If you’ve been injured, arrested, or sued, you’re probably wondering how much it would cost to hire a lawyer. Or you might not even TRY to hire a lawyer because you just assume that it’s too expensive, or that you could probably get by on your own.  This is, unfortunately, all too common.  In fact, a lot of people who DO hire lawyers have learned their lesson by getting burned the first time. 

The good news is  this – many attorneys offer free consultations.  So, there is no reason, other than a bit of your time, to meet with a lawyer and let them tell you how they could help you.  Also, most personal injury attorneys work on what’s called a ‘contingency fee basis.”  This means you don’t have to have a lot of money to hire a lawyer.  The lawyer will not charge you legal fees upfront, but will take his or her fees out of whatever settlement or award you receive.  Usually, the attorney takes a percentage of the recovery.  And.. if you loose the case, then the attorney doesn’t get a fee either.  Although, keep in mind the costs incurred for the lawsuit are ordinarily the client’s responsibility, either way it turns out. 

Or, another way to think about it is this… what would it cost you NOT to hire a lawyer?  What consequences could you suffer by not having proper legal advice or representation?  While in minor cases, you might be able to successfully resolve the matter yourself, for cases in which anything valuable is at stake (your freedom, your health, your money, your pain and suffering), the consequences of not hiring a lawyer could be devastating. 

Take the example of a debt collections case.  Many people don’t hire a lawyer because they figure they’re already in debt, how much worse could a lawsuit really make it?  Trust me, it can be worse.  Having a judgment for a debt owned and unpaid is another negative on your credit report.  Also, that creditor may have been willing to negotiate if you got a lawyer involved, because a lawyer knows better how to deal with creditors and what risks they take in pursuing a collection against you. 

Another example – getting arrested.  Too often, those charged with crimes try to go it alone, thinking they’ll figure it out as they go along.  Wrong!  Getting a lawyer involved as early in the process is crucial to protecting your rights. Law enforcement, including the prosecuting attorney, are highly skilled at getting criminal defendants to talk.  Most times, you unwittingly say something that ruins your chances of getting a plea deal.  If you have an attorney speak for you, that won’t happen.  Also, an attorney may even be able to get the case dropped or the charges reduced early on… making everything else easier for you. 

Finally, if you’ve been in an accident, most times it is not in your best interest to talk to that nice insurance adjuster.  Their job is to make you think the settlement they offer you is a “good deal”… but the insurance adjuster, no matter how nice they seem, is looking out for the insurance company’s best interest – not yours.  Only an attorney would know what a “good deal” is under the law given your situation. 
 So, please, if you’ve suffered an injury, are facing criminal charges, are involved in a lawsuit, or have any other legal matter pending, don’t possibly jeopardize your rights.   Contact an attorney and ask about an initial consultation.  Only make the decision NOT to hire a lawyer after you know what a lawyer can do for you. 

Good luck!

Are you facing a legal issue?  Have you been sued, or are you wondering about foreclosure?  Did you just have a medical procedure that didn’t turn out as you expected?  Is bankruptcy looming?  What about your family life – are you and your spouse considering divorce?  Do you need to update your will?  Has someone you love been arrested for a DUI? 

These are examples of only some of the most common legal issues.  The fact is we actually deal with the law more than most people think.  More importantly, when we face a legal issue, many of us might not know where to turn for answers.  The legal system can certainly be overwhelming – especially because the consequences are often so grave. 

Since 1994, LawInfo has been providing the public with quality legal resources they can count on.  The idea for the company even came out of the founder’s own legal needs!  How do you find the right attorney?  How do you know the attorneys you contact are in good standing with the state bar association?  What if you want to learn about a legal issue before you talk to a lawyer?  Well, these are the reasons LawInfo was established!  LawInfo has a whole library of information about the most common legal issues including answers to frequently asked questions, articles, legal guides, legal forms, and other information – ALL FREE TO THE PUBLIC!  The really great thing is this – you can also easily find an attorney who will understand your legal needs.  It’s all designed to help the public – help someone find answers they need and find an attorney who can help them. 

Learn more about LawInfo’s Free Legal Resource Center and Find the Right Attorney in your area today!

Law Office of David A. Rawson
410 South Melrose Drive, Suite 218
Vista, CA. 92083
Phone: (888) 303- 8622
Website: www.northsandiegocountyduiattorney.com

David A. Rawson is an experienced and dedicated Vista California criminal attorney with over 28 years in practice. Born in Rhode Island, Attorney Rawson is a well regarded defense lawyer for the cities of Vista and San Diego, California, and the surrounding counties. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Rhode Island and a law degree from of California Western Law School .

As a successful Vista DUI attorney, Mr. Rawson has represented clients during the most difficult periods of their lives. His represents clients accused of DUI, traffic violations, sexual assault cases, drug charges, murder and white collar crimes. When faced with criminal charges, you have many options available to you. Mr. Rawson’s expertise in criminal procedures and defense strategies ensure that you get the best legal counsel possible. Vista DUI attorney Rawson devotes his career to defending those in trouble with the law.

