Why You Need a Houston DWI Attorney

If you’ve been pulled over or involved in an accident when your blood alcohol content was .08 or above, you need a Houston DWI attorney. Texas does not favor drunk driving; in fact, it’s tough about it, and it’s your word against the police officer’s word. This isn’t a good position to be in, especially if you are guilty as charged. The process after your initial arrest is tenuous, and it behooves you to enlist the help of qualified counsel to guide you through your case.

 

You Can’t Drive if You’ve Failed the Blood Alcohol Test

 

If you fail the blood alcohol test, your driving rights are suspended immediately pending further action. This is why you should contact an attorney right away. He or she can request an Administrative License Revocation hearing in an effort to get your driving privileges returned to you, but the request must be placed within 15 days of the incident, so don’t hesitate to get help immediately. Any delay could affect the attorney’s ability to file for the hearing.

 

You’ll Want Someone Familiar With the Process Beside You in Court

 

Your first few court appearances won’t be too intimidating, but you’ll still want a Houston DWI attorney standing beside you. Your attorney will declare his or her representation of you to the court and your case will be pended so both sides can conduct an investigation into the matter. Both sides will look at all evidence, and if it doesn’t look good for you, your lawyer may begin the plea bargaining process to secure you a lesser sentence and/or punishment.

 

Blood Tests Might Be Taken to Further Assess Your Levels

 

If you hada blood test taken over and above the field sobriety tests to assess your alcohol levels this could take months to process, so this will also delay your case. Your attorney should encourage all parties to wait for the blood results, as this helps everyone make proper decisionsregarding your case. No one should push for a final result prior to all evidence being collected, especially you. You must be patient in order to receive your best possible outcome.

 

You Might Go to Trial

 

Should your case go to trial, it’s important to stay calm, do as your attorney tells you and answer all questions as directed to you by the judge or lawyers. Hopefully, once the evidence is gathered, this won’t be necessary, as an agreement can be entered into to resolve the matter. Still, if you do go to court, follow your attorney’s advice and be accepting of the outcome, whatever that may be. If necessary, the sentence can be appealed.

 

As you can see, this process is intensive, and without proper representation, you may be encouraged to make a deal that is not in your best interest or face serious fines, jail time and the loss of your license. Unless you’re a lawyer yourself, don’t go into a complex legal process alone. Hire a Houston DWI attorney to help you gather information, go over the facts of your case, and come up with the best game plan for your defense.