What to Do When Your Kid Gets a DUI

No parent wants to believe that they’re child would ever drive under the influence, but 1.5 million Americans make that mistake each year. That’s one in every 121 licensed drivers. One bad decision can cause them to lose their license, lose a scholarship, and impact their lives for years to come.

So, what can you do if your kid does end up with a DUI? Thankfully, there are plenty of options both of you can pursue. Here are a few tips to help get them out of this mess and lessen the consequences from one bad decision.

Lawyer Up

Hiring an experienced lawyer is the only way to combat the law when a DUI is involved. Their expertise can lessen fines, points received on your child’s license, and help your kid avoid jail time depending on the severity of their case.

Fighting this legal battle on your own is an impossible challenge, and one that any expert advises against. Lawyers work to throw out impartial or incomplete evidence in these cases, which takes a keen eye and insight into the legal system to pull off.

Having legal aid on your side can help dismiss vital evidence, including roadside tests. In some cases, they can even argue that the officer had no right to stop the vehicle. College students in Louisiana charged with a DUI have gotten off with lighter consequences in the exact same ways.

Not Just Any Lawyer

Hiring a lawyer is essential to fighting a DUI charge. However, not just any lawyer will do. While you want to find someone with a stellar track record in DUI litigation, they also need to be from your area.

States and even cities have differing laws on DUI charges. You might even find that your municipality has its own consequences for driving under the influence. Picking a lawyer from your locale is the only way to help lessen those charges.

Picking the Right Credentials

Now that you know to search for lawyers in your area, the next step is to identify which ones are the best option for your child’s case. Using Colorado as an example, searching for Boulder DUI attorneys would pull up dozens of results.

Start by looking at the number of years a law office has under its belt. The more experience they have fighting DUI charges, the better. In the case of a larger office, it also helps to know which attorney will be assigned to your case and what their experience in these matters looks like.

Second, you want to look for success stories. Clients proudly give testimony when their lawyers help them win a case. While not everyone is keen on saying they got a DUI, several are happy to share their experience and how a law team helped with their case.

Picking the Right Credentials

One of the most important things you can do during this time, aside from hiring a lawyer, is to be there for your child. You might be angry or upset with them right now, but keep in mind that they’re equally upset with themselves. It isn’t too late to help your child after they get a DUI.

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