Bar Admitted: California
Education: B.S., University of Rhode Island; J.D., California Western School of Law,
Practice Areas: Criminal law

Contact Vista DUI Attorney David A. Rawson, today at (888) 303-8622 to begin your FREE consultation with a skilled Vista California criminal defense attorney.

What are the penalties for DWI; What You Need to Hear?

First, an academic detour on the topic of “what is probation?”. Probation can be defined as a suspension of a sentence of jail, a fine, or even a driver’s license suspension by the court. Said another way, upon conviction, the judge pronounces a punishment of a jail sentence, a fine sentence, and a driver’s license suspension.Example: Judge Dredd says “Mr. Defendant, your sentence is 180 days in jail, a $2,000.00 fine, and a year’s suspension of your driver’s license.”

“Holy cow, I can’t believe it, I’m going to jail” is the thought you have when all of the sudden the judge speaks again. He says, “however, I’m going to probate this sentence. Your jail is probated for one year, $1,500.00 of your fine is probated, and your driver’s license suspension is probated.” In layman terms this means that you will not have to do the 180 days in jail if you behave for one year, that you will only pay $500.00 of the fine if you behave for one year, and your driver’s license will not be taken from you if you behave for one year.

“Wait” you say, what does “behave” mean? It means that the judge has offered you a “deal” you can’t refuse. This “deal” is a contract between you and the court. The contractual terms are simple. The judge promises not to put you in jail, not to make you pay the entire fine and not to take away your driver’s license. In exchange, if you agree to the probation, you are agreeing generally to do the following:

1) report once a month to a probation officer;

2) not to commit any further crimes during the term of probation;

3) to pay a monthly supervisory fee to the probation office (approximately $40.00);

4) to perform a specified number of community service hours during the term of your probation (between 24 and 80 hours) (community service is volunteer work to benefit the community);

5) to attend DWI awareness classes dealing with the effects of alcohol or listening to victims of DWI related tragedies;

6) to abstain from consuming alcohol for the term of your probation;

7) to pay your non-probated fines and court costs;

to submit to a breath test by law enforcement or court personnel upon request;

9) to install an alcohol ignition interlock device on your car and only drive a car equipped with such as device;

10) to make a $50.00 donation to M.A.D.D. and/or Crime Stoppers;

11) to remain within the county of your residence unless given permission by the court to leave it; and,

12) any other requirements the court sets for you.

Now, back to the specific penalties for intoxication offenses. DWI, depending on the number of prior convictions you have and when those convictions occurred, can be either a misdemeanor or a felony offense.

Generally speaking, the penalties for DWI are as follows:

a) first offense : a first-offense conviction includes a fine not to exceed $2,000.00 and/or the possibility of serving jail time from 3 days to 180 days, and a driver’s license suspension of 90 to 365 days. (Class B Misdemeanor).

b) second offense : the maximum fine increases to no more than $4,000.00 and/or jail from 30 days to one year, and a possible driver’s license suspension ranging from 180 days to 2 years. (Class A Misdemeanor).

c) third offense : here, you may receive a fine up to $10,000.00 and/or 2 to 10 years of imprisonment, and suspension of your driver’s license ranging from 180 days up to 2 years. (3 rd Degree Felony).

d) DWI with an open alcohol container (first offense) : In addition to the penalty referenced above you face a minimum 6 days in jail and a fine of no more than $2,000.00. (Class B Misdemeanor).

e) DWI with an accident where serious bodily injury occurred as a proximate cause of the intoxication : this crime is called intoxication assault, and upon conviction you may serve a minimum of 2 years up to a maximum of 10 years in jail. Additionally, you may be fined up to $10,000.00. (3 rd Degree Felony).

f) DWI where a death has occurred as a proximate cause of the intoxication : here, the crime is intoxication manslaughter. Upon conviction you might have to pay a maximum fine of $10,000.00 and/or be imprisoned from 2 to 20 years (Intoxicated Manslaughter or Manslaughter with use of Deadly Weapon are both 2 nd Degree Felonies).

g) A prior DWI conviction and a present drag racing charge : drag racing is a Class B Misdemeanor, however, it becomes a Class A Misdemeanor where the person had a prior drag racing conviction, a DWI conviction, or had an open alcohol container while they were driving.

h) DWI with a child passenger : A person commits a state jail felony if they drive while intoxicated and there is another person in the vehicle who is under 15 years of age. `Punishment for a non-enhanced state jail felony is by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more than 2 years or less than 180 days and a fine not to exceed $10,000.00.

In some of the above minor classifications you may be eligible for probation, but there is no guarantee that you will receive a probated jail sentence or fine. If you are convicted of intoxication assault and wish to receive probation, a minimum of 30 days in jail must be served as a condition of probation. Furthermore, to receive probation upon being convicted of intoxication manslaughter you must serve a minimum of 120 days in jail. However, if you are convicted of Intoxication Assault or Intoxication Manslaughter and the court or jury finds that you committed the offense with a deadly weapon you may be ineligible to receive probation at all.

If you are facing Drunk Driving charges in Austin, don’t hesitate! Contact the law office of Trichter & Murphy, P.C. at 888-822-8616 to protect your freedom.

Attorney Stephen L. Jones, has pioneered many new defenses and has helps over 100 people per year that are charged with OUI/DUI/DWI win their cases.