How Much Does a DUI Attorney Cost?

After you’ve been arrested for DUI, you might start worrying about all of the additional costs and potential penalties you are facing, including court costs, the loss of your driver’s license, possible job loss, fines, and so on. You might be reluctant to take on the cost of hiring a lawyer. However, quality legal representation could make the difference between landing behind bars and staying free. 

The experienced DUI defense attorneys at Crawford and Boyle, LLC are here to provide aggressive legal representation and protect you from the harshest consequences associated with DUI charges. Contact us today to learn more about DUI attorney costs and how we can help.

How Much Do DUI Lawyers Usually Charge?

It is very difficult to provide an exact number for how much lawyers charge for their services. This is because their fees are part of a confidential contract between them and their client. Every DUI case is different, so the lawyer may charge one fee to one client and another for the next. 

Even the way that lawyers charge may be different. For example, some lawyers charge an hourly rate, billing you for the time that they work. Others require a significant down payment or retainer before they will accept a case. Other attorneys may charge a flat fee for the case, but this fee could be higher than paying an attorney’s hourly rate, depending on the complexity of the case. 

Keep in mind that hiring the cheapest DUI lawyer isn’t necessarily the best option. You could be getting what you pay for.  However, paying the most expensive attorney doesn’t guarantee that you will get the outcome you want either. Hiring the right lawyer usually involves looking for an attorney with experience handling DUI cases who charges a fee that you can afford.

Factors That Can Affect the Cost of a DUI Attorney

Georgia’s Rules of Professional Conduct state that attorneys cannot charge an unreasonable fee. Relevant factors that go into determining the reasonableness of a criminal defense attorney’s fee are:

• The lawyer’s experience, reputation, and ability
• The time and labor required for the case
• The novelty and difficulty of the legal questions involved in the case
• The skill necessary to properly perform the legal services
• The likelihood that accepting the case will prevent the lawyer from accepting others
• The fee that other attorneys charge in the same area for similar cases
• Any time limitations

Additional factors that lawyers might consider when setting a fee for a DUI case include:

• Whether the case goes to trial
• Whether the case involves complex motion filings
• The circumstances of your arrest
• The jurisdiction where you are charged
• Whether the case involved an accident, high BAC, or prior DUIS
• Whether the case will involve hiring expert witnesses or accident reconstruction specialists
• Whether the lawyer has a strong trial record in DUI cases

What DUI Attorneys Do

To understand why hiring a DUI lawyer may seem expensive, it’s important that you understand their role in your criminal case. A lawyer can:

• Answer your questions
• Review the charges against you
• Conduct an independent investigation into your case
• Identify possible legal arguments regarding your arrest, such as an unlawful search or seizure, an invalid stop not based on reasonable suspicion, or problems with how tests were conducted
• Challenge blood alcohol testing procedures
• File motions to have the charges against you dismissed 
• Negotiate for reduced charges or penalties with the prosecutor
• Represent your legal interests during hearings and at trial

Consequences of a DUI Conviction

Ultimately, a DUI attorney will work to help you avoid a conviction. A DUI conviction in Georgia for a first-time offense includes various serious penalties, including:

• Up to one year of jail time
• Fines of $300 to $1,000
• Driver’s license suspension of twelve months
• 40 hours of community service
• Twelve months of probation
• Alcohol and drug counseling
• DUI school

More serious penalties apply for cases involving higher BACs, accidents, or prior convictions.

You can also face collateral consequences, such as negative effects on your reputation, job loss, and loss of custody rights.

When you consider these possible penalties, the question then becomes, “How much are you willing to pay to protect your freedom and future?” Quality legal representation might pay for itself by preventing jail time, reducing fines, and/or protecting your driver’s license.

What Should I Ask Before I Hire a DUI Lawyer?

Not all DUI attorneys are the same. Fortunately, many of them offer an initial consultation in which you can get to know more about them, their fee structure, and what it would be like working with them. This gives you an affordable way to compare the value of hiring different lawyers. 

