One of the biggest mistakes people make after they’re arrested and facing a DUI charge is they go online and try to read up on South Carolina’s DUI laws. They talk to their friends and family and see what advice they have to offer.
The problem is that a lot of people like to play armchair attorneys. They have no idea what it really takes for your criminal defense attorney in Greenville, South Carolina to get the DUI charges filed against you dismissed or reduced. This is why we suggest that, rather than trying to handle things on your own, you at least meet with one of the best Greenville, South Carolina DUI lawyers.
Fighting a DUI Charge Starts with the Analysis of the Evidence
When you first meet with one of our associates, they’re going to ask for your side of the story on your DUI charge. If they agree to represent you, they’ll ask the prosecutor for any information they have on the arrest. This will give your attorney a good idea of how strong the State’s evidence is.
If it appears weak, your criminal defense attorney in Greenville, South Carolina will try to negotiate a plea deal. Now, this won’t be a guilty plea. Nor will it be a no contest plea. Unless the evidence against you is overwhelming, your attorney would never recommend that you wave the white flag so early in the case.
Here, we’ll talk about when it makes sense to enter a guilty or no contest plea to a DUI charge. We will also explain what your attorney will do in the way of negotiating a plea deal. If you have questions about your own DUI charge, give us a call. We can set up a date and time for you to meet with one of our seasoned attorneys.
You Should Never Plead Guilty to a DUI Charge Until You’ve Talked to a Criminal Defense Attorney
It’s very rare that our criminal defense attorneys in Greenville, South Carolina advise a client to plead guilty to a DUI charge right off the bat. Until your attorney has a chance to see what evidence the State has, it would make no sense to do this. You want to at least give your lawyer the chance to get the DUI charges dropped or reduced to reckless driving.
Even if there is overwhelming evidence against you, there’s still a chance the best Greenville, South Carolina DUI lawyer can help. They’ll point out the fact that you have no criminal history. They may also point to the breathalyzer test and argue that it may not have been working properly. They’ll do whatever they can to poke holes in the prosecutor’s case. Their goal is to get the prosecutor to offer a favorable plea deal.
Is There a Difference Between a Guilty Plea and a No Contest Plea?
If the evidence against you is more than troubling, your criminal defense attorney in Greenville, South Carolina may suggest you plead guilty to the DUI charge. However, if they do this, they’re going to want to try to negotiate a fair sentence.
There are some penalties you simply can’t avoid, even if it’s your first DUI charge and conviction. However, your attorney may be able to get you probation or community service in lieu of jail time. Or they may be able to pave the way for a hardship license once you’ve served the first 90 days of your license suspension.
Specific Benefits of a No Contest Plea of a DUI Charge
Now, if you enter a no contest plea instead, there are a few benefits. Your attorney will still try to get a reduced sentence. However, you enjoy a unique benefit if you enter a no contest plea.
Specifically, by not admitting any guilt, your plea cannot be used against you in a civil case. If, for some reason, you are sued civilly for any injuries caused by your DUI, the plaintiff won’t be able to point to your no contest plea as a measure of guilt.
We all know that the best outcome for you is an acquittal. However, even the best Greenville, South Carolina DUI lawyers may not be able to achieve this. It all depends on the facts of your case.
The Best Greenville, South Carolina DUI Lawyers Will Steer You in the Right Direction
It can be scary facing a DUI charge. Regardless of the penalties, nobody wants to have a conviction for DUI on their record. When people hear that you were convicted of DUI, they make certain assumptions about you. The truth is that we all make mistakes every now and then. Some people are just lucky enough that they don’t get caught.
As long as nobody was hurt and it’s your first offense, you deserve the benefit of the doubt. This is why our firm employs the best Greenville, South Carolina DUI lawyers. Their goal is to either get the DUI charges against you dismissed or at least reduced to a lesser charge. Of course, there are times when this isn’t an option.
We recommend that you contact our office as soon as possible after your arrest. You’re going to want a criminal defense attorney in Greenville, South Carolina by your side when you enter your plea. Once you enter a guilty plea or a no contest plea, you can’t take it back. The judge will make this abundantly clear at the time.
You won’t be able to hire one of the best Greenville, South Carolina DUI lawyers after the fact. By then, there isn’t much they can do to help you. At least if you retain our services at the outset, we’ll be able to meet with the prosecutor and see if they’re willing to drop or reduce the DUI charges.
With so much at stake, you can’t risk handling this all by yourself. You may think you can learn all you need to know on the internet. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Just having an attorney by your side shows the court that you take the DUI charges seriously. But if you want the prosecutor to give you the time of day, you’ll hire a criminal defense attorney in Greenville, South Carolina.