How Much Does It Cost to Hire a DUI Lawyer?

No matter how urgent or serious an issue you have, you must not drive when you are drunk or on drugs. DUI otherwise known as driving under the influence of either drugs or alcohol is a state criminal offence. Your state of intoxication when the police arrests you will determine your punishment for the crime. That is why, if you are caught drunk-driving, there is going to be a huge dent in your bank account.

Moreover, you will need to hire a lawyer for your defense since you cannot face the legal system on your own. There are many things that you will encounter in the case depending on the seriousness of your offence. You will face matters that range from time in jail, losing your license, to a huge fine. However, if you have never hired a lawyer before, you may not know how much a DUI lawyer will cost you.

The cost for hiring a DUI lawyer is a bit higher than that of personal injury lawyers. A personal injury lawyer may bill on contingent basis whereas a Dui lawyer will never do so. Any criminal lawyer will require an upfront deposit from you.  However, the amount they will charge you depends on;

• The severity of your case
• How complex the case is
• The resolution you are looking for
• Your lawyer’s method of billing
• His or her billing rate within the billing structure
• The total amount of time that the case will run

Additional legal expenses besides the lawyer’s fee might be, investigator’s fees, expert witness, photocopying, travel-related fees, and paralegal’s time.

Types of DUI Lawyer’s Fee Structure

Generally, Dui attorneys have two different type of fee structure. It is either the charge their clients on a Flat rate or Hourly basis.

• Flat Rate Billing

When you are paying a DUI lawyer in a Flat rate, it means that the lawyer will give you a quotation. The fee he or she quotes will cover the entire time your case runs. When you agree on the flat rate, you are liable to get certain discounts which you will not get at an hourly rate.

• Hourly Rate Billing

When your lawyer requests an hourly basis, you will be paying for the representation services on a specific hourly basis. This billing method is also beneficial in its way. At least, you are not required to pay for a longer time if you get a quick resolution. Moreover, the only time you will have to pay your attorney will be only the time he or she worked on the case.

No matter the payment structure, know that most of them may charge less while some will charge more. It will be more if he/she is from a large firm. However, those from smaller firms can bill lesser.

How Much Does A DUI Lawyer Cost?

How much a DUI lawyer costs most time depends on the way you want your case resolution. For instance, if you are hiring a DUI lawyer for a particular task such as negotiating a plea bargain, the rates will be lower. However, if you want to go to trial for your DUI case, the lawyer will charge you the appropriate Trial Fee. Due to the demands of having a trial, such as long prep work and longer court time, going to trial will cost higher.

DUI Lawyer’s Average Costs

The State’s Bar regulations and the local market rates influence the average cost for DUI lawyers. The average cost for a DUI lawyer when you only want a Plea bargain may range from $750 to $1500. On the other hand, if you insist on going to trial depending on the severity and complexity of your offence, you will be expecting around $2,500 to $25,000 respectively. That is if you are paying the flat fee. However, if you are paying the hourly rates, you should be expecting the average of $200 to $500.

Conclusion

That billing rates for DUI lawyers are a bit competitive, however, with proper arrangement during the interview stages you can wiggle out some discounts. Bear in mind though that these average rates are dependent on the lawyer’s reputation, skills, and caseload.