Hiring A Lawyer After Committing An OWI Offense
A common cause of many auto accidents is a driver operating a vehicle while he or she is under the influence of alcohol. Committing an OWI offense is serious because it can lead to innocent drivers getting injured, and sometimes the injuries are fatal. There is always the risk of going to jail when driving while intoxicated, but sometimes people are unaware of how intoxicated they are and drive anyway. If you are in jail because you committed an OWI offense, the severity of your punishment can rely on whether you hire a lawyer or not. A lawyer's assistance can make the difference between getting sentenced to prison or simply be placed on probation for a while.
How Many OWI Offenses Have You Committed?
The number of times that you committed OWI offenses will help a lawyer determine how to go about fighting your legal charges. For example, if you have never committed an OWI offense before now, a lawyer might try to help you avoid having to spend any further time behind bars. However, if you have committed multiple OWI offenses in the past, a lawyer might try to get your sentence reduced to spending time in the county jail rather than going to prison. You will have to talk about your past OWI offenses in an honest manner if you want your lawyer to build a solid case. He or she might also get a copy of your driving records to solidify everything that you discuss.
Have You Ever Been Arrested for Other Crimes?
Along with your past OWI offenses, a lawyer will want to know about any other types of crimes you have committed in your life. Even if you committed a crime over a decade ago, it is important to let your lawyer know all the details. The reason past crimes are important to discuss is this can help a lawyer try to build a defense based on your overall character. For example, if you have never committed any other crimes in the past, it can help a lawyer prove that you may have had one moment of bad judgment. If you committed minor crimes in the past, it does not necessarily mean that your good character is destroyed, but knowing your history, your lawyer can frame you in the best possible light to the judge and/or jury.
Are You Willing to Join a Rehabilitation Program?
A lawyer might recommend actions that you should take before going to court, such as joining a rehabilitation program. By going to rehab before court, it can help a lawyer prove that you do not intend to commit an OWI offense again. A lawyer might also suggest that you take other actions, such as performing community service to show that you are trying to live your life positively.
For more information contact a professional such as Mark Caldwell Attorney at Law.