Reader’s Question:

My 20-year old teenager son just received a DUI in Illinois for the first time. How will this affect my insurance rate and his since his insurance is also under my policy with him as driver?

Pam

Chicago, IL

Too bad for you, but DUI is a serious offense in Illinois and is classified as a violent crime. Unfortunately, this offense will permanently remain on his driving record. He may lose his driving privileges and can either be imprisoned or fined.

This offense is also taken very seriously by any insurance company since the driver becomes a risk to them compared to a person with a clean driving record. This would likely increase his rate which can affect the whole policy, including your premium rates.

A DUI can subject yours to high-risk auto insurance rates for three years according to the Illinois Secretary of State. The IL SOS DUI Fact Book states that high risk insurance for a driver convicted of DUI averages an additional $1500 per year!

However, since insurance companies rating systems are not the same, it is better that you find out more from your insurance agent as to how much the increase will be and for how long.

READER QUESTION:

What are things I should consider when i am looking into hiring an Illinois DUI attorney?

Marisol

GOOD QUESTION, MARISOL.

The first question I would confront the lawyer with with when you step into their office is: “Will you be handling my case, or are you going to delegate it to someone else?” It’s extremely important for you to hold your consultation with the person who will actually be representing you, so that you can correctly evaluate their abilities. If you’ll be represented by someone other than the consultee, you’re just wasting your time.

On a similar note, experience is one of the number one things you should focus on, and particularly in the area of DUI, and even more narrowly in the type of DUI case you have. Just because your lawyer is a couple of decades out of law school doesn’t mean they know their stuff in this are–they may have been practicing divorce law all that time.

Secondly, you should keep in mind how you relate to the lawyer and also the fees involved. You should get your fees in a written fee agreement so that you can assess them beforehand.

–Fashun.

READER QUESTION:

What extra Illinois DUI lawyer costs might I have to deal with?

Princeton

EXCELLENT QUESTION.

Many people factor in, obviously, the flat fee when they are budgeting for a lawyer without realizing that there are additional Illinois DUI lawyer costs. Here are some that you may need to be aware of.

• fees for printing, faxing, etc., and employing those who do this
• for hiring someone to take down testimonials and interviews in shorthand
• for delivering legal paperwork to witnesses
• for costs of travel
• for investigation
• for court filing and related fees
• for jury, if so requested
• for witnesses
• for consultation

Rather than just jump in the water with all your clothes on, discuss all of the potential Illinois DUI lawyer costs at your very first meeting so that you can decide which ones might be necessary in your case, which ones you can avoid, and whether the amount your laywer charges for such fees is worth keeping them.

Reader’s Question:

What constitute a DUI in Illinois and do I need to hire a the best lawyer for this?

Myra

Thank you for asking Myra.

“Driving Under the Influence” (DUI) is defined as driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, other drugs or intoxicating compounds. In Illinois, a motorist is legally considered to be under the influence if he/she has a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or more, has used any illegal substance, or is impaired by medication. A driver’s BAC is based on the ratio of alcohol to blood or breath. An individual however showing alcohol levels between .05 and .08 percent may be charge of DUI if additional evidence determines that the driver was impaired.

Illinois law allows you to represent yourself in D.U.I. proceedings but because mandatory minimum sentences for even the first offense can be severe, it is best to consult an experienced and the best lawyer who knows the law and can advise you on the facts of your case.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

I took the DUI breath test and it was over the limit. Do I still get a chance with my case?

John

Thank you for asking John.

There is always hope if your DUI lawyer is experienced of those numbers and knows all the ways those numbers can be wrong. The DUI breath test being used by police officers in Illinois does not measure alcohol specifically, and can make many types of errors and mistakes. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), field sobriety tests are only 65% reliable, and breath, blood and urine testing can be similarly unreliable. Some of the factors that can lead to inaccurate results include improper administration, faulty equipment, faulty analysis and other factors.

