A drunk driving accident can change your life in the blink of an eye. You and the other driver may be left with serious injuries, and on top of that, you are likely looking at costly DUI charges.

If you’ve been involved in a drunk driving accident, it’s important to know that you do have options. At Taxman DUI Defense, our legal team regularly helps clients with their drunk driving defense cases in Northern California, and we work tirelessly to achieve favorable outcomes. In this article, we’re sharing our top tips for moving forward in the wake of a DUI crash:

#1: Hire an attorney who handles drunk driving defense cases

After getting medical treatment for your drunk driving crash, one of the first things you should do is speak with an attorney. It’s essential to speak to a lawyer who specifically handles drunk driving defense cases. DUI defense attorneys have expertise in defending those facing complex DUI charges, and they are your best bet for potentially getting your charges reduced.

It’s important to understand that your life is not over after a DUI, and a skilled attorney can fight the charges on your behalf, uphold your rights, and navigate the legal process for you. Here are just some of the ways that an attorney can help:

• Prevent your driver’s license from being revoked: if you were arrested for a DUI in Sacramento or Northern California, you typically only have 10 days to request a DMV license suspension hearing. This hearing doesn’t address the criminal conviction, but it allows your attorney to contest the suspension of your license.
  
  
• Represent you in court: Your DUI attorney will be your personal advocate. Their job is to not only uphold your rights, but to also work toward negotiating a favorable outcome for you. Sometimes, this can be achieved without the need for trial.
  
  
• Build strategies to win your case: There are many ways your attorney can fight your DUI charges, such as proving that your rights were violated during arrest, finding discrepancies in the evidence, and much more.

#2: Look into getting your DUI expunged after fulfilling your probation

Even if you’ve paid the necessary fines and served your suspension or jail time, your DUI will remain on your record. This can be a problem when applying for jobs and apartments. A DUI can also affect your insurance rates. An attorney can help you remove the DUI charge from your court record through a process called expungement.

Typically, once you have fulfilled the terms of your probation (such as paying fines and completing community service), you can petition the court for a DUI expungement. While expungement does not remove the DUI from your DMV record, it allows you to answer “No,” when faced with questions regarding past criminal convictions on applications for employment, apartments, and more.

#3: Consider therapy and long-term lifestyle changes

While your DUI may be in the past, you still might have trauma from the accident. On top of that, you might have feelings of guilt, shame, and fear. Therapy can help you work through this trauma and help you better cope with these complicated emotions. If addiction was the reason for your drunk driving accident, therapy and lifestyle changes can also help you achieve lasting sobriety.

Speak with an attorney who handles drunk driving defense cases

Taxman DUI Defense is a leading choice for those seeking an attorney who handles drunk driving defense cases in Northern California. If you’re facing DUI charges, contact us today to schedule a consultation with our legal team.