Some questions that you might wish to ask include:

• How much experience do you have? Look for an attorney who not only has experience in criminal law but also in DUI cases specifically. There is simply no substitute for relevant legal representation. 
• What percentage of your cases are DUI cases? Look for a lawyer who doesn’t dabble in DUI cases. These criminal cases can be very complicated and require an in-depth knowledge and understanding of criminal procedure, unlawful stops, blood alcohol concentration determination issues, blood testing protocols, field sobriety testing errors, and medical issues that can result in false readings.
• How many DUI trials have you handled? It is not enough to have a lawyer who frequently negotiates plea bargains. You need an attorney who isn’t afraid to take your case to trial. This gives the prosecutor an incentive to negotiate a better plea agreement and ensures that your lawyer is equipped to take your case all the way if necessary. 
• How do you charge? Ask whether the lawyer charges hourly or a flat fee. Ask whether you will be required to put up a retainer before they will provide legal services. 
• What can I expect to pay if I hire you? While the lawyer may not be able to tell you exactly how much your case will cost, they might be able to give you an estimate of the projected attorney fees and any legal costs you might be responsible for.
• What are your payment arrangements? You can ask the lawyer if they offer payment plans, financing opinions, or other flexible arrangements to make it easier for you to afford their legal services.

What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of a Successful Outcome?

An ethical DUI attorney cannot guarantee a particular outcome, such as a dismissal of the charges against you. However, there are things that you can do to improve your chances of a successful outcome. 

First, tell your DUI lawyer everything about the stop and your arrest. Law enforcement could have violated your constitutional rights and provide grounds for your lawyer to file a motion to suppress evidence. You may wish to write down this information while your memory is fresh, but only share it with your lawyer.

If you suspect that you have an alcohol problem, you can complete an alcohol education program before the court orders you to take one. Taking this initiative can show that you are taking the problem seriously and being proactive, putting your lawyer in a better position to negotiate for reduced charges or a dismissal.

Another option is to voluntarily enter an alcohol or drug treatment program. Showing that you are in rehabilitation can look favorably on a criminal defendant, as the judge may perceive the defendant as diligent in their recovery. This could be a program where you stay at the rehabilitation facility on an inpatient basis or an intensive outpatient rehabilitation program. Some hospitals provide detox options. Participating in anonymous meetings may also signal your appreciation for the events that led to your arrest.

What Legal Arguments Can My DUI Attorney Make?

The particular arguments that your DUI lawyer may be able to make will depend on the specific circumstances involved in your case. Possible arguments might include:

• Challenging the stop: Law enforcement officers must have reasonable suspicion that you have committed a traffic offense or a crime to have legal grounds to stop you. If they didn’t, your lawyer may be able to argue that the stop should not have occurred and all evidence should be suppressed.
• Refuting the results of a field sobriety test: Police officers must follow strict procedures when conducting field sobriety tests. If they do not, the results may be unreliable and thrown out for consideration during a DUI trial.
• Arguing blood alcohol levels were rising: Some people may have medical issues or different metabolisms that cause their blood alcohol level to continue to rise. This could mean that the driver was not over the legal limit at the time of the stop but that they were when they were later tested by law enforcement. 
• Challenging the results of a breathalyzer test: There are many reasons (besides intoxication) why a breath test might not yield accurate results, such as the machine not being properly calibrated, the subject having breathing problems, or the test taker not providing accurate instructions.  
• Making blood test challenges: If the technician did not draw blood correctly or your blood was not stored properly, blood test results could be inaccurate. Sometimes, your lawyer might order a blood sample retested to see if a different result appears.

Your lawyer can fight for a dismissal or acquittal in court. They can also use their knowledge of drunk driving offenses to aid in plea negotiations to try to secure reduced charges or minimal penalties. Your lawyer could also explore first-offender program eligibility or alternative sentencing options. 

Contact Our Criminal Defense Attorneys for a Confidential Case Evaluation 

If you or a loved one has been arrested for driving under the influence, do not hesitate to reach out for legal assistance. The sooner you retain competent legal counsel, the sooner your lawyer can get to work on your case. Contact Crawford and Boyle LLC for your confidential case review.