A Honolulu Dui Attorney Outlines The Fees And Costs You Can Expect With A Dui Case

If you are facing DUI charges, you will surely be looking for a Honolulu DUI attorney. The steps you have taken so far are: preparing your defense, questioning potential attorneys, choosing the right attorney for your situation. Suddenly you will realize that you need to find out how much legal representation will cost.

When taking on a DUI defense case, an attorney will charge in one of two ways. There are those who offer a flat fee retainer. This will take care of the complete expense of a basic representation. There are also attorneys who charge by the hour. When this is the case, you are sure to be charged for any time the DUI attorney and his/her staff use to prepare your case. This might include attending court appearances, researching case law, making phone calls, filing motions, and so on. No matter what, you must require that the DUI attorney provide you with a written estimate before you hire him/her.

After it has been signed, you should file away a copy for yourself.

Lawyer costs: Expect to spend about $2,500 for a DUI Defense. If the case is very complicated, it may cost more.

If the DUI is a first offense, doesn't have many (or any) disputed facts and a guilty plea is intended, then the flat fees could be $500 - $1,200. Depending upon experience, an attorney may charge between $1,300 - $2,500 or even more. It depends upon the experience of the attorney. Often, attorneys who are experienced in DUI say that they can pay more attention to each case by charging more for each case. The reason for this is that they are able to carry a lighter caseload. Naturally, an attorney who has more experience will cost you more. When you are planning your defense, it's a good idea to interview several attorneys and find the best one possible who will fit your budget.

For a second offense, the cost of legal expenses ranges from $1,500 - $5,000 and up. Naturally, it is dependent upon any convictions you may have had in the past along with the details and the complexity of your current case.

Whether hourly rates or a flat fee structure are used, the cost of DUI legal fees for a case that is taken to trial can be anywhere between $2,500 - $20,000 and then some.

If you can't afford an attorney, the court can appoint a public defender at the expense of the court. It might be necessary for you to provide the details of your finances to the court. Common sense will tell you that you are better off with an attorney appointed by the court than you would be on your own.

Added expenses: If you decide it would be best for your DUI case to go to trial, it may become necessary to recruit an expert witness who can challenge specific points of evidence. This could cost you $2000 -$7000 and then some.

The charges, penalties and fines associated with a DUI conviction can cost between $300 - $1200 and then some.

There are a number of intangible costs involved with DUI, in addition to the fines and the cost of your defense. For example, you will have to pay for bail so that you can get out of jail after having been arrested.

This expense usually runs from $150 - $2500. Additionally, when arrested for DUI, your vehicle will be towed. There are places where it just costs a hundred dollars or so to retrieve your vehicle; however, more and more places are charging very high fees for the retrieval of vehicles towed due to DUI. It is both expensive and bothersome to have to retrieve your vehicle.

What will happen to your insurance? Your insurance premiums are sure to increase dramatically after a DUI conviction. Your insurance rates will be affected for a minimum of 3-5 years if you are convicted of DUI.

The estimated cost is at least $4500.

Employment opportunities present another miscellaneous "cost" because when you apply for a job, you are sure to be asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime (felony or misdemeanor). You will be less likely to be hired if you have a conviction for DUI.

What About Long Term Health Insurance? When you apply for health insurance, you are very likely to be asked about your driving record. Any coverage you might be able to get will cost you more if you have a drunk driving conviction on your record.

When you rent a place to live, the landlord may want to have a copy of your driving record. Although, this might not make it impossible for you to get a rental agreement, it may cause the landlord to choose a different applicant.