The Importance of a DUI Lawyer

By Jeff Paulk  Jan. 13, 2011 4:42p

After a driver is arrested for drunk driving or DUI, many things may be going through his or her mind. It can be a frightening and embarrassing experience. Most people look up to law enforcement officers in some way and wish to comply with their requests and answer their questions however they can. In their rush to cooperate, they may allow a police officer to violate their most basic rights: the right to protection from unreasonable search and seizure and / or the right to remain silent. Perhaps the most important of these is the right to an attorney.

When a driver is taken into custody after a DUI, he or she will be read his or her Miranda Rights by the arresting officer. These include the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Exercising the right to legal counsel is crucial, particularly in DUI cases where a driver may be at risk not only of losing his or her driver's license but of facing harsh criminal penalties if convicted in court. Imprisonment, heavy fines, community service and probation are all possible repercussions of a DUI conviction in Florida.

Even in cases where a driver has allegedly refused or failed a breath or blood test or has an officer willing and ready to testify that the driver failed field sobriety tests or made a statement that indicated he or she had been drinking, a competent attorney can still make a difference. Evidence can be challenged and even dismissed entirely in some cases. The arresting officer's testimony can be brought under scrutiny to reveal missing information or false assumptions of intoxication. An experienced DUI lawyer will see opportunities to build an effective defense whether others may not.

Our team of DUI defense attorneys understands the importance of protecting a client's constitutional rights in the face of DUI-related charges of any kind, whether a first offense or a serious felony charge involving involuntary manslaughter. With our extensive experience in handling these cases and the resources to conduct complete investigations into every angle of our clients' arrests, blood and breath testing, field sobriety testing and more, we are able to meet with success even in the most difficult of cases.

Find out more about what you can do in the face of a drunk driving arrest or charges. Contact a Tampa DUI Lawyer from Thomas & Paulk today.