An experienced and expert DUI lawyer knows how to examine the breath testing records to determine whether the machine that produced it was working improperly or if there are other reasons to believe the number it printed out was inaccurate.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

When I’m taken to the police station because of DWI arrest in Chicago Illinois, do I have a right to a lawyer or a phone call?

Joseph

Thank you for asking Joseph.

You may and should ask to see or call an attorney as soon as you arrive at the police station since you are now under arrest—where anything you say might be used against you—you should not say anything without a lawyer present or until you have talked to an attorney.

In Illinois, within a reasonable time after your arrest or booking at the jail, you have the right to make a local phone call to an attorney, bail bondsman and/or any relative or other person. The police may not listen to the call to the lawyer and any communications made to your attorney. Your call should be discrete and made in such a way that you cannot be overheard by any other person or police officer. Make sure you pay attention to your surroundings when you make the call and notice if the police or anyone else can o verhear the conversation.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

To find the best Chicago IL DUI attorney, you need to be prepared to take some time. To really understand whether or not an attorney is the best one for you, you will have to have a consultation with them. Not only should they be competent about DUI law, but the best Chicago IL DUI attorney should also get along with you well enough that the two of you can work together.

How do you know if a lawyer is competent about DUI law? The best way is to find out how much of their case load is for DUI convictions. If it’s less than 50%, then they probably don’t have enough experience to bother, and you should avoid them. Preferably, you want someone who deals exclusively in DUI, but if you can’t get that, it’s understandable. A DUI lawyer should have at least a couple of years of experiences. Don’t bother with anybody fresh out of law school.

You can also find the best Chicago DUI attorney by asking people about their lawyer experiences. You can talk to friends and family, other lawyers, find information online, and so on. Find out if your state bar would recommend them. Check the yellow pages for options.

Hiring an Illinois DUI lawyer is expensive, and that’s on top of all of the other expenses which come along with getting a DUI. In this area you’ll see

• your bail
• fines and fees, such as tickets and license reinstatement fees
• higher insurance costs for years
• possible job loss
• court costs

So it’s important that you consider a lawyer’s rates when you are looking for an Illinois DUI lawyer cost. A lawyer who charges high rates is not automatically going to be the best, nor is one with low rates automatically going to be the worst.

Lawyers charge for services in several different ways. Some may charge by the hour, and if you have a complicated case then this could add up. Some charge the same fee for everyone, depending on their case, and this may be cheaper for you in some cases. Others also charge a flat fee, but split it up. Part for while they’re preparing your case, which you won’t have to pay more than if you don’t go to court, but if you do, you will.

But you don’t always need a Chicago IL DWI lawyer. Sometimes it really is up to you. While I still think that everybody with a DUI should hire a lawyer, sometimes you really just don’t have that option or are confident in yourself to forgo it. Still, if this is the case for you, only pass on a lawyer if the offense is small enough to not warrant a huge punishment.

Reasons why you could (or could not) decide to get a Chicago IL DWI lawyer.

• you may need someone to do some explaining to you. The books on DWI laws are pretty thick, and so it’s important to get your information from somebody who knows what’s going on.
• the place you work at may require bonding.
• you may be part of an education program to get a professional license which, if you are convicted, could be restricted to you.

So, you got a DUI, and now you’re wondering what you need a Chicago IL DUI lawyer for. As a matter of fact, these lawyers can be very helpful, and here are some of the ways they can help you out.

• Speak for you in court.

The primary purpose of a Chicago DUI lawyer is representation. They can stand for you in court and argue in order to get you an easier time, fewer consequences, lower fines, and so on. Without a lawyer to do this for you, you could suffer much more because of your DUI.

• Figure you out and tell you what’s what.

You may not know what you need for your case on your own, but a Chicago IL DUI lawyer can look at it and explain to you what it all means, and then they can tell you what kinds of consequences you may face because of it.

• Take care of the little stuff.

Being convicted of a DUI is stressful enough already, and a lawyer can ease some of the stress by taking all of the menial work onto their hands–all that paperwork, all those phone calls. They can make sure your court date coincides with your schedule and so on.