We get this question a lot. It can be hard for a defendant to weigh the potential risks of self-representation against the cost of hiring an attorney.
If you have had multiple DUI charges, or if your blood alcohol content was excessively high, you absolutely need to talk to a lawyer. In Kentucky, these circumstances can come with heavy penalties.
However, as a general rule, you should at least consult with an attorney before going to court on your own even for a first offense DUI. It may be tempting to try and save costs by representing yourself, but as the saying goes, “he who represents himself has a fool for a client.” By consulting with an attorney, you will at a minimum learn how court procedures work, what legal exposure you have, and whether you have defenses worth pursuing. Often times, we have found that these defenses are not obvious or known to our clients until we bring them up.
Lexington Kentucky DUI cases are highly fact sensitive. This means that your Kentucky DUI attorney will need to closely scrutinize what the arresting officers did and did not do leading up to and following your arrest. Nowadays, Kentucky defense attorneys have the benefit of video footage of these events because officers typically wear body cameras. Although tedious, a review of body cam footage can place the attorney at the scene of the arrest to review what exactly happened and evaluate those events in light of relevant statutes and case law. Ultimately, the prosecution has the burden of proving you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in front of a jury of your peers.
If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Lexington, Kentucky and aren’t sure whether your case could benefit from an attorney representing you, contact Defense Attorney Breck Norment for a free consultation. We welcome calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – 859-303-6007.
If you have had multiple DUI charges, or if your blood alcohol content was excessively high, you absolutely need to talk to a lawyer. In Kentucky, these circumstances can come with heavy penalties.
However, as a general rule, you should at least consult with an attorney before going to court on your own even for a first offense DUI. It may be tempting to try and save costs by representing yourself, but as the saying goes, “he who represents himself has a fool for a client.” By consulting with an attorney, you will at a minimum learn how court procedures work, what legal exposure you have, and whether you have defenses worth pursuing. Often times, we have found that these defenses are not obvious or known to our clients until we bring them up.
Lexington Kentucky DUI cases are highly fact sensitive. This means that your Kentucky DUI attorney will need to closely scrutinize what the arresting officers did and did not do leading up to and following your arrest. Nowadays, Kentucky defense attorneys have the benefit of video footage of these events because officers typically wear body cameras. Although tedious, a review of body cam footage can place the attorney at the scene of the arrest to review what exactly happened and evaluate those events in light of relevant statutes and case law. Ultimately, the prosecution has the burden of proving you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in front of a jury of your peers.
If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Lexington, Kentucky and aren’t sure whether your case could benefit from an attorney representing you, contact Defense Attorney Breck Norment for a free consultation. We welcome calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – 859-303-6007.
