Should I take my Los Angeles DUI Case to Trial?

The criminal court system can be complicated and confusing. There is an entire process and hurdles that must be met at each stage before you move to the next step. Furthermore, there is a decision to be made before moving towards trial. These decisions must be made with careful thought and decision before heading towards trail. There are lots of things to consider, and many of these decisions require legal knowledge and background. That is why it is a good idea to consult with a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer on whether or not it is a good idea to take your DUI case to trial. There are some very important things to consider.
Costs:
Going to trial is expensive. There are many things an attorney needs to do before trial even starts. They must gather evidence, through interviewing witnesses, looking at potential exhibits, and reviewing countless documents. They must look into surveillance videos, and calibration of different tests that were taken. They must also prepare witnesses, testimony and the presentation of their case. Additionally, they must do research on the law, cases, and file any motions that are necessary. Going to trial is not always necessary,  and based on the evidence and the prosecutor’s arguments, it may not be worthwhile.
Prior to going to trial, you should discuss in detail the strengths and weaknesses of your case with a legal professional. There should be a details discussion of each argument and each defense and the likely outcome of each. Going to trial can cost you a good plea bargain from Prosecutors and you risk getting sentenced the highest possible sentence.
Lets consider an example to understand why trial is not always the best option for everyone. Danny has been charged with a DUI. Danny was driving home from a get together where he had a couple of beers. As he was driving home, Danny ran a red light, giving officers probable cause to pull him over. Once he pulled him over, the officer smelled alcohol on Danny’s breath. The officer asked Danny if he had been drinking and Danny admitted that he had a few beers. The officer than asked Danny to submit to a field sobriety test, which Danny did voluntarily. The blood alcohol level was about .12. This is well over the legal limit.
Danny’s case is not a good one to take to trial ,and if Danny opted to, it might cost him a lot more with a worse outcome. The officers had probable cause to stop Danny in the first place. They then had reasonable suspicion to ask him to submit to an alcohol test. They have Danny’s admission that he had been drinking, and a reading on the blood alcohol test. These are strong arguments against Danny. This does not mean that Danny has no options. An experienced DUI lawyer can still negotiate with Prosecutors for a plea bargain for minimal sentencing or reduced charges. There is always a way, and consulting a legal professional is the first step towards the best case scenario!

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