California has some of the stiffest penalties in the nation for DUI offenses. Because of this, you may be considering a plea bargain with the prosecutor when facing these charges. Before you make a hasty decision though, there are a number of different things that you should consider. In order to help you make the best decision possible for your case – whether or not you should accept the bargain or go to trail – I thought that I would discuss what you should be thinking about.
What to Consider if You’re Leaning Toward a Plea Bargain
Make no mistake, a trail for a DUI case – as with any other case – can be lengthy and exhausting. This is a reason that many California drivers who are facing DUI charges ultimately go the route of a plea bargain. However, many of these drivers make a mistake in doing this, privileging expedience over their legal outcome. While accepting a plea bargain that the prosecutor offers can have benefits, there are a number of drawbacks that need to be considered.
The most important thing you will want to remember when considering a plea bargain is that you will be admitting guilt. This necessarily means that the DUI charges that you face will become a part of your permanent criminal record. In addition, by accepting the plea bargain you will also face a significant hike in your insurance rates, which will be in addition to any other fees that you’ll be required to pay as part of the terms of your plea bargain. While you may think there’s a financial gain to be made by accepting a plea bargain in terms of avoiding legal fees, when you consider the costs of admitting guilt, the cost of legal fees for fighting your case is most often outweighed.
Why You Should Strongly Consider Going to Trial
Prosecutors will try to convince you that the case they have against you is open and shut, but this is rarely the case. There are a number of things that can be done both before and during a trial that can dramatically improve the outcome that you can achieve. For one, the tools that were used to judge your blood alcohol concentration can be called into question, as can the judgment of the arresting officer who originally pulled you over. In more cases than you might think, it’s possible to have the DUI charges that a driver is facing dismissed entirely.
By choosing to take your DUI case to trial, you avoid the necessity of admitting guilt. Provided that you are able to successfully prove your innocence or have the case dismissed entirely, this means that you will not incur the fees associated with the charges, and nor will you be responsible for a hike in the insurance premiums you face. Also, you will not have to deal with the consequences of having a DUI on your permanent criminal record. Of course, while the benefits of taking your case to trial may be great, it’s important to remember that the possibility of losing your defense still exists.
How to Get the Best Outcome
Whether you ultimately decide to take a plea bargain or to take your case to trial, there is only one way to achieve the best outcome. You must retain the services of an exceptionally skilled California DUI attorney. I have years of experience representing drivers like you in San Diego and throughout the state, and I have helped each of them to achieve the best results in their cases possible. If you need to get in touch for a free consultation, simply call (760) 613-5384?, and I will be happy to speak with you.