If you were recently arrested and charged with driving under the influence, or DUI, in the State of Nebraska one of the first decisions you must make is whether or not to retain the services of a Nebraska DUI defense attorney. If this is your first arrest for DUI, you may be worried enough about the outcome of your case to consider it imperative that you hire an attorney. On the other hand, some first time offender are under the (mistaken) impression that a first time DUI isn’t really that big of a deal and, therefore, hiring an attorney is not necessary. In the event you fall into the second group, take a minute to consider the numerous benefits to having an experienced DUI attorney on your side.
Although every DUI case is unique, the benefits to having an experienced Nebraska DUI defense attorney on your side tend to apply to any DUI case. Some of the more important of those benefits include:
- Knowledge of the system — if you have never been involved in the criminal justice system before you likely have no idea how the system works. That puts you at a distinct disadvantage and the prosecutor knows this. It becomes very easy for the prosecutor to us that to his/her advantage. In addition, your lack of knowledge could lead to missing a court date, failing to do something you are supposed to do, or doing something you are not supposed to do – all of which could land you back in jail.
- Ability to evaluate evidence — despite what the officer who arrested you and the prosecuting attorney would like you to believe, the odds are that the evidence against you is not as open and shut as they would like. Only an experienced DUI attorney, however, can evaluate that evidence and decide how strong it is.
- Possibility of challenging evidence — if that evidence is not as strong as the prosecutor would like it to be, a DUI attorney might be able to challenge it. For example, the results of a chemical test (usually a breath test) might not be as conclusive as you were led to believe. If your attorney can get the results excluded, you might even be able to avoid a conviction.
- Making court appearances for you — sometimes, an attorney is able to waive your appearance in court or you, a convenience that can come in handy if you have a job that you cannot afford to miss.
- Negotiating a plea agreement — if it becomes clear that a conviction is eminent, your DUI attorney can negotiate a plea agreement on your behalf that is as advantageous to you as possible. Contrary to what you may have heard, there is no “one size fits all” plea agreement. On the contrary, almost all the terms of a plea agreement are negotiable.
- Defending you at trial — after evaluating all the evidence, and discussing your options, you may decide that taking your case to trial is the best choice. At that point, an attorney is necessary. If you already have a DUI attorney on your side he/she will be prepared to defend you at trial.
The non-judicial consequences of even a first-time a DUI conviction will follow you for many years to come. These might include increased insurance rates, loss of employment opportunities, or professional discipline. Given everything that is potentially at stake, it only makes sense to hire an experienced Nebraska DUI defense attorney to represent you.
Contact Us
If you have been charged with driving under the influence in Nebraska it is imperative that you consult with an experienced Nebraska DUI lawyer to ensure that you understand the potential penalties you face if convicted. Contact the Petersen Law Office 24 hours a day at 402-513-2180 to discuss your case with an experienced DUI defense attorney.
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