Driving under the influence of alcohol or mind altering drugs (including prescriptions) is a serious offense that can carry serious penalties. Having the right experienced DUI attorney serving Chicago on your side can make all the difference.
DUI cases involve complex legal nuances, forensic science and specific civil procedures. With over 27 years of experience, James Dimeas knows how to win DUI cases by focusing on the details.
Experience
If you’re charged with a DUI, the first thing you need to do is seek professional legal help. This is an offense that can lead to serious consequences and penalties such as loss of driving privileges, fines, jail time or probation. It can also ruin your professional and personal life.
A skilled DUI attorney serving Chicago can help you get the charges against you dropped or reduced. They can use their experience and knowledge to find holes in the prosecutor’s case and present evidence that will support your defense.
For example, they can question the accuracy of standardized field sobriety tests (SFSTs), such as the walk and turn test or the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. They can also challenge the testimony of the police officer who pulled you over, using any inconsistencies or omissions as a way to discredit his or her credibility. They can even help you fight to get your driver’s license reinstated after a DUI conviction.
Knowledge of the Law
A DUI is a serious offense that can affect your life in many ways. It can result in loss of driving privileges, fines and jail time. A conviction of a DUI can also ruin your career and make it difficult to find employment.
An experienced Chicago DUI attorney has the knowledge of the law to help you fight your case. Often, a good lawyer can have your charges dropped or the penalties reduced. For example, an experienced DUI lawyer may be able to show that the field sobriety tests were improperly administered or that the breath test equipment was faulty.
If you’re arrested on suspicion of DUI, the police will want to take a blood, breath or urine test to determine your level of intoxication. Illinois is an implied consent state, so if you refuse to give one of these tests your driver’s license will be suspended. An experienced Chicago DUI attorney can advise you on the pros and cons of a refusal to take these tests.
Knowledge of the Courts
A conviction for DUI will impact your life in many ways, including destroying your reputation and making it difficult to find employment. It may also negatively affect your educational opportunities and your relationship with family and friends.
There are many defenses that an experienced DUI attorney will use in your case. For example, it is possible that your blood or breath alcohol content was lower than the legal limit due to poorly administered field sobriety tests by untrained police officers. It is also possible that your DUI charge was based on the presence of mind-altering drugs such as marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine or prescription medications such as Ambien or Valium.
It is important that you choose an experienced Chicago DUI criminal defense lawyer to represent you. Avoid choosing a public defender who will be handling multiple cases at once, as they do not have the time or skills needed to properly defend your case. A skilled DUI attorney will give your case the attention it deserves and will work tirelessly to get your charges reduced or dismissed.
Knowledge of the Evidence
In order to effectively mount a DUI defense, your lawyer must be well acquainted with the evidence against you. For instance, he must know how to challenge the reliability of chemical tests like breathalyzers and blood alcohol content (BAC) readings. He should also be familiar with the regulations surrounding standardized field sobriety tests such as the walk and turn test, one leg stand test, and horizontal gaze nystagmus test.
It is important to remember that DUI laws don’t just pertain to alcohol, they include driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, including prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs. These charges can be just as serious as a DUI charge related to alcohol and can affect your insurance rates, license, job, family, and life in general.
Choosing an Illinois DUI attorney is crucial to your case outcome. A well-trained lawyer that focuses on DUI law, has experience in the court where your case will be heard and a thorough knowledge of the facts of your specific situation is the only way to give you the best chance of having your charges reduced or dismissed.
