Toronto drunk driving is something that the authorities take very seriously. Not only does a drunk driver endanger himself, but others as well. That doesn’t mean that you should automatically plead guilty when you receive a Toronto drunk driving charge. A good legal defence can help you make sure that you get the due process you deserve and that nobody overstates the extent of your potential error.
1: Hire a Defence Attorney
Even if you think you are at fault, you should immediately seek out a law firm with experienced drinking and driving lawyers on staff when you face a Toronto drunk driving charge. This is an important step to take because a trial won’t necessarily take mitigating circumstances into account unless your defence team brings them up. Drunk driving can lead to jail time, so it is important that you have somebody advocating for you to help make sure you don’t get a punishment that is worse than you deserve.
2: Create a Written Account
Your immediate reactions following a DUI arrest are very important and can serve as the basis upon which your legal defence gets built. You should indicate any notable circumstances that you can remember, including details about the traffic stop, the results of any breath test, and any conversation you had with the authorities. Write this down as quickly as possible, because even traumatic memories such as a DUI arrest fade over time. Your drinking and driving lawyers will need the best information possible to build your case.
3: Obtain a Police Report
Your drinking and driving lawyers can obtain a police report that provides the officer’s side of the story. You should make sure to read this report thoroughly so you can take note of any biased or incorrect information. A police officer often forms unfair judgments of the person they pull over, which can colour courtroom testimony if you don’t challenge it. Go over the police report in detail with your defence attorney to make sure that you have a good understanding of the arresting officer’s claims.
4: Discuss Your Options with an Attorney
A drunk driving case isn’t always a matter of going into a court and winning or losing. There can be many shades of grey involved. Review your options with your defence attorney to make sure that you have a strategy for handling the case. This may involve going to trial, but it may also involve working out a plea deal that saves everybody time and money. The importance of having a defence team in this step is to make sure that you know all the options available to you, even the ones that most laypersons might not normally know about.
It’s important to handle a drunk driving charge quickly and correctly. Taking this problem on in the proper manner can save you a lot of potential trouble down the road and may keep you from getting a criminal record. By hiring a team of skilled drinking and driving lawyers, you can make the best of a bad situation.
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