According to a recent study, Texas has one of the highest drunk driving rates in the entire country. The only states with worse drunk driving rates than Texas are Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
With this in mind, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to hear that police departments all across the state are constantly making a push to pull over and arrest drunk drivers. This could lead to you facing a DWI charge at some point in your life.
If you’re ever charged with a DWI, you should know that fighting a DWI charge is possible. You shouldn’t simply accept a DWI charge and all the consequences that can come along with it.
At the same time, you should also work to steer clear of some of the common mistakes that people sometimes make after they’re arrested for DWI. Check out several of these mistakes below and do your best not to make any of them.
Taking Advice From Someone Who Isn’t a DWI Lawyer
Every year, there are more than 1 million Americans arrested and charged with either DWI or DUI. As a result, you might know people who have been arrested for DWI or DUI in the past, and they might be quick to try to offer you advice on what you should do following your arrest.
You’re more than welcome to hear these people out and see what you can learn from them. But at the same time, you should also remember that no two DWI charges are alike.
The advice that someone else gives you on how to handle your DWI charge might have worked for that particular person. But there is no guarantee that it’s going to work for you. It’s why you should only take legal advice from a DWI lawyer who can assist you with fighting a DWI charge.
Failing to Hire a DWI Lawyer to Represent You
Not hiring a DWI lawyer to help you with fighting a DWI charge is, hands down, the biggest mistake you can make in this situation. You’re pretty much going to be asking a judge to throw the book at you if you choose not to bring a DWI lawyer on board to lend a hand to you.
There are so many state DWI laws and different DWI penalties that will need to be on your radar when you’re fighting a DWI charge. Hiring a DWI lawyer will greatly improve your chances of being able to battle back against a DWI charge that you don’t think you should have received.
You will obviously need to make an investment in a DWI lawyer. But that investment could end up saving you a lot of money if your attorney is able to create the perfect DWI defense strategy for you.
Waiting Too Long to Touch Base With a DWI Lawyer
If you know that you’re going to try fighting a DWI charge, you shouldn’t wait until a few days before a scheduled court appearance to speak with an attorney about it. You’ll be asking for trouble if you take this approach to hiring a DWI lawyer.
Instead, you should try to connect with a DWI lawyer as soon as you can after a DWI arrest. They’ll be able to take a closer look at your case and the DWI charge elements you’re facing so that they can come up with a defense strategy for you.
The sooner you’re able to hire a DWI lawyer to help you, the sooner they can get to work on your case. You’ll be able to provide them with the time they’ll need to find the right strategy for fighting your DWI charge.
Neglecting to Make Court Appearances Connected to a DWI Charge
You’re usually going to have to make a series of court appearances in the aftermath of a DWI arrest. One of the worst things you can do is skip one of these court appearances for whatever reason.
In some cases, people will skip DWI-related court appearances because they forget about them. In other instances, they’ll skip them because they’re under the impression that nothing bad will happen to them if they don’t go.
But the reality is that skipping even a single court appearance can make fighting a DWI charge almost impossible. It’s why you should circle your court dates on your calendar and be sure you show up for them with a DWI lawyer in tow.
Attempting to Represent Yourself While Fighting a DWI Charge
In an effort to save money, there are some people who will go as far as to try to represent themselves in court while fighting a DWI charge. Unless you have a strong legal background and a working knowledge of the Texas state DWI laws, you aren’t going to bode well when you do this.
The different DWI laws in Texas can be very complicated. The only way you’re going to be able to fight a DWI charge is by hiring a lawyer who has experience working on DWI cases. They’ll give you the best possible chance to fight a DWI charge successfully.
We Can Help You Come Up With a DWI Defense Strategy
Were you arrested and charged with DWI recently? If you’re interested in fighting a DWI charge, Deandra Grant Law can help.
We have a lot of experience with DWI cases and can speak with you about your DWI charge. We can advise you on fighting it and help you create a winning DWI defense strategy.
Get in touch with us today to see why we’re a DWI lawyer in Austin, TX that you can trust.