photo provided by Jeffrey Smith
A DUI conviction in Tampa can be devastating. Penalties for even first offenses are severe, including jail time up to six months and fines up to $1,000. And then there are administrative and exigent penalties, like a year-long drivers license suspension or a significant hike in car insurance premiums. Far from a minor offense, a DUI conviction is a serious crime with serious consequences that can persist with you for the rest of your driving days.
So how can you protect yourself from a DUI conviction in Tampa?
The best defense is to abstain from drinking and driving. However, if you’re already facing charges, you need to equip yourself with the best Tampa DUI lawyer you can find. But with some many lawyers operating in and around Tampa, you don’t want to select and retain just any lawyer who claims they can assist in your DUI defense. You need to hire a aggressive DUI attorney with experience and resolve.
Why Hire a Great DUI Lawyer?
When facing the prospect of a fine for DUI, you may be disinclined to spend extra money on legal defense. Or you may be tempted to retain the cheapest lawyer available. But in doing so, you may be setting yourself up for a lifetime of residual consequences and continued inconvenience.
A DUI results in more than just a fine. It can result in jail time, a revoked license, a mandatory ignition interlock device, mandatory treatment, hiked insurance premiums or a dropped policy, difficulties in securing employment and a permanent ding on your driving record. Assign a dollar value to your lost money, time, wages, convenience and sanity and you begin to understand how little a DUI lawyer costs by comparison.
But you don’t just want any DUI attorney, you want the best Tampa DUI lawyer available. A mediocre attorney who lacks competence, experience and resolve can be equivalent to hiring no attorney at all. A criminal law factory firm may treat you as an anonymous payday, passing your case off to an uncredentialed “case manager” and failing to return your calls. In either case, they may pressure you to plead guilty and de facto submit to extreme legal consequences.
How Do I Separate the Wheat from the Chaff?
Evaluating attorneys can be somewhat time consuming, however you stand to benefit greatly in the long run. Solicit recommendations and reviews from friends, family and acquaintances that have faced similar charges. Check out peer review and customer review websites such as Lawyers.com and Martindale-Hubbell to get some unbiased opinions on different attorneys and firms. Be extremely weary of any lawyer who makes too-good-to-be-true claims – they probably are. Most importantly, give a thorough interview to each attorney you are considering. During your meeting, ask questions like:
What are your credentials and how long have you practiced law?
What is your experience specifically with DUI related cases?
How will my case be handled, and how can I expect to be involved?
What is your fee structure? Can you give me an estimate as to how much I should expect to pay in total?
Consider Finebloom Haenel & Higgins P.A.
If you are facing a DUI related charge and are searching for the best Tampa DUI lawyer, the DUI attorneys at Finebloom Haenel & Higgins have over twenty years of experience dealing specifically with criminal and DUI-related matters. Our attorneys and support staff work together as a team to provide a comprehensive and aggressive defense, with an emphasis on exceptional client service. Call our offices today to speak with one of our DUI lawyers about your case and find out how we can help your defense.
