DUI Lawyers tend to bill in a way slightly different from that of personal injury lawyers. Some personal injury attorneys accept a client’s case on a basis of a payment contingent on the client receiving compensation. This is not true with criminal defense attorneys. These types of lawyers usually require a deposit upfront before the initial case begins. However, how much they will charge you for their services is an entirely different basis. Criminal Defense Lawyers rates depend on the type of fee structure they use, the type of resolution you are seeking for your particular legal matter and of course, the complexity of the legal matter.
This question is usually among the principal concerns of potential clients, and with good reason. When dealing with a DUI – just like any matter in which you will require an attorney – the cost of retaining counsel may seem significant. Now, we understand that most of us think about money rather emotionally, but in this instance, you need to think logically. DUI charges bring with them very significant consequences. To create less impactful effects on your life, you should spend the money you need to retain an attorney, thereby ensuring that you receive the best possible results.
That being said, the answer to this rather straightforward question is every attorney’s favorite answer: it depends. That is because every DUI case is different. Now, some firms will give you a bottom line answer which may seem like an easier explanation. They will clarify that it’s all included under that uniform cost. What they’re doing they are doing in these cases is charging every client for the maximum quantity of expected potential work in a DUI. Essentially, they’re overcharging most clients and passing it off as an all-inclusive deal.
Let’s break down the DUI process so that you can understand…
What Your DUI Attorney Will Do for You
The basic pattern that all DUI’s require begins with a minimum of 2-3 court appearances. Of course, you want a prepared attorney. On top of their time is spent traveling and in court with you, your attorney will be reviewing your case in their office and discussing with appropriate staff as needed. Depending on your specific case, the time necessary may vary, and the costs will change accordingly.
As soon as you retain counsel, before or after the first appearance, your attorney will begin by requesting discovery. Discovery is the process in which your attorney requests any and all documents from the police and prosecutor concerning your case. This will include police reports, results of the BAC test, certifications for the equipment and officers, and various other papers. All this material needs to be reviewed by the attorney for accuracy and consistency. They check to make sure the machine was working, that it had been calibrated within the appropriate amount of time, the officers were certified to operate the equipment, etc. This requires carefully combing through dozens of documents. It’s not as easy as you think, and requires time and effort from your counsel.
Additionally, some cases may require expert reports. These are useful tools utilized by your attorney to argue your case. However, they are not cheap. These involve sending the discovery documents to an expert who will analyze them and write up a lengthy report as to the issues involved with your individual case. In some cases, they are advised, whereas in others they may not be necessary.
There are so many factors that play into a DUI case that if we tried to include them all here, we would surely miss a few. As we said before, this is because each and every DUI is different. So if you have a DUI matter and want to discuss this in more detail, we are happy to do so. Call The Law Offices of Greg Prosmushkin, P.C. today to speak with one of our DUI Attorneys regarding your matter.
This content was written on behalf of Greg Prosmushkin.