DUI or Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol is a crime that’s very serious in nature. If charged, you are staring at severe legal and insurance-related ramifications. From the complete suspension of your driving license to possible jail time, the consequences can be devastating and the damage to your reputation can be irreversible. 

That being said, many in America are still oblivious to what a DUI charge actually entails. So we at Coppins Law Group decided now would be a good time for a crash course on it.

In this article, we will be focusing on exactly how a DUI conviction can affect several aspects of one’s life.

So without much more ado, let’s begin.

How a DUI Can Impact Your Ability to Drive

Let’s just say that the impact on your driving ability due to a DUI conviction is never kind. You can expect a possible suspension of your license and Driving Privileges. It is also important to note that there are different levels of suspension or revocation, depending on whether your driving record depicts you as a first-time offender or a repeat one.

A first-time offense could mean suspension of no more than six months. A second offense could mean suspension for a year with the fourth offense ultimately leading to the suspension of your driving privileges forever. Then there is the impact a DUI can have on your auto Insurance Rates (a subject we will touch on momentarily). You will only make matters worse if for some reason you refused to take a Breathalyzer test.

If charged, it is also important to not lose hope immediately. DUI prevention is possible and there are attorneys out there that’ll help you get out of this mess untainted and even help with cost savings.

The Impact of a DUI on your Auto Insurance Rates

Suspension of your driving license or license isn’t the only consequence of a DUI conviction. Some would argue that the impact of DUI on one’s auto insurance rates can be far worse. It is estimated that your car insurance rates can go up by 83% if convicted of DUI. After some investigation, we found that a DUI can increase the full coverage of car insurance by $1434 per year.

The citation you get for driving while impaired can have long-term consequences… with your rates remaining affected for up to 5 years in some states around the country. Needless to say, a DUI can affect both your personal and professional life. Luckily, there are cost-saving benefits to hiring a lawyer in charge of building your defense. They can help you fight the results of the Breathalyzer test in court… all in a bid to keep a DUI conviction off your driving record. They can negotiate a favorable plea on your behalf and guide you through the entire legal process.

How to Maintain Your Driving Privileges After a DUI  

A DUI conviction could result in license suspension, the revocation of your driving privileges, and skyrocketing auto insurance rates. If you wish to maintain driving privileges, then you need to avoid a DUI conviction altogether. The best way to do this is via reliable legal assistance delivered by a seasoned DUI attorney.

As we mentioned before there are personal, legal, and cost-saving benefits to hiring an attorney for legal representation. They are well aware of the mitigating factors that can minimize the impact of a DUI charge. The lawyers at Coppins Law Group, for instance, are masters at crafting defense strategies that can protect driving privileges. They can help you avoid the long-term consequences of a DUI arrest. They can advocate to help you at least keep a restricted license in a bid to at least partially secure your driving privileges in the event of the DUI charge being severe.

If you are license is revoked, then you can rely on a DUI attorney to help you reinstate your license. Besides hiring a lawyer, there are certain things you can do as well to make sure your driving privileges are protected. For example, do not refuse a Breathalyzer test as there are grave consequences of refusal.

The potential long-term consequences of a DUI on your driving record

We’ve already touched upon certain consequences of DUI like suspension of driving privileges, license, and increased auto insurance rates. However, the impact isn’t restricted to these areas alone. A DUI conviction reflects badly on your driving record and this can have devastating long-term consequences on your personal as well as professional life.

A DUI conviction on your record could mean constantly failing background checks for jobs, or when searching for a house to rent. Finding work can become extremely difficult. You could even end up losing your car insurance. There is also a chance of losing university acceptance and scholarships. It can also affect the relationship you have with your loved ones.

The role of an attorney in protecting your driving privileges after a DUI

If you want to maintain your driving privileges or fight against license suspension, then a DUI attorney is your best bet. A reputable DUI defense lawyer knows how to fight a DUI charge and has a bunch of strategies in their arsenal that they can use to keep your driving record clean.

They can assess all the evidence gathered against you to devise a defense strategy that helps you fight the results of a Breathalyzer test or even avoid a DUI conviction altogether. No DUI conviction means no revocation of license, no jail time, and no ballooning auto insurance rates. If you are convicted, they can help you negotiate a plea bargain that could entail a possible reduced jail sentence as well.

The potential cost savings of hiring an attorney for a DUI case

The legal fees of hiring an attorney may seem like a lot. However, you stand to save tens and thousands of dollars with the legal representation of a seasoned DUI attorney. There are several hidden charges that come with a typical DUI case. They can help you avoid those charges by carefully guiding you through the otherwise complex process.

By helping you avoid a DUI conviction, they can eliminate the possibility of you paying high auto insurance rates in the future. Then there is also the possibility of you losing driving privileges. An attorney can help you save a ton of money that could have otherwise been spent on the reinstatement of license. They can also help you attain a plea bargain to avoid hefty fines and long jail time.

Steps to take to minimize the impact of a DUI on your driving privileges and insurance

Minimizing DUI impact on driving privileges and insurance is difficult but not impossible. Protecting driving privileges after DUI would require you to attend a DUI or administrative hearing where you can present your case. You can also patiently wait out the license suspension period and pay all the fines that are demanded from you. Complete any court requirements that you are obliged to perform.

You can challenge the suspension by requesting a hearing with the DMV. To minimize DUI impact on insurance rates, you can:

•       Take a defensive driving course
•       Compare rates of multiple insurance providers and choose one that is best for you
•       Check out non-owner SR-22 car insurance
•       Improve your credit score.

These steps can be instrumental in lowering insurance rates after DUI. That said, one of the best DUI defense strategies entails hiring a DUI attorney. Now that you know about the steps you can take to minimize DUI impact, let’s move on to understand what the consequences of refusing a breathalyzer test are and what you can do for preventing future DUIs.

The potential consequences of refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test

The potential consequences of refusing a breathalyzer test are grave. Our DUI attorneys always advocate against refusing such a test. Refusal could mean revocation of your driver’s license for the next 3 days. You will be charged with impaired driving and then be presented in court.

If convicted there, you are staring at fines, jail sentences that can range from 30 to 120 days in total, and the DUI conviction becoming a stain on your criminal record.  Besides the possible suspension of your driving privileges, you are also looking at car insurance rates that increase substantially.

How to avoid a DUI and protect your driving privileges and insurance rates.

By now, you are completely aware of the effects or consequences you face if caught driving drunk. It is, however, completely possible to avoid license suspension, prevent high car insurance premiums, and other types of legal penalties by taking certain precautionary measures.

For starters, never drive drunk. If you are inebriated, we suggest letting your sober friends, colleagues, or family members take the wheel. If they are not around, then opt for an Uber or Lyft ride to wherever it is you wish to go.

If convicted of DUI, do not lose hope and immediately reach out to the excellent DUI attorneys at Coppins Law Group. We know how to protect driving privileges and have a positive track record to show for it. An initial appointment with our lawyers is free of charge.

Driving under the influence is a serious criminal offense but that does not have to be the end of your life. Contact us at Coppins Law Group to learn more about how we can help with your DUI case.