It’s a situation no one wants to be in. Being arrested for a DUI in Van Nuys or anywhere in the general area puts you at significant risk of heavy fines, losing your license, and possibly jail time. This can be true even if this is the first time you’ve gotten a DUI. The courts in and around Van Nuys take driving under the influence very seriously – which is why it’s so important that you speak to an experienced DUI defense attorney immediately.
Our reputable Van Nuys DUI attorney is a must-have when your future is on the line. A good DUI lawyer knows how to build the strongest possible legal defense for you. It could make all the difference, save money, and keep you out of jail.
There are so many ways a Van Nuys DUI lawyer can assist you when you are facing a DUI charge. These include:
A. Initial Consultation and Case Evaluation
Getting arrested and charged with a DUI is overwhelming for anyone. It’s hard to know what to do next or even what to think. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through this alone. During your free initial consultation, we will attentively listen to your narrative and give you real-world advice on how to protect yourself.
B. Legal Representation Throughout the DUI Process
Once you’ve been arrested for a DUI, it can feel like the world is against you. The Van Nuys court system certainly is. They are focused on preventing intoxicated driving, and they accomplish that goal by punishing those they think have been driving under the influence. Once we go to work on your case, you can rely on us to protect your rights and stand by your side from start to finish.
C. Investigation and Evidence Gathering
Our team has extensive experience investigating DUI cases. We will look at all of the evidence, communicate with witnesses, and gather evidence to prove your story. The best defense starts with a thorough investigation.
D. Building a Strong Defense Strategy
Investigation and evidence gathering are important, but so is crafting a tight legal argument to present to the court. Our DUI lawyers has done this many times. We know how to develop a strong defense strategy that will use every possible angle to win your case.
E. Negotiating With Prosecutors and Seeking Reduced Charges
Negotiating is a big part of our job as your criminal defense attorneys. Ideally, your case will prove you were completely innocent. But if we can’t get the charges dropped completely, we can still often negotiate for reduced charges and lessened punishments.
F. Courtroom Representation and Skilled Trial Advocacy
Standing in a courtroom and explaining yourself to a judge is harder than most people realize. Having our Van Nuys DUI lawyer at your side to explain your situation makes things much easier. There are no guarantees about the outcome of DUI cases, but we can tell you that skilled legal representation helps. Our passionate advocacy on your behalf increases the odds of a favorable outcome.
The DUI laws in California are comprehensive and include driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs that can undermine your judgment. According to the California DMV:
It is illegal for you to drive if you have a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of:
If law enforcement pulls you over and decides you are seriously impaired, they can arrest you and charge you without a BAC test. If you refuse to take a test, you can still be charged.
The penalties for a DUI in California can be significant, especially if you have more than one offense on your record.
There are several steps we recommend you take after a DUI arrest. These include:
1. Contact a California DUI attorney immediately.
A DUI lawyer is going to be the most helpful person you can talk to in your situation. They can tell you exactly what to do to protect your rights moving forward.
2. Ask for a hearing.
A hearing with the Department of Motor Vehicles gives you a chance to negotiate the suspension of your license, which we can help you with.
3. Enroll in an alcohol education program.
This is typically one of the requirements for DUI probation. Failure to take the course could result in jail time.
DUI cases in Van Nuys and throughout California typically follow four stages. They are:
1. DMV Hearing
You can negotiate with the DMV regarding your license suspension.
2. Arraignment
This is the first time you will go to court for your DUI. You will enter a plea (we typically recommend “not guilty”). This hearing is usually short.
3. Pre-Trial Conference
Your lawyer will speak with the prosecution to go over the evidence and negotiate for a reduction or dismissal of your charges.
4. Trial
Only a few DUI cases go all the way to trial. If the pre-trial conference negotiations are unsuccessful, we will represent you at your trial and argue on your behalf.
At each of these stages, an experienced DUI attorney can make a major difference in the results you get. Even at the DMV hearing, having your DUI defense lawyer there to negotiate with officials ensures you have the best possible chance of getting a favorable outcome, like getting to keep your license.
At the arraignment, your attorney can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and explain all the legal aspects to you. And at the pre-trial conference, a good lawyer can mean the difference between successful negotiations with the prosecution and avoiding trial or failing in negotiations in having to go to trial.
The statute of limitations differs based on the category of DUI. A misdemeanor DUI charge must be brought within a year of the incident where driving under the influence occurred. A felony DUI charge must be brought within three years of the DUI event.
Defending against DUI charges in Van Nuys is challenging but not impossible. Our Van Nuys DUI attorneys at Hurwitz Law Group successfully defended clients in your situation multiple times. A successful defense requires careful planning, skillful negotiation, and good relationships with the area courts. We have all of these, which makes us a good choice for those facing DUI charges in Van Nuys.
Some of the key things we will consider using for your criminal defense include:
California law requires law enforcement to have a good reason for pulling people over. It’s not enough to have a suspicion. They need to conduct the stop for a reason. That could be a broken taillight, running a stop light, or other common traffic violations. But if they just pull you over for no reason, that could be considered an illegal stop.
If the police performed an illegal stop, we might be able to use their mistake to fight your DUI charges.
Most people are familiar with Miranda warnings from television and movies. In real life, if an officer fails to notify you of your rights, it can make it difficult to use any evidence they obtain. Sometimes it’s possible to use Miranda violations to invalidate DUI charges.
The taking of blood and testing it for alcohol content must be handled in a specific manner as dictated by California law. If the test is not conducted correctly, processed correctly, or some other step of the process is mishandled, the results can sometimes be thrown out. If they don’t have the blood alcohol test results to use in the prosecution, it can make it much more difficult for them to get a conviction.
Have you been arrested for a DUI in Van Nuys? If you have, please contact us right away. There is a lot we can do to help you fight these charges. But we can only do it if you contact us first.
Our experienced criminal defense attorney at Hurwitz Law Group is ready to listen to your story and give you specific advice about your case. A DUI conviction can lead to serious, long-term consequences. We don’t want you to face those consequences if you don’t have to. Don't hesitate to contact us now to get started on your case!
Brian Hurwitz Has 10+ Years of Criminal Defense Experience
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