What do DWI Lawyers and Attorneys in New Jersey (NJ) Actually Do?  

 If you’ve been accused of a DWI in New Jersey, you’re going to need a lawyer.  But what do these drunken driving lawyers actually do?  You’re going to want to know what your attorney is up to once you hire one.

First of all, a DWI or DUI attorney New Jersey based or not, is going to need to have a record of specialization in the area of DWI defense.  You don’t want an attorney who doesn’t have the experience and the knowledge to help you.  If he or she doesn’t already know how to handle a DWI arrest, he or she should be ready to dive into the research.  That is the first thing DWI lawyers in NJ should do: research.  They should first talk to you about your case and get all the facts from your point of view.  Next, they should request all of the information concerning your DWI accident from the police department.  This should include the results of any tests done, including blood alcohol tests.  Good NJ DWI lawyers should also take the time to interview any witnesses, your arresting officer, any lab technicians involved in the tests, and more. 

Once New Jersey DUI lawyers have all the information they need, they should work on preparing your DWI defense.  One of the things your lawyer may do is actually question the arresting officer on the legality of your arrest.  If you were not advised of your rights, for example, the entire case may be invalid.  Likewise, if you’ve been taking certain medications or have some specific medication conditions, the blood alcohol test may not have been accurate.  Field tests may have been done on uneven ground or under conditions that could not accurately measure your intoxication level.  If a blood sample was taken while you were in jail, that sample could have been contaminated.  These are all questions that good DWI and auto accident lawyers will bring up during your defense, especially if they have any reason to believe improper tests were done. 

Your DWI attorney should bring up any and all possible defenses that may be plausible during your trial.  Even if incompetence seems like it’s not a possibility at all, it can still be used as a defense.  A felony DWI on your record is not something you want to live with, and a good lawyer will do everything he or she can to prevent you from getting one.  If you’re found guilty of a DWI, your defense attorney should continue to work for you.  He or she should try to get your sentence reduced to a lesser punishment.  This may mean you have to take a DWI course or have your license suspended for a specific amount of time, but that would be better than having a felony put on your official record.  If it’s your first DWI, chances are a good lawyer will get you a reduced sentence.  However, if it’s your second or third, you really need a good attorney to get your punishment reduced.