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.
What will a criminal defense attorney do for my case?
Once I have evaluated your case I will provide you an overview of your case. This will describe among other things the criminal law process, how we will work together to navigate the criminal justice system, and what expectation I have for you as a client and what expectations you should have for me as your defense attorney.
What should my attorney do to prepare my case for trial?
I collect not only the evidence that the government is required to supply, but also gather my own evidence for your defense as well. I will talk to witnesses, look for other video from third party sources, and go to the scene of the alleged offense. I believe your case is far to important not to go the extra mile to insure we know all the facts for your case, to provide you the best possible defense.
What do I need to do to help my attorney defend me?
No one cares more about your case than you. While we prepare your case, we also prepare your for trial. The one thing we need most from you is total honesty. Remember, everything you and I talk about is confidential. I am on your side.
For Drug offense cases, we may require you to look into a rehabilitation facility. I have had client’s charged with drug crimes who unfortunately we suffering from serious addiction and needed help, not jail. When I was able to convince those clients to make the difficult decision and enter a rehabilitation facility it helped create a positive situation that made negotiating their case more favorable. Many criminal cases last over a year. If I can help get a client suffering from an addition on the path to recovery while defending them from their criminal drug charges, their future becomes much more optimistic, and often, so does their case. Changing your life prior to trial or before a plea will greatly decrease your changes of going to jail. We are here to help not only with your legal needs, but also to help you in life. We have seen success stories and want you to be one too.
How much does a criminal defense attorney cost?
Your attorney’s fees will be based on multiple things including but not limited to, the severity of the crime, the evidence against you, prior convictions, and the amount of jail time your are facing if convicted. For criminal defense services I charge my client’s a flat fee on almost all cases at the start of their case. Therefore, you know how much your case will cost on day one.
I also am aware that many people are unable to afford to pay thousands of dollars upfront. In order to better serve my clients I offer a payment plan option. If you’d like to see if you qualify for our criminal defense payment plan option please contact us by using our form, or call us directly at (864) 372-2896.
Who will handle my case?
How do you know the attorney you hire is the attorney who will represent you during the entire process? I personally guarantee that I will handle every part of your criminal case, you will not be passed of t a junior attorney.
Aaron De Bruin | Criminal Defense Attorney
For over 10 years, Aaron De Bruin has been dedicated to representing clients within the criminal justice system. Aaron is committed to relentlessly providing his clients the legal counsel they deserve during the difficult times associated with a criminal charge. He prides himself on the ability to defend his clients and constantly seek the most favorable outcome for their individual situation.
De Bruin Law Firm
Request a Free Consultation Today
(864) 372-2896
