When someone is arrested and charged with an Oklahoma DUI, that suspect must take immediate action to defend his or her legal rights. Failure to spring into action could prove to be costly, and the first step that anyone who is in this situation should take is to seek the immediate help of an experienced Oklahoma DUI defense attorney. However, obtaining this help should involve more than simply picking a random name and scheduling an appointment. There should be questions that a potential client asks any Oklahoma DUI lawyer, and below are those questions.

 

1.  How long have you been practicing Oklahoma DUI defense law?

The practice of Oklahoma DUI defense is one that's filled with specific procedural norms, legal technicalities, courtroom particularities and many other nuances that can only be understood with experience. Therefore, it's critical that the defendant understand the scope of the experience the Oklahoma DUI defense lawyer possesses, as this is not a time for someone to have to suffer through an inexperienced attorney's learning curve at the expense of that defendant's rights and result.

2.  Do you handle the Oklahoma DUI DMV hearing?

The most urgent aspect of the aftermath of an Oklahoma DUI arrest in terms of time is the DMV hearing that's held in order to determine if the person who has been arrested can retain his or her driving privileges. A hearing with the DMV must be requested within 15 days of the DUI arrest or else those driving privileges will be revoked. A person who faces this situation will also need the help of an Oklahoma DUI attorney with this hearing to make sure that the best possible position is presented to the agency.

3.  How many of your Oklahoma DUI cases have resulted in plea bargains?

In many respects, Oklahoma DUI defense law is similar to Oklahoma criminal defense, and one of those ways involves the possibility in some cases to reach a plea bargain in order to avoid trial. While a certain number of plea bargains in an Oklahoma DUI lawyer's past can represent a good reputation and an ability to minimize the penalties for a client, the attorney should also have handled a large number or percentage of cases that have proceeded to trial. Otherwise, it's possible that the attorney is known as someone who simply looks for a plea bargain and therefore is willing to take offers that others may not see as reasonable.

4.  What were the general results of your Oklahoma DUI trials?

While you should not expect to obtain a case-by-case breakdown of the trial history of an Oklahoma DUI defense lawyer, you should receive an open and honest answer regarding the general percentage of the results of those matters that proceeded to trial. While no attorney wins every single case that goes to trial, you should hear a positive percentage that speaks both to the attorney's ability to fight the proper battles and to fight diligently for clients.

5.  How does your DUI representation fee arrangement work?

Finally, you will need to obtain a clear understanding of how the fee arrangement works in regards to the services provided by your Oklahoma DUI attorney. While no two fee arrangements are ever exactly alike, you should receive an answer that does not seem hesitant or vague, as that could indicate a problem down the road.

Ultimately, if you or someone you love has been arrested for DUI in Oklahoma, you need to act immediately to protect your legal rights. Begin this process by contacting the Oklahoma DUI defense lawyers at Atkins & Markoff to schedule an initial consultation.