Retaining a San Diego DUI Lawyer
Do You Need a DUI Lawyer?
The answer is Yes!
If you are a resident of San Diego County, and you have recently been arrested for DUI, please consider Kerry Steigerwalt's Pacific Law Center. An experienced DUI lawyer can help you understand the charges you face and all of the issues involved. Driving While Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs can be abbreviated as either DUI or DWI, however we refer to the offense in this website as "DUI." Driving under influence is a serious offense that requires a mandatory jail sentence upon conviction and a mandatory driver's license suspension. Residents of San Diego can consult with a DUI lawyer at Kerry Steigerwalt's Pacific Law Center free of charge.
Generally, when defendants are arrested for DUI they face two separate proceedings: (1) a criminal case in court and (2) a civil administrative case with the Department of Motor Vehicles. There are several different types of DUI offenses and prior DUI convictions substantially increase the penalties. As a result, it is very important that you understand DUI law the first time you are arrested and do what you can to avoid or minimize the damage on this offense as well as avoiding future arrests.
DUI is one of the most common crimes people hire a lawyer to defend. Every year it seems like there are harsher DUI laws and more serious penalties. A substantial amount of California case law exists on DUI, and there have been numerous legal challenges. All cases are different and each must be evaluated on its own merits, because the statutes and case law are constantly changing and there are many new areas to challenge and fight all the time. Contact a San Diego DUI lawyer to discuss your case.
Whatever you do, please do not plead guilty without having your case reviewed by an experienced DUI lawyer. An experienced attorney can help you determine what defenses may apply to your DUI case or to the motor vehicle driver's license suspension. You have a right to demand a trial by jury on a DUI case, and you also have a right to request a hearing at the Motor Vehicle Division. A San Diego DUI Lawyer can represent you in both the criminal courts and at the motor vehicle division.
DUI & DWI defense is a specialized area of law. It is very important that you have an attorney experienced in this area. Because of our experience, the DUI lawyers at Kerry Steigerwalt's Pacific Law Center understand what you are going through and know how to get results.
How Do You Find a Very Good DUI Lawyer?
It may seem difficult to select a DUI lawyer at first, and we caution you against retaining the first attorney you meet. There are many attorneys who do not limit their practice to criminal and DUI cases, and some of these lawyers only handle a few cases a year. Some other attorneys may be incompetent or inexperienced.
To find a good DUI lawyer in the San Diego area, we suggest that you ask the following questions:
- Does your firm have attorneys who are highly experienced in defense of criminal and DUI cases?
- Does your firm have attorneys who limit their practice to criminal and DUI defense?
- Does your firm have access to the State's most experienced expert witnesses on the forensic testing of blood and breath alcohol?
- Does your firm make promises as to the results that they can obtain? Beware -- this is something an ethical lawyer cannot do. Specific results cannot be accurately predicted.
- Does your firm use a written flat fee agreement that includes trial if necessary? Or is the "fee" only a low initial retainer that does not cover the entire case or MVD hearing? Our Fee Agreements cover all legal fees (Costs, however, are extra).
- Will your DUI lawyer actually handle the case or will you simply sign me up and refer me to another San Diego attorney or firm?
- Can your firm provide recent trial results?
At Kerry Steigerwalt's Pacific Law Center, our experienced legal team believes in an aggressive defense. We feel this is necessary because California’s DUI statutes are zealously enforced and provide substantial punishments. We are dedicated to protecting individual rights. We will not recommend that a client plea guilty to DUI unless, after our investigation, we believe such a plea would be in our client's best interest.
If you or someone you know has been charged with DUI, consult with a lawyer at our San Diego office. Again, please don't plead guilty. If you do not contact our firm, please seek the advice of another experienced DUI lawyer in San Diego County.
