Did you know that a person is killed in a drunk driving crash every two minutes? Drunk driving is a serious problem in the United States, and the unfortunate fact is that it probably isn’t going to get better anytime soon. The problem is that a lot of people who do drive drunk don’t get the penalties that a lot of people think they deserve — the typical drunk driver drives drunk 80 times before being arrested. This leads to dozens of opportunities for people to be seriously injured or even killed — which means that, if you end up being pulled over for a traffic violation, especially if it involves drunk driving, the penalties can be extremely harsh. Therefore, you should probably look into getting legal advice as soon as possible, whether or not you’re actually guilty. People often fall into two different categories — either they’re guilty and feel that they just need to accept the consequences, with little chance of being acquitted; or they’re not guilty, and they feel like they don’t need the help of an auto attorney. An auto attorney can handle a number of different issues, depending on the specific attorney’s area of expertise. It’s important to remember that even if you aren’t able — or don’t want to — to escape all penalties, you still don’t have to face jail time or a harsh fine.
What Kinds Of Auto Attorneys Are Available?
When seeking legal advice, it’s important to remember that there are a variety of different categories when it comes to traffic violations. An attorney for car accidents might not want to the person you talk to if you incurred a minor violation, and for that matter, not all car accident attorneys work with drunk driving accidents. Some lawyers even specialize in different types of traffic accidents. There are truck crash attorneys, as well as semi accident attorneys, and even tractor trailer accident attorneys. With that being said, you want to be as specific as possible about your specific situation. If you were in an actual drunk driving crash, you want an attorney experienced in crashes, and for that matter is prepared for the possibility of ramifications involving personal injury lawsuits. This is always a risk when clients are in drunk driving accidents that involve other cars. Of course, it’s important to note that not all serious traffic violations involve alcohol or other substances — some involve distracted driving, which is a newer issue. Distracted driving often means driving while using a device like a cell phone or a tablet. As 660,000 Americans are driving while distracted by such devices at any time, strict penalties are often involved with these types of violations.
What Are The Penalties For Drunk Or Distracted Driving Violations?
The penalties for drunk or distracted driving vary depending on where you live and the severity of the violation in question — as well as your criminal record and frankly, the judge you’re working with. The fact is that if you attempt to defend yourself without the legal advice of an attorney at the very least, you could end up with jail time, even if it’s not much. Lots of people also face heavy fines. If nothing else, you will likely have your license suspended for a time. It will cost money to reinstate it, and during the time that you can’t drive, you could very lose your job. At the end of the day, even if you don’t spend time in jail, the ramifications of serious penalties could be long-standing.
Why Should I Get An Attorney When Facing Traffic Charges?
Some people don’t take traffic violations, no matter what their magnitude, seriously. They think that they can defend themselves; but most can’t, and doing so is a huge risk. Legal advice often isn’t enough in these cases — you need a real defense. If you want to at the very least avoid jail time, and perhaps even serious fines or a conviction in the first place, invest in a lawyer.