If I Just Plan On Pleading Guilty To A DUI Or DWI Charge In Hennepin County, Minnesota, Do I Really Still Need A DUI Defense Attorney?
Everyone has a right to represent themselves in court, but there’s a reason why this old saying exists: “An individual that represents himself has a fool for an attorney.”
The reality is that there are a lot of things that go on with a DWI. There are collateral consequences that can adversely affect you for the rest of your life and there are consequences that aren’t written down. For instance, if there are two people applying for the same job and the company conducts a background check, you could be passed over because of your DWI. The company isn’t obligated to tell you that your DWI is why they chose the other applicant.
There is a social stigma attached to having a DWI conviction. While most people drink, as soon as you get caught and punished for it, even others that drink will view you as an immoral person for it. These social consequences can be particularly burdensome for many people.
While you can handle your DUI or DWI by yourself, it doesn’t make anything easier as time goes on. Your first DWI is always the easiest one to fight because you aren’t looking at the severe consequences. The only way to not get a second DWI is to not get a first DWI. The odds are against you as soon as you get your first DWI.
You are better off fighting the first DWI, trying to keep it off of your record if you can, or at least fighting for the best possible outcome for yourself. That’s a very difficult task to accomplish on your own because of all of the moving parts involved. An experienced defense attorney is going to know exactly how to navigate the process to ensure you’re getting your best possible outcome.
DWI is actually more complicated in Minnesota than in other states. However, you can still get a DWI dismissed with the appropriate defense on your side. Sometimes you can get the charge lowered to careless driving but if you haven’t fought the license revocation, for all purposes in Minnesota, that license revocation is a prior.
Having a license revocation as a prior means that if you get arrested for a DWI again, it won’t be considered your first offense. It will be considered your second offense even if the criminal case was dismissed. This is something that a defense attorney would be able to explain to you and they could fight the license revocation for you as well as defend you in your criminal case.
When you hire an attorney, they are going to fight the case if there are issues and see if there’s any way to keep it off of your record. Your attorney will be familiar with the process and with everyone involved, from the judge to the prosecutors. They can alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with not knowing what to expect.
When you enter a plea of guilty, you know exactly what’s going to happen to you and there aren’t any surprises. That’s really important because there are a lot of things that can happen when you get arrested for a DWI. You can have a chemical use assessment and could see that you need treatment. It can say you just need to do a level I class.
There are also insurance consequences that will happen if your insurance company finds out about the DWI charge and any subsequent conviction. An attorney who practices in this area will know what steps you can take to mitigate those consequences.
So, while you don’t have to hire an attorney to defend you in a DUI or DWI case, there are many benefits to doing so that can help put you in the best position to mitigate as many consequences as possible.
With the guidance of a skilled attorney for DUI/DWI Law, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that we’ll make it look easy. For more information on DUI/DWI Law in Minnesota, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (612) 338-5545 today.
