you in court. Inadequate preparation could lead to self-incrimination by answering questions wrongly especially due to panic.
Assistance with plea bargaining
If the sobriety test is inconclusive, your attorney will be able to plea bargain with the prosecution and have the charge reduced from DUI to a lesser offense, such as reckless driving, which is less severe than DUI, and for which you will get a far less harsh sentence.
Assistance with sentence bargaining
If you decide to plead guilty, you will need the help of a seasoned lawyer to bargain your sentence, because a guilty plea can lead to a long period of incarceration. For instance, if your Blood Alcohol Content is over 15 and you are well aware of what your sentence will be, it is advisable to get a lawyer to sentence bargain on your behalf, which may lead to a reduction of your sentence to a less severe one.
If you have been charged with driving under the influence, there is no need to panic. You can access a DUI lawyer Wichita KS from the law offices of Kevin M Smith, PA. This attorney also offers quality representation in family law, criminal defense and domestic violence among others.
