Those who are arrested and charged with DWI (driving while intoxicated) will want to make sure they hire a lawyer to help defend against the charges. The accused does have the option to try to handle the case on their own, called pro se, but this is never a good idea in criminal court and will likely mean that not only are they convicted but they receive harsher penalties. Instead, they need to work with a DWI Defense Lawyer in Crowley LA.
Pro Se is Not Easy and Rarely Successful
Pro se is more often seen in small claims court because it’s possible for the case to be successful there and the potential penalties for losing a small claims civil case are typically small. With a DWI charge, the accused is facing jail time, probation, and high fines, as well as a life with a criminal record if they do not defend against the charges successfully. Pro se very rarely is successful in criminal court, so it should definitely be avoided.
Impact on Chances of Conviction
If the accused does attempt to handle the case pro se, they are far more likely to be convicted compared with if they had a lawyer helping them. This means they’re going to now have to deal with the sentencing for the charges as well as have a criminal record that could impact their ability to get a job in the future.
Impact on Penalties
When the accused attempts to take on this case pro se and they are convicted of the DWI, they have a much higher chance of being given the maximum potential penalties. If they had a lawyer, there would be the chance of getting the minimum penalties instead. For the jail part of their sentence, this could be the difference between 10 or 60 days in jail, just for a first offense.
If you’ve been arrested and charged with DWI, make sure you have legal representation so you can fight the charges and, if you are convicted, avoid the maximum penalties. Speak with a DWI Defense Lawyer in Crowley LA now to learn more about your own case or visit Chrisrichardattorney.com to learn more about how having a lawyer can help. You can also visit them on Facebook for more information.
