Watch Out For Bad DWI Lawyers

Not all lawyers have your best intentions at heart. Some of them are fully prepared to exploit your vulnerability when you’ve just been charged with a DWI or DUI, and you should know what to look out for. The Anecdote that follows is meant to provide you with the characteristics that make a bad DWI lawyer and hopefully steer anyone who reads it away from the terrible circumstances that my friend found themselves in several years back.

The DWI Accident

My old roommate in college, (who I am subsequently no longer in contact with) liked to drink. Actually, he liked to drink a lot. This isn’t overly uncommon for college kids, but Robert didn’t ever really like to walk anywhere and preferred to drive. This of course became problematic after several rounds or drinks.

So when one night Robert rear ended another student while attempting to run a red light, none of us were too surprised. He was clearly drunk. His car was totaled, and he spent the night in jail.

Enter the Bad DWI Lawyer, (and his dreadful qualifications)

The story doesn’t end there. Robert quickly found that his license was suspended, insurance premiums had jacked and fines and ticket totals soared above $2,000, which for a college student is absolutely un-payable. Naturally, he turned to a DWI defense attorney for help.

The lawyer Robert selected said that he was experienced with DWI law, but he really wasn’t. Robert could have known the attorney was lying had he checked to see if they were affiliated with any of the many criminal defense lawyer associations. He also could have asked to hear about previous cases the lawyer worked on concerning DWI and requested references.

Similarly, Robert quickly discovered that the lawyer had many other cases going on, and didn’t have much time for his own case. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask an attorney in advance if they are able to devote all of their time to your case, but Robert didn’t think to do this. If you’ve been arrested for drinking and driving, the fate of your future hangs in the balance. So if a lawyer doesn’t seem interested in representing you, or can’t devote the time to build you an effective defense, there’s no reason to hire them.

One final quality that Robert’s DWI lawyer carried that ultimately made him worthless and ineffective to Robert was that he was not a local attorney. The lawyer not only had no experience with DUI law, but he also had no experience with any of the local laws or law officials specific to our college town. A local lawyer is crucial to your defense because they have local connections and can better represent you by navigating the laws they are most familiar with.

The Bad DWI Lawyer Proved Worthless

In the end, Robert was convicted of a DWI, had his license suspended for 6 months, his insurance refused to cover the damages and ended up in serious debt that he is still paying off today. The lawyer proved useless, and only contributed to sucking up more of Robert’s quickly diminishing finances. Luckily, no one was injured in the wreck, and Robert did not spend any time in prison.

Avoid Bad DWI Lawyers Yourself

The irony of all this is that Robert told me all the details of his ordeal a couple years later when he was completely drunk. He had driven to a local bar we used to frequent to meet up with me, and drove home after about 7 beers, (which for him was taking it easy). He hadn’t learned anything from his own experiences. But YOU can. Don’t repeat Robert’s mistakes and end up with a bad DUI record. If you’ve been arrested for a DWI, make sure your lawyer is experienced and willing to devote their time to your defense. Make sure they are local, and know the local laws so they can better protect your rights. And most importantly, you should make sure your DWI lawyer has your best interests at heart.

The most efficient way to find a great DWI lawyer in your area, and avoid the mess that Robert got himself into is to talk with a legal professional about your case. Fill out the free evaluation below and one of our representatives will contact you shortly with the aim of getting you the best legal representation available to you. Just because you made a mistake doesn’t mean you have to suffer for the next several years. Begin getting your life back right now.