Regardless of the manner in which the offense is proven, the penalties upon conviction are the same. Additionally, DUI penalties increase based on the frequency of DUI convictions and the severity of your current DUI offense. Therefore, it is extremely important that if faced with a DUI charge, whether your first or a subsequent charge, that you fight it using every legal defense available.

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Orlando DUI Defense Lawyer

DUI is one of the most burdensome offenses an otherwise law abiding person can face.

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How is DUI Proven

Under Florida law, a DUI charge can be proven in one of two alternative ways:

1. The State can prove that your normal faculties were impaired, or
2. The State can prove that you drove with an unlawful blood alcohol or breath alcohol level of .08 or above.

We can help you find an experienced car accident attorney in your area. These attorneys want to protect your rights and see that you get the compensation you deserve. An experienced attorney will be able to handle uncooperative guilty parties, as well as stingy insurance companies.

The law limits the amount of time you may wait before filing your complaint. Don’t deny yourself compensation simply because you took too long.

Auto accidents come suddenly and unexpectedly and can affect your life in many ways. The first few moments after an accident can be the most important in protecting your rights. There are some things that you can do to protect yourself immediately after an accident including:

• Report the accident to law enforcement
• Get contact information from everyone involved and any witnesses
• Get statements from witnesses
• Seek medical attention even if you do not think you are injured. After an accident you may be in shock or have injuries that you are not aware of
• Take photos of the accident scene and any injuries
• Do not admit guilt
• Write down everything that happened and everything that you remember about the accident as soon as possible, before your memory fades
• Speak to an experienced auto accident attorney right away

As time goes on after an accident your life will be affected in many ways. You may have expenses, such as vehicle repairs, and suffer physical and emotional consequences, or miss work. Some things that you can do to help with your case include:

• Keep all receipts for any expenses related to the accident, including auto repairs and medical bills
• Keep a journal of how the accident affects your everyday life including any physical and emotional pain or limitations
• If your job is affected, by causing you to miss time at work, change duties, or even lose your job, keep a record of this as well, including all lost income

Fault

Do not assume that you were at fault. Many factors are involved when determining fault, and there may be circumstances involved which you are not aware of. Elements of fault include:

• Traffic laws
• Defective vehicles
• Defective or faulty traffic signals or signage
• Driver impairment

If you receive a ticket that does not mean you are at fault. Always talk to an attorney before paying any fines or pleading guilty. You could hurt your case by doing this or open the opportunity for the other driver to sue you.

Insurance

Insurance companies will often try to play on your emotions and offer a quick settlement. They do this in an attempt to pay an amount less than you are entitled to. Always talk to an attorney before accepting any kind of offer. If you accept the offer you give up your right to pursue the matter further. Insurance companies may also try to get your medical records. Never turn this information over without talking to an attorney first. Remember that just because they ask for something does not necessarily mean you have to comply. In some cases you will be required to provide medical records, but giving over too much information can hurt your case.

Sadly, the other driver may not have been insured. If your policy includes “uninsured motorist coverage” then your insurance will cover your injuries if the other driver was at fault. Collision coverage will cover damage to your vehicle no matter who was at fault. If the other driver has no insurance you can try to sue them, but even if you win you may never get paid.

Traffic Courts, DMV and other agencies don’t always make things easy for people. Sometimes they are simply understaffed and unable to take the time to assist. Sometimes their rules and procedures are not clear. Some industry insiders even suggest they purposely keep things confusing (unsure what to do or how to do it, people are less likely to fight and more likely to pay). Ultimately, a person who is having difficulty figuring out what to do and how to do it is more likely to enlist the assistance of an attorney.

Why fight traffic tickets?

Why fight traffic tickets? Traffic tickets, from a minor moving violation to a high speeding ticket, can cause a multitude of problems.

Points added to your driver license

Most states have some version of a point system to measure how good (or bad) a driver is and most states have a maximum point limit at which they will suspend and/or revoke your driver license.

Higher insurance payments

Convictions, even if they carry no driver license points, make a motorist a greater risk to insure and therefore subject to higher insurance rates. To learn more about automobile insurance, click here.

High fines, surcharges and assessments

Traffic ticket convictions come with fines and court surcharges that in many cases are greater than the fine itself. Many states also have assessment programs that charge additional fees based on point accumulation. The current state of the economy isn’t helping as many jurisdictions have been rapidly and severely increasing these penalties in efforts to raise revenue.

Driver license suspension

Either due to a specific type of violation or an accumulation of points, convictions can lead to suspension of your driver license. Failure to take care of a traffic ticket in a timely fashion may lead to driver license suspension as well. To learn more about driver license suspensions, click here.

Driver license revocation

Convictions for certain types of violations can lead to full revocation of your driver license. Driver license revocation usually means you’ll need to reapply for a license from scratch. To learn more about driver license revocations, click here.

Unemployment

If you drive under an employer’s insurance policy, accumulation of points makes you a greater insurance risk and could result in your termination. Any problems at all with a Commercial driver license can quickly and easily lead to employment issues. To learn more about CDL, click here.

Arrest Warrants

If you fail to answer a traffic ticket on time, some courts will issue a warrant to compel you to appear.

Permanent Criminal Record and/or Imprisonment

While most traffic tickets are considered violations, more serious offenses may actually be considered misdemeanors. Misdemeanors are criminal offenses and may affect your employment, immigration or other status. Some are punishable by jail.

Remember … these are all potential problems related to traffic tickets. Every situation is different and will always be a combination of the offense(s) you’ve been charged with, your driving history, the particular state and court you are answering to, etc.