Drunk driving is a very serious offense. If a person drives drunk and causes an accident, it gets more serious. The penalties for drunk driving are very severe. The individual would lose their driver’s license for a significant period. They would need to pay expensive fines, and they would need to attend alcohol education classes. If they caused an accident, the penalties would be even more significant. If this is the case, the individual should hire a drunk driving accident attorney in Des Moines, IA. There are a few ways that an attorney can help.
Contest the Drunk Driving Charge
If the individual’s attorney can successfully contest the drunk driving charge, the criminal charge could be thrown out. There are a few ways that the attorney could do this. They could contest the breathalyzer test by proving that the machine wasn’t properly calibrated. They could contest the field sobriety test by questioning the safety of the surface where the test was taken or the shoes that the individual was wearing. They may even be able to contest certain parts of the officer’s arrest report.
Plea Deal
If there is no way the attorney can contest the drunk driving charge, they could get the individual a plea deal. This is where the person agrees to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence. In many cases, this is the individual’s best option.
Representation in Court
If the attorney cannot fight the drunk driving charge and the individual is not willing to take a plea deal, the case would go to court. When this happens, the defendant is going to need an attorney. Not only will the attorney need to build the strongest case possible, they would also need to present it in court before a judge and a jury. If the case does go to court, having an attorney defending them is the person’s best chance of avoiding a harsh sentence.
If a person drives drunk and they cause an accident, the first thing they should do is hire a drunk driving accident attorney in Des Moines, IA. For more information, visit the website and learn about us.
