- November 20, 2021
An Orangeburg DUI lawyer deals with a lot of crash cases weekly. Every day, about 28 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 52 minutes. This explains why state laws frown at drivers who drink and drive. In South Carolina, a person arrested for driving under the influence would either go to jail, pay a fine, or do both. One way to avoid or mitigate the punishment is by hiring an experienced Orangeburg DUI Lawyer.
Therefore, since a lawyer plays a crucial role in getting you off a DUI charge or serving a lengthy or short sentence, it is vital to hire the right one. However, due to the fast-paced nature of DUI arrests and arraignments, most arrestees don’t get to ask their attorneys relevant questions. Those who do, don’t know the right questions to ask.
To help with this, we put together some crucial questions you should ask your DUI attorney in Orangeburg before hiring them. Then, if you get arrested for driving under the influence, contact us at Orangeburg DUI Guy immediately. We will step in immediately to help you.
Top 7 Questions to Ask Your Orangeburg DUI Lawyer
There are many DUI lawyers in Orangeburg and, by extension, South Carolina. But it’s not every attorney that can appropriately handle your case. For example, while a DUI is a criminal charge, not every criminal lawyer can handle DUI cases.
To help you get the best defense, we share seven questions to ask your prospective attorney to see if they are the right fit.
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How Many Years Have You Been Practicing?
You don’t want a rookie lawyer fresh out of law school to handle your DUI case. This is because cases like this are not always straightforward, so you need someone who understands how it works. On the other hand, an experienced lawyer knows how to navigate the system, work out deals, and liaise with the prosecutor’s office. While it’s okay to give people chances, your DUI case is not one of such instances as the stakes are too high.
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How Much Experience Do You Have With DUI Cases?
As mentioned earlier, not every criminal lawyer has experience with DUI cases. Similarly, just because a lawyer has been practicing for a long time does not mean they know how DUI cases work. Thus, your Orangeburg DUI lawyer must be someone who has the unique set of skills required to win a DUI case. So, inquire if the attorney regularly defends DUI suspects or if your case is way outside their legal expertise.
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Is My Case Unique?
Indeed the attorney you hire should be someone with experience and a track record of winning DUI cases. However, each case is decided on its merits, so the result may not always be the same. For this reason, you should find out if the lawyer feels your case is unique. They should tell you how it differs from the briefs they always handle and why the result may vary. This way, you know what to expect and how the case might turn out.
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How Often Do Your Cases Go to Trial?
Not every DUI case gets to trial. However, your lawyer and the prosecutor’s office often have a plea bargain deal, a more favorable option for everyone. By understanding how often the lawyer settles cases out of court and the kind of agreement they come to, you know what to expect.
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What Is Your Trial Experience?
There’s a chance your case might go to trial despite your Orangeburg DUI lawyer’s best efforts. So, it’s best to find out what the attorney’s trial experience is like. You need to know their trial strategy, what they will do if they hit a roadblock and whether they’ll see the case to the end.
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Have You Been Disciplined by the State Bar?
The South Carolina State Bar Association accredits lawyers to practice in the state and also disciplines them when they are out of line with legal standards. You should find out if the lawyer has been disciplined and for what. This would help you understand the type of professional you’ll be working with.
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How Much Will You Charge?
Money is always an issue when it comes to hiring attorneys. Most criminal lawyers charge a flat fee or by the hour. They also charge filing fees, money to hire investigators, etc. To ensure you square away the lawyer’s fees before hiring them.
Contact an Orangeburg DUI Lawyer Today!
At Orangeburg DUI Guy, we understand how a DUI sentence changes a person’s life. So we do all we can to get our clients a reduced sentence or have the case against them dismissed. We’ll do the same for you if you contact us today for a free case review.
