While the penalties you will face if convicted of a DUI are very serious, for many people the cost of a drunk driving case and financial burden that could result from a conviction is a primary concern after charges arise. There are a variety of financial considerations in any criminal case, especially DUI cases, including bail fees, legal fees, court costs, and fines. Working with an experienced DUI lawyer will help you avoid unnecessary costs and penalties and ensure that you are able to achieve the best possible result in your case.
When it comes to hiring an attorney, you almost always get what you pay for. Look over attorney reviews and rankings, client testimonials, and past results, and never assume that hiring a cheaper lawyer will help you cut costs in your Michigan DUI case. While hiring a cheap attorney may initially seem like a smart financial move, you could face huge fines, as well as other potential issues such as job loss or difficulty obtaining loans as a result of a criminal record and the inability to drive, problems which may be avoidable if you work with a top-quality Michigan drunk driving defense firm. Grabel & Associates is recognized as a leader in MI criminal defense, and for over a decade our team has been successfully guiding clients to great case results in DUI and OWI cases statewide. Contact us now for a free consultation and find out more about our proven approach to drunk driving defense.
The first costs that you will face may arise just after your arrest, as you will have to pay for the tow bill as well as an impound fee if you want to get your vehicle back. On average, these initial fees cost around one hundred to two hundred dollars. Once bail is set, you will have to post another substantial fee, usually anywhere from a few hundred dollars to five thousand dollars, or you will have to wait in jail for your case to be resolved.
Hiring a lawyer is the most critical aspect of any DUI case, but also can result in a substantial cost. On average, a DUI defense lawyer will cost anywhere between $1,000 and $25,000 for defense throughout your case, depending on the quality of the lawyer and complexity of your case. If you simply want to enter a guilty plea and accept the penalties you may face, you could get by with substantially lower costs, however anyone wishing to fight conviction and the costs associated with it will have to pay for a quality attorney.
If convicted, you will likely face a significant fine even for a fist offense, on average around $1500. Repeat offenders could face a fine of up to $10,000, depending on the nature of past convictions and when the past offenses occurred. In addition, you may have to pay court costs which can range from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand, and will likely be required to complete a DUI class or substance abuse treatment which could run another few hundred dollars. If you are required to install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle, you will be required to pay for installation, usually one hundred to two hundred dollars, and maintenance or rental fees, which could cost an additional one hundred dollars a month or more for the duration of time during which the device is installed on your vehicle.
After your license has been suspended, you will have to pay a reinstatement fee to get it back once the suspension period is up, usually up to $500. If your license has been revoked you will face additional costs, and may need to hire a lawyer again to help you win your restoration hearing. In addition, you may be required to pay a driver responsibility fee in order to drive again, which can cost up to a couple thousand dollars per year for two years. Your insurance premium will likely increase significantly, usually by around 20% for first time DUI offenders, dependent on the specific person and insurance company.
If convicted, you also have to consider the possibility that you will lose your job because you cannot drive, or that it will be difficult to find a job with a criminal record. If you are able to keep your job, you will likely be spending a great deal of time away from work with court appearances and court ordered treatment as well as community service or even jail time. In addition, it may be tough to get loans, renew or receive scholarships, or benefit from other financial assistance that can be affected by a criminal record.
While many people who have been charged with drunk driving ask this question, they should really be asking if they can afford not to hire an experienced drunk driving defense lawyer. Without a lawyer, you could face thousands of dollars in fines, fees, and court costs, and huge financial losses resulting from a criminal record or license revocation that may have been avoidable. By hiring a skilled attorney, you can fight for the best possible result, and if you have an experienced DUI defense professional on your side with your best interests at heart, you can’t possibly overpay for defense. Experienced DUI defense lawyers often charge more than other attorneys because they are able to achieve great case outcomes, and as long as a client is able to win their case, they always come out ahead financially. We know what it takes to obtain superior case results and have been effectively representing Michigan clients for over 10 years in even the toughest DUI cases.
Contact Grabel & Associates now at 1-800-342-7896 or contact our team online and find out more about what it could cost you to fight a drunk driving charge, and what costs you might face if you are convicted of a DUI. Every case is unique and our lawyers are committed to being available 24/7 to begin analyzing the specific details of your situation and providing you with excellent legal guidance during a free initial case consultation. Begin working with our Michigan DUI/OWI defense firm now and fight for your freedom and future.