Being arrested for DUI in the state of Florida can prove to be a harrowing and expensive proposition. Having a good defense attorney by your side when the case goes to court can save a great deal of money, jail time, and heartache. So, how does one go about finding a good Florida DUI lawyer?
There are several different approaches to finding a good DUI lawyer in Florida. First, one can look in the yellow pages under attorneys and find listings that include DUI defense. Another way to find a good lawyer is to search on the internet. Asking friends that have had experience with taking DUI cases to court can also be helpful.
Locating a DUI lawyer in the phone book is easy to do. The yellow pages usually contain ads for lawyers of all types and specialties. The main thing one must look for is the phrase DUI defense in the ad when seeking an attorney that specializes in this type of cases.
Going on the internet and using a search engine to find Florida Drunk Driving lawyers is also a good option. This type of search tends to eliminate listings for lawyers that do not handle this type of case and return only results for those who are experienced in or specialized in handling DUI cases.
Friends who have had to go to court over a DUI are likely to have experience with specific attorneys whom they would recommend to a friend. Unless, that is, their lawyer failed to get them any relief from the ticket, in which case, they will tell you not to use that lawyer. They say that word of mouth is the best and worst form of advertising, and that definitely holds true when looking for a good lawyer in any specialty.
Once one has located a few different possibilities for DUI defense, going back to the internet may prove helpful in narrowing the field. All court cases are a matter of public record, and one can look up statistics for each attorney that show the percentage of cases won, lost, or plea bargained to a lesser charge. Having this sort of information can make choosing a single lawyer from all the possibilities easier, after all, you want the one lawyer with the best chance of winning your case.
It still may be best to choose two or three possibilities based on case history. This is because the first choice lawyer may be busy on the day of your trial or be unable to take your case. In some cases, the first choice lawyer may simply cost more than you are willing or able to pay. Having backups is a good way to ensure you have adequate representation when you go to court.
After finding a good Florida DUI lawyer, it is important to meet with him/her and discuss your case. Anything you tell your lawyer is protected by privilege, so there is no reason not to be completely honest with your lawyer. Doing so will make it much easier for him/her to prepare a defense that stands a reasonable chance of getting you at least a reduced sentence if not off completely.
Finding a good Florida DUI lawyer may take a little bit of time and effort on your part. The benefit of spending this time and effort can be a serious savings in fines and jail time when compared to a DUI conviction. Remember that your attorney is your employee. His/her job is to do everything possible to get you acquitted of the offense, or at least found guilty of a lesser charge that does not carry such stiff penalties. Just like any employer, you want to find the best candidate for the job.
