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DUI & DWI Defense in SC

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DUI & DWI Lawyer in Columbia

Facing a DUI charge in Columbia, South Carolina can be an overwhelming and stressful experience. You’re going to have to face the complexities of the judicial system, and you need an attorney who is skilled at navigating these frightening roads. DUIs are very serious charges that can completely change your life, so you need to avoid taking any risks. While no two cases are the same, a good DUI attorney can review your case and help you to determine the best route in front of you. You can seek a free consultation today to learn more.

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What Should I Do If I’ve Been Convicted Of A DUI?

The reason that a DUI is such a serious charge is that to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol is to put yourself and everyone around you on the road at risk. You could end up responsible for serious injuries, great property loss, or the total devastation of taking a life. You should expect the consequences to be harsh if you engage in this behavior, even if you don’t happen to cause any injuries. As soon as you’ve been charged with the crime, you need to contact a good DUI attorney to walk you through the process. Your goal will be to get the best possible outcome, which may be as severe as losing your license, permanently, or as mild as a heavy fine or jail sentence. How it works out will depend on you and your lawyer.

Your unique circumstances will come into play, and you’ll want someone who can get the best possible deal for those circumstances. You may need to accept a plea, fight the charge, or question the validity of your arrest to achieve the best outcome. Your attorney will know how to guide you in the right direction. To choose the best attorney for your needs, ask a few questions. For example, you should find out where he or she went to school, how long the lawyer has been in practice, and what he or she knows about the system in South Carolina. You should also seek information about the fee structure and billing system. You don’t want to choose the least expensive option, but you want to make sure that you can afford the representation.

DUI Attorney Tips And Guidelines

There are many things that an attorney can help you with when you’re facing a DUI charge. For example, he or she may be able to minimize the charges, reduce your jail sentence, or reduce the fines that you have to pay. It is also possible to bring into question the validity of the breathalyzer or field sobriety test. If you take medications or have pre-existing conditions, then these factors may result in a mistaken impairment charge. Having witnesses helps, and your attorney can make the best of all of the circumstances of your case. Without an attorney, you may face the worst case scenario.

Breathalyzer tests can often be called into question because of being poorly serviced or uncalibrated. In situations like this, it is quite common for prosecutors to be willing to reduce the charges or offer a lesser sentence. If this doesn’t pan out and the case goes to court, then it’s important to have a good attorney to represent you in front of a jury. It is entirely possible to get the jury to dismiss the charges if there is any shadow of doubt.

Ultimately, when you hire a Columbia, SC DUI attorney, your goal is to get your charges dismissed or minimized, while also ensuring that you face the least extreme consequences for your offense. You may not be able to get out of the charge, but an attorney can offer alternate paths to extreme fines and jail time, such as community service, to minimize the severity.

Reducing Your Charges With A Columbia Attorney

A Columbia DUI attorney can help you to pursue your case in the best possible way. You may be able to prove that you were not actually intoxicated at the time of an accident. If you can’t, then you can attempt to reduce the charges and minimize the punishments with the right lawyer. You’ll need to decide, first, if it’s worth going to court, such as when you are certain of your innocence. In some cases, if you are truly guilty, it will be no more than a waste of time and money to take it to court. Of course, this all depends on your unique situation, and this is why you need to get a free consultation of your case to decide how best to move forward.

You’ll want to discuss the unique details of your case with your attorney to decide on the best route forward. You should start by determining whether it is possible and practical to fight the charges. If so, develop a plan and course of action for defending your innocence. If you cannot fight the charges, then your attorney can work to minimize them by negotiating with the prosecution for a plea bargain to keep you out of court. You may be able to get a lesser charge by demonstrating that you were capable of clear communication, that you were on medications, that the breathalyzer wasn’t working correctly. You can bring in witnesses to tell where you were and what you were doing before driving. You can bring in mechanics to show that your vehicle was impaired by a mechanical error. There are so many ways to try to minimize or eliminate DUI charges, that it is always in your best interests to contact an attorney.

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You’ll begin by establishing whether or not you can fight the charges and whether or not it is practical to do so. If so, you’ll start to form a plan to defend your innocence. If you cannot fight the charges, then you may be able to negotiate a plea bargain, and settle the case out of court. You can also seek a lesser charge if you can demonstrate that the breathalyzer wasn’t working correctly, that you were on medications, or that you were capable of communicating clearly. You may also be able to bring in witnesses to testify about what you were doing before driving, mechanics to testify that your vehicle was impaired, or other witnesses who can vouch for your sobriety at the time of driving. It is always best to contact an attorney when facing a DUI charge.

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It's free to speak with us about your case, and if you hire us, we don't get paid unless we win.

Awards & Associations

Our Locations

The Jeffcoat Firm Injury & Accident Lawyers

1333 Main St #510,
Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 373-1668

The Jeffcoat Firm Injury & Accident Lawyers

5465 Sunset Blvd Suite B,
Lexington, SC 29072

(803) 373-1302

The Jeffcoat Firm Injury & Accident Lawyers

161 Elliott St SE Suite B,
Orangeburg, SC 29115

(803) 373-7593

The Jeffcoat Firm Injury & Accident Lawyers

749-2 University Village Dr,
Blythewood, SC 29016

(803) 592-6553

! NOTICE ! No Legal Advice Intended. This website includes general information about legal issues and developments in the law. Such materials are for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments. These informational materials are not intended, and must not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances. You need to contact a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction for advice on specific legal issues or problems.

Files are primarily handled in our main office in Columbia.

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