According to the criminal defense law, operating a motor vehicle while you are under the influence or alcohol or any other related drug is a criminal offense in all the 50 states. There are states where it is referred to us driving under the influence (DUI) while in other states it is simply known as driving while intoxicated (DWI). When drivers get arrested for suspicion of any of these they will almost always seek the services of a competent DWI lawyer; this is a criminal defense attorney who has specialized in handling DWI cases and will represent the accused driver during the legal proceedings that will follow.

A DWI lawyer will be licensed practice law in the particular state where the offense was alleged to have taken place; this means that he or she will be familiar with the state-specific proceedings as far as DWI is concerned. In addition to this, many a DWI lawyer will be handling cases filed as DUI or DWI because both appear to have similarities in most states.

When a DWI lawyer can help: A DWI lawyer can be extremely useful if a driver who is suspected to be driving while intoxicated is given a breathalyzer test that measures the alcohol content in their bloodstream and they are subsequently arrested. The DWI lawyer will at this point study all the paperwork as well as the test results that are associated with the investigation and interviews the officer who did the arrest, lab technicians, potential witnesses in addition to the defendant so they can get the slightest idea of what exactly took place as well as how the evidence against their client was obtained.

Poke holes in the prosecution’s case: One of the most important ways in which a DWI lawyer can assist you as the defendant so that your charges are dropped is to try and poke as many holes as possible in the prosecution’s case. In order to attain this, most of the time the DUI lawyer will question the legality of the process that was used by the arresting officer when the defendant got arrested. A good example if when an arresting officer fails to advise a defendant regarding their Miranda Rights. Additionally, the field tests that are administered to prove that the defendant was intoxicated may have been performed on a ground that is uneven or in less than stellar conditions.

Even in cases where a defendant is finally found to be guilty, a good DWI lawyer will be able to argue for a more lenient sentence that may be based on extenuating personal circumstances or even the defendant’s willingness to look for treatment for their alcoholism. Even though your lawyer will not guarantee you complete acquittal or leniency, a competent DWI lawyer will try to ensure that you get the fairest terms possible.

Author's Bio: 

This article is penned by Lora Davis for Miley Law Firm, a Las Vegas, NV based law firm that offers legal advice. If you have run into legal trouble and need a DWI lawyer or need an out of state DWI lawyer then Miley Law Firm can help you.