Anyone charged with driving while impaired (DWI) is accused of a crime. It’s either a misdemeanor or a felony and could cause you to spend time in jail or pay a lot in fines. According to Forbes, drunk driving accidents kill an average of 37 people every day in the United States, which is partly why DWI is a criminal offense. Whenever facing a DWI charge, it’s best to have an attorney help you build the best possible defense. Here are four benefits of hiring an experienced DWI lawyer.

1. Uphold Your Legal Rights

Being charged with a DWI offense doesn’t mean you are guilty. For example, if a police officer didn’t have reasonable suspicion to stop your vehicle, the entire matter might get dismissed. The officer would also need probable cause to suspect you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol in order to detain you or initiate drug or alcohol testing. A DWI lawyer can uphold your rights until the matter is settled.

2. Contest Sketchy Evidence Against You

An experienced DWI attorney can examine the evidence against you, how it was collected, and how the police handled it. An attorney can also challenge any improperly gathered or processed evidence and get it thrown out of court when possible. If there are any legal issues with how the evidence was collected or handled while in police custody, your attorney might get it thrown out of court.

3. Allow You to Drive While the Matter Is Resolved

Although you lose your driving privileges the moment you are charged with driving while impaired for an alcohol-related offense, you may be entitled to privileges that allow you to keep driving during a suspension period. Your DWI lawyer might be able to reduce this suspension period to 10 days, or in rare instances, they may be able to eliminate the suspension period altogether. If you work, go to college, or have family responsibilities, your attorney might help you maintain your driving privileges, even on a limited basis, while the case is argued and eventually resolved.

4. Get More Lenient Terms When Possible

When the evidence against you is strong, your attorney might help arrange a plea agreement that lessens your penalties. At a minimum, your attorney at Whitley, Jordan, Inge & Rary, PA will know the steps you need to take to mitigate your penalties. If you don't have a history of driving while impaired, your attorney may be able to get you unsupervised probation. Even in cases where you have a prior DWI, your attorney can counsel you on how to avoid mandatory jail time under the statute.

When facing DWI charges, our team is here to help. You can call Whitley, Jordan, Inge & Rary, PA to schedule a consultation. We look forward to representing you in your case.