DWI Attorney Fees

If you were recently arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI), you may already be thinking about hiring an attorney to represent you in court. However, if you are like most people, you may wonder if it’s really worth it—after all, with all such expensive DWI fees, isn’t it in cheaper to represent yourself? After all, with the number of people who are arrested for DWI each year, the crime can’t be that serious, right? Wrong—driving under the influence is a serious criminal offense and the punishment for even a first-time offense can often include hefty fines, a lengthy license suspension, and even jail time.

Depending on the exact laws in your area, a drunk driving conviction can cost you anywhere from several hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars in fines and court costs—and that’s without taking the long-term financial consequences into consideration. In fact, it is estimated that a single DWI conviction costs the average person $5,000 to $20,000 in expenses.

But where do all these fees come from? Along with any fines you are required to pay, your sentence may include additional penalties, such as undergoing counseling for alcohol abuse or enrolling in a driver’s safety class. Since you are responsible for paying any enrollment costs associated with these programs, it’s easy to see how the costs of your conviction can quickly add up.

If you are a repeat offender, the judge may order you to have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle. As a type of breathalyzer, this device forces you to successfully pass a breath test each and every time you attempt to start your vehicle. In addition to being inconvenient, an ignition interlock device can also be quite expensive, costing you an initial installation fee of $100 or more, as well as a monthly rental fee ranging from $75 to $100. Plus, you will also be responsible for paying any maintenance and/or calibration fees for the mechanism.

As you can see, you will incur a number of expenses if you are convicted of drunk driving—but what about the attorney’s fees? In most cases, a DWI defense attorney will charge one flat rate to handle all of the proceedings for your case. Many also offer payment plans, as well as a number of payment options in order to make their services more affordable to clients.

What’s more, many firms provide free consultations for prospective clients. This gives you the opportunity to discuss your case with a skilled legal professional and ask questions about his or her recommended defense strategy—just make sure you ask beforehand. 

When compared with all of the upfront DWI expenses you face if found guilty of drunk driving, it’s easy to see why many drivers decide that paying for an attorney is far more affordable than facing the consequences of a conviction on their own. In fact, in many cases, obtaining legal representation can be the difference between a conviction and a reduced sentence or a complete case dismissal.

To improve your chances of success, fill in a free online case form to find an experienced DWI defense attorney in your area today.

States and Cities:
AK	Alaska, Anchorage	LA	Louisiana, New Orleans	OH	Ohio, Cincinnati
AL	Alabama, Montgomery	MA	Massachusetts, Boston	OK	Oklahoma, Tulsa
AR	Arkansas, Little Rock	MD	Maryland, Baltimore	OR	Oregon, Portland
AZ	Arizona, Phoenix	ME	Maine, Portland	PA	Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
CA	California, Los Angeles	MI	Michigan, Detroit	RI	Rhode Island, Providence
CO	Colorado, Denver	MN	Minnesota, Duluth	SC	South Carolina, Charleston
CT	Connecticut, Hartford	MO	Missouri, Branson	SD	South Dakota, Sioux Falls
DE	Delaware, Wilmington	MS	Mississippi, Jackson	TN	Tennessee, Nashville
FL	Florida, Orlando	MT	Montana, Bozeman	TX	Texas, Houston
GA	Georgia, Atlanta	NC	North Carolina, Charoltte	UT	Utah, Salt Lake City
HI	Hawaii, Honolulu	ND	North Dakota, Fargo	VT	Vermont, Burlington
IA	Iowa, Des Moines	NE	Nebraska, Omaha	VA	Virginia, Richmond
ID	Idaho, Boise	NH	New Hampshire, Portsmouth	WA	Washington, Seattle
IL	Illinois, Chicago	NJ	New Jersey, Newark	WI	Wisconsin, Milwaukee
IN	Indiana, Indianapolis	NM	New Mexico, Albuquerque	WV	West Virginia, Charleston
KS	Kansas, Kansas City	NV	Nevada, Las Vegas	WY	Wyoming, Cheyenne
KY	Kentucky, Lexington	NY	New York, New York	DC	Washington DC