Albuquerque Dui Attorney Reviews All The Costs Associated With A Dui Conviction

You are going to hire a DUI Attorney after being charged with DUI. Defense preparation has begun by asking the right questions and finding the right lawyer for your case. Your next consideration should be: the cost of your legal defense.

Attorneys generally ascribe to one of two general fee structures when working on a DUI defense. There are those who work on a flat fee structure, which will pay for basic representation. The alternative is an hourly fee. In this instance, you will be billed for all of the time your DUI Attorney (and his employees) spends on your case, whether it is making phone calls, attending court appearances, filing motions, researching, etc. Whatever you decide, make sure to always obtain a written estimate before you hire a DUI Attorney.

After it's been signed, keep a copy of the agreement for your file.

If a lawyer agrees to work on retainer, those fees will tend to cover administrative hearings and court representation. Any retainer fees do not include the additional costs of an appeal.

Attorney fees:

A DUI Defense is usually around $2,500. The more complicated the case, the more it will cost.

- The simplest first-time DUI case - one with few or no disputed facts and an intended guilty plea - can cost, on a flat-fee basis, between $500 and $1200. You may find more experienced attorneys charging $1300-$2500 for the same case. It is common to hear from an experienced DUI Attorney that by charging more expensive fees, they can accept fewer clients and give more time to the individual cases. You should expect to pay more for better or more experienced lawyers. You should definitely interview multiple attorneys to obtain a price comparison for your defense.

- If you are a second offender, your legal fees start from $1500 to over $5000. This cost is directly related to how many past convictions you have and how complicated those cases were. Repeated offenses will have harsher penalties, and in a lot of states, a third DUI is an automatic felony.

- Regardless of whether you use a flat fee structure or pay by the hour, legal charges for a DUI case that continues on to trial might cost in the area of $2,500 - $20,000 or more. While most cases can be settled before the trial stage, some attorneys are especially experienced in fighting DUI charges. Be sure to have your attorney tell you about any possible complications to your defense and your chances of acquittal. This information might help form your legal defense strategy and will help you to comprehend the real costs you might undergo in the course of your defense.

- You have the option of asking for a court-appointed lawyer paid by the government if you do not wish to or cannot afford to hire a private attorney. Your financial details may be requested by the court. From a practical point of view, the court appointed attorney would be smarter than attempting to represent yourself.

Additional costs:

A DUI trial can involve hiring an expert witness. Their services can cost you anywhere from $200 to over $7000.

If you are convicted on charges of driving while intoxicated, fines and other costs might range from $300 - $1200 and possibly more.

Aside from the actual costs of your defense and fines, there are other costs, both real and intangible connected to your DUI.

Bail: You will need to pay money for bail to get out of jail following your arrest.

After a DUI arrest, your vehicle will be towed at a cost of between $150 and $2500. Though the standard price - which can still be found in some places - was around $100, nowadays it is becoming common to charge exorbitant fees for towing vehicles related to DUI cases. Getting your car is costly and troublesome.

Insurance: One of the costliest charges of a DUI conviction is the rise in insurance premiums. A DUI/DWI conviction will probably have a negative impact on your insurance rates for at least three to five years after your trial.

This may cost upwards of $4500.

Other Miscellaneous "Costs"

Employment: When applying for a job it is common for potential employers to ask if you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony. You may have trouble finding a job with a DUI conviction on your record.

Long Term Health Insurance: It is common practice for health insurance companies to consider your driving record when you apply. If you have been convicted of a drunk driving charge, there is a high probability that the coverage that you are able to obtain is going to cost more.

Renting: Your driving record may be of interest to potential landlords. That might not be a deal breaker when applying for a rental agreement, but it could very well affect the landlords' decision when considering you as a candidate.