Tag Archive for: DUI Costs

How Much Does A DUI Attorney Cost?

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“Because Your Future Deserves a Defense”

An arrest for a DUI is an expensive ordeal. There’s bail to get out of jail, the SR-22 insurance that must be filed for three years, and the cost of taking a South Carolina Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program. There may be other costs that cannot be quantified, like a loss of employment or damage to your reputation. Many individuals arrested for driving under the influence also worry about the expense of a defense attorney.

In fact, the majority of Americans—a reported 63 percent—do not have the funds available to cover a $500 emergency. Taking your dog to the emergency vet for swallowing part of his favorite toy, replacing the brakes on your car, and repairing or replacing a broken refrigerator are all examples of $500 emergency expenses. Those without the resources necessary to cover such an expense reported they would have to cut back on other expenses, borrow money from friends or family, or even charge the amount to a credit card to make it through. An arrest for a DUI may set someone back several thousand dollars at minimum.

An attorney’s job is to protect a defendant’s legal rights. Even if a defendant was drinking and driving, a defense attorney may be able to negotiate a deal and have the charges reduced. A good defense attorney will also be able to pinpoint if any errors were made during the arrest. For example, was the field sobriety test incorrectly administered? Were there problems with the Breathalyzer test? Did the officer have probable cause to stop the driver? These are issues that a criminal defense attorney will address. A criminal defense attorney is well worth the money when someone is facing jail time and other penalties.

Cost of a DUI Defense Attorney

The cost of hiring a DUI defense attorney will vary depending on the facts of the incident. For example, if the case needs to go to trial, legal representation will likely be more expensive. Many are unaware that most attorneys will accept payment plans to provide more affordable options to their clients. These attorneys will allow their clients to pay their fees in installments. These payment plans may be weekly, biweekly, monthly, or any arrangement that the client and the attorney agree upon. Many DUI defense attorneys understand that some clients simply do not have the cash on hand to pay a retainer of a few thousand dollars. To help these clients obtain the representation they deserve, they will allow them to pay their fees in installments.

DUI defense attorneys put in many hours to obtain excellent results for their clients. The clients do not see all of the “behind the scenes” work that goes on in a claim. For example, the attorney will contact members of law enforcement, prosecutors, witnesses, and other individuals to gain an understanding of what happened in the case. The attorney will review video footage, Breathalyzer test results, blood test results, eyewitness statements, and other evidence in the case. If the case goes to trial, the attorney will spend several hours preparing questions for witnesses and coordinating the introduction of evidence. If the case pleads, the attorney will still prepare statements for a court to obtain a favorable result for the client.

Do you need legal representation for a DUI? 

If you have been arrested for DUI, you need to be sure your legal rights are protected. At the De Bruin Law Firm, our DUI defense attorneys have secured favorable results for clients in a range of cases. To schedule your free case evaluation, call 864-372-2896 or visit GreenvilleDefense.com.

Will Your DUI Attorney Save You Money?

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“Because Your Future Deserves a Defense”

When you are facing DUI charges, you will have many concerns. One of your major concerns will likely be what the financial costs of this charge will be. In South Carolina, for your first DUI offense, you face a 400 dollar fine. For your second offense, you may need to pay up to 5,100 dollars, and for your third offense, you could pay as much as 6,300 dollars. Beyond the fines, you may also face loss of income due to jail time, and in some cases, you may also have to pay for an ignition interlock, classes, therapy, and higher insurance premiums. All and all, a DUI can cost you thousands of dollars. Therefore, you may be tempted to skip hiring a DUI attorney to avoid legal fees. While a DUI lawyer may not be necessary for every case, there are many times when the expense of legal representation will pay off, reducing the overall cost of your DUI case. Here are considerations to make when considering whether a DUI attorney is worth the money.

Severity Of The Case

As stated above, at your first DUI offense, the fine is 400 dollars. When comparing this to legal fees, you may think it better to simply pay up and be done with it. However, the more offenses you commit, the higher the fine will be, as well as the additional costs. When considering the financial aspect of hiring a DUI lawyer, the more serious the case is, the more important it is that you have a DUI defense attorney represent you. A skilled attorney is a deeper understanding of your case than you do, and may be able to find ways to save you money from the high cost of a DUI conviction.

Employment

Another consideration to make is how your employment may be affected by your DUI charge. If you face jail time for your DUI, you could lose time at work, which could be extremely costly to you. Even if you can afford the time off, if your employer finds out the reason for your absence, it could put your job in jeopardy. If you do lose your job, it may be more difficult for you to find a new position with a DUI conviction. When you hire an experienced DUI attorney, however, they may be able to help you reduce or avoid jail time by negotiating a plea deal. When comparing the legal fees with the loss of your income, it could certainly pay off to hire an attorney to represent you.

Insurance Costs

One area that people often don’t consider when facing a DUI is the cost of insurance. After a DUI conviction, your premium is likely to see a dramatic increase, or you could even lose your insurance entirely. Car insurance is required in South Carolina, and without it, you cannot drive, which may lead to further issues with your employment if you can’t get to work or if your job requires you to drive. With an attorney representing you, they may be able to help you negotiate a plea deal that reduces charges and therefore does not result in a loss of insurance.

