2. Don’t confess that you had anything to drink. Officers will not consider this honesty as being respectful. They will consider it evidence against you only. Only give the police your driver’s license, vehicle registration and insurance information, if requested. Remember, anything you say can be misunderstood, mischaracterized and even mistaken. It can also be reported as slurred speech, mumbling and rambling, all supposedly proof of being drunk. The less you say, the better.

3. Don’t try to befriend the cops. Do not makes jokes or try to charm them.

4. Do not take any field sobriety test. If a cop decides to administer a field sobriety test, he has already decided he will arrest you. The FST is given just to justify the arrest.

5. Unless you are under 21 or on probation for a prior DUI, refuse the roadside breath test, also known as a PAS (Preliminary Alcohol Screening) test. Do not take it even if you have not been drinking. Just say no.

6. Once you are arrested, choose the breath test at the station. Do not give blood unless you cannot give a breath sample. Do not refuse to give a breath test. Try your best and if you can’t do so, give blood, but only as a last resort. If the police tell you (and they are supposed to) that you have the right to a back-up test, chose urine, not blood. The police may tell you that you have no right to a urine back-up test, but this is wrong. Lies by cops have a big effect on jurors, so you actually want them to say this.

7. After you have given a breath sample, shut up. Do not speak to the cops anymore. If you call your family or bail bondsman, be careful what you say. In fact, admissions of drinking to your wife or husband over the phone can be noted in the police report.

8. Hire an attorney. If you needed heart surgery, you would not do it yourself, would you? An experienced DUI attorney can help navigate you through this chapter in your life, providing answers to the many questions you will have and leading to the best result under the facts and law.

9. If the police ask you why you did not agree to any field sobriety tests, that you would not answer any questions beyond your name, why you insisted upon a breath test with a urine “back-up,” or why you refused a “road-side” breath test, tell them it is upon advice of counsel (I am giving you this now!). And then shut up!

10. Never forget that DUI arrests proceed with an expectation that you will not fight back. The traffic stop leading to the investigation is often improper. Protect yourself, first and foremost.

The post 10 Steps – If Police Stop You for DUI appeared first on The Farmer Law Firm.

Because most injury attorneys work on a contingent-fee basis, and only get paid if there is a successful resolution to your claim, there is often little incentive to try to handle these types of claims on your own, unless no injuries or serious damage were involved and a settlement would be very small. If you’re injured in a car accident, then hiring a lawyer will almost always ensure a much better settlement.

Knowledge of Law and Procedural Rules

Hiring a personal injury attorney to represent you after a car accident means you will have a professional working for you — one who is extremely knowledgeable about the relevant laws and procedural rules that may affect your case.

An attorney can advise you of any time limits (called statutes of limitations) that can bar you from filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. For instance, in many states you must file your lawsuit within two years of your car accident or be forever prohibited from filing your lawsuit. An attorney will also be able to inform you about any special exceptions to the statute of limitations — for minors, for example.

Your attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf and will know how best to mitigate any possible defenses raised by the other side. In addition, once your case gets under way, your lawyer will play an invaluable role in preparing your case for trial — and even going to trial if your case doesn’t settle.

Even though a lawsuit is rarely necessary, the threat of legal action offers strong leverage when negotiating a fair settlement.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, having an attorney who is knowledgeable about the law evens the playing field, especially when you are going up against the experience and vast resources of a large insurance company.

The post When to Call a Lawyer After a Car Accident appeared first on The Farmer Law Firm.