If you are facing DUI charges, hiring an attorney to represent your case could save you money in several different ways. Even if you were driving under the influence, there are situations in which you could have the charges dropped completely, such as if evidence was illegally obtained, or if the police officer who arrested you did not follow proper procedure. A skilled DUI defense attorney can help you by assessing your case and helping you to defend your future in the best way possible. When you need a DUI attorney in South Carolina, contact The De Bruin Law Firm.

Do You Need A DUI Attorney?

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If you have been arrested for a DUI in Greenville, SC, you likely have many questions and concerns going forward. One of them may be whether or not you need to hire a DUI lawyer. In general, when you are faced with a DUI charge, you will want to hire a lawyer. When this is the case, contact De Bruin Law Firm for effective legal counsel. We will do everything in our power to protect your rights and ensure that you fully understand the process. However, there are some cases in which hiring a DUI attorney isn’t strictly necessary. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether or not you need to hire a DUI lawyer.

Is This Your First Offense?

If this is your first offense,  one option sometimes available is agreeing to a lesser charge rather than driving under the influence. An experienced attorney will be able to determine whether the facts in your case make that situation possible. However, if this is not your first DUI, a Greenville DUI attorney is essential. With multiple DUI charges and no lawyer, there will be a greater variation in possible outcomes of your case, and you will likely face more severe sentencing. The guidance of an attorney will be necessary to protect your future.

Do You Plan To Plead Guilty?

Before pleading guilty, it is important to educate yourself on South Carolina’s DUI laws. This is when a DUI attorney can be an invaluable resource. Even if you believe that pleading guilty is the best course of action, a DUI lawyer can provide advice that may help you lessen the severity of your sentence. You should also keep in mind that you may be able to get a plea bargain if your conviction is less certain. For example, if your BAC was between .08 and .11, there could be some debate over whether the reading was entirely accurate, and that uncertainty may enable your DUI attorney to get a better plea bargain. Unless your conviction is absolutely guaranteed, there are many potential benefits to hiring a lawyer.

What Sentence Will You Face?

Not only is it possible for a DUI attorney is negotiate a plea bargain for you, they may also be able to negotiate a sentence bargain. A plea bargain is when the charge is reduced; for example, instead of being charged with DUI, your lawyer may be able to reduce the charge to reckless driving through a plea bargain. A sentence bargain is reducing the sentence. This can be especially helpful if you are facing incarceration for your DUI, because if you are considering pleading guilty, you likely want to know what the sentence will be before you do. An attorney can negotiate this for you so you can make a more informed decision for your future.
If you are looking for a DUI attorney in South Carolina, De Bruin Law Firm can help. Contact us today to learn more about our DUI defense services.

Penalties For Driving Under The Influence

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Under South Carolina law, it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher. People who are found guilty of driving with a blood alcohol level that is too high may be fined or imprisoned. Here is the possible penalties for DUI in South Carolina. To learn more contact our DUI Lawyer about your case.

For blood alcohol levels of .08 to .10 percent, the following penalties apply:

Offense Number  Imprisonment or Public Service and Fines License Suspension
One A fine of $400 or a minimum imprisonment of 48 hours to a maximum of 30 days. The court also has the option of ordering public service instead of the 48-hour minimum sentence. Six Months
Two A minimum fine of $2,100 to a maximum fine of $5,100 and imprisonment for a minimum of five days to a maximum of one year. The court may not suspend the fine by less than $1,100. Indefinite
Three A minimum fine of $3,800 to a maximum fine of $6,300 and imprisonment for a minimum of 60 days to a maximum of three years. Indefinite
Four or More Imprisonment for a minimum of one year to a maximum of five years. Indefinite

For blood alcohol levels of .10 percent to .16 percent, the following penalties apply:

Offense Number  Imprisonment or Public Service and Fines License Suspension
One A fine of $500 or a minimum imprisonment of 72 hours to a maximum of 30 days. The court also has the option of ordering public service instead of the 72-hour minimum sentence. Six Months or indefinite if greater than a blood alcohol level of .15
Two A minimum fine of $2,500 to a maximum fine of $5,500 and imprisonment for a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of two years. The court may not suspend the fine by less than $1,100. Indefinite
Three A minimum fine of $5,500 to a maximum fine of $7,500 and imprisonment for a minimum of 90 days to a maximum of four years. Indefinite
Four or More Imprisonment for a minimum of two years to a maximum of six years. Indefinite

For blood alcohol levels greater than .16 percent, the following penalties apply:

Offense Number  Imprisonment or Public Service and Fines License Suspension
One A fine of $1000 or a minimum imprisonment of 30 days to a maximum of 90 days. The court also has the option of ordering public service instead of the 30 day minimum sentence. Indefinite
Two A minimum fine of $3,500 to a maximum fine of $6,500 and imprisonment for a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of two year. The court may not suspend the fine by less than $1,100. Indefinite
Three A minimum fine of $7,000 to a maximum fine of $10,000 and imprisonment for a minimum of six months to a maximum of five years. Indefinite
Four or More Imprisonment for a minimum of three years to a maximum of seven years. Indefinite

At the De Bruin Law Firm in Greenville, South Carolina, our criminal defense attorneys can represent you if you are accused of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or
higher. Contact the De Bruin Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation with one of our DUI Attorneys.

The De Bruin Law firm offers a wide range of legal services to clients in Greenville, SC and the surrounding upstate. Our experienced attorneys can help you with legal matters in the areas of business law, criminal law, estate planning, and real estate law.

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