Talk To A DUI Attorney Not A Call Center
In a DUI emergency, the last thing you want to do is have an answering service screening your call and asking 50 questions that will only delay the odds a defense attorney will actually call you back. If you have found our page, you likely already experienced this and have been waiting hours or days for a DUI lawyer to give you a call back. Call us at (360) 792-1000 and you will actually speak to a lawyer!
Call A DUI Lawyer 24/7 For A Free DUI Consultation
At Witt Law Group, you won’t find an answering service or a call center. On a rare occasion, you might go to voicemail for a few moments because we are actually on the other line with another urgent call. And, when off of that call, you will have a DUI attorney call you back!
We do not screen calls with a call center. We don’t delay in getting back to people. We take emergency calls as fast as we can. If we are not the firm that can help you, we want you to know that right away and suggest a referral when we can.
If you are arrested for DUI in Port Orchard, Bremerton, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, Silverdale, Seabeck or other cities nearby, give us a call to determine whether you are facing charges in Kitsap County District Court or one of the local municipal courts. Believe it or not, even a few miles geographically may make a big difference in what kind of conditions of release are imposed and what options you have for resolving the case that could lead to a reduced charge and keep you out of jail. We have handled DUI and criminal defense cases in Kitsap for over 25 years so we know these courts inside and out.
DUI Costs
One of the biggest concerns for most people arrested for DUI is how much a lawyer will cost. It’s an important consideration because legal fees are substantial. For those who might qualify for a public defender (considered indigent), it is hard to know whether spending the money for a DUI lawyer is worth it.
To be honest, depending on your circumstances, it might not make sense to hire a private DUI lawyer. If you are retired and do not have a job to worry about and you do not care if you do a few days in jail (believe it or not, some people really don’t mind), and no longer plan to drive, the cost might not make sense for you.
However, if you have a job that runs background checks, you have a security clearance, you drive a company vehicle, you hold a professional license (teacher, nurse, real estate agent, etc.) and you would prefer to avoid jail, getting the best advice you can for your DUI case might be of value to you.
Unlike public defenders who work 9 to 4:30 Monday through Friday, we are available to clients 24/7. If you don’t get off of work until 8:00 PM, that’s not a problem for us. We can set up a phone or zoom call and go over everything relevant to your case.
I Want The Best Defense But Can I Afford A Private DUI Lawyer?
That depends. Some of the Seattle and Tacoma-based firms charge $7500 – $10,000 for a DUI case. Most people cannot afford that kind of legal fee, but for cases outside of Kitsap County, that is fairly common. However, in Kitsap County, we don’t really have the same high wages and cost of living as Seattle and, thankfully, our firm does not have the same expensive overhead as those firms. Consequently, we can charge less for our DUI defense fee.
So, if you have called those firms because their advertisements were at the top of the google page, don’t give up! Give us a call and see what we can do. While we have 25 years of experience and handled thousands of DUI cases, you will likely find we are charging much less than out of county firms.
Additionally, if you can put half down, we can usually make arrangements for the balance over time. Do not deny yourself the best defense by assuming you can’t afford it.
Can I Delay And Hire A Private Lawyer Later?
That depends if you want advice before you walk into court for the first time. Many people do not realize that you do not get to talk with a public defender about your case until one is assigned, which is after your first hearing / arraignment.
Typically, there will be a public defender in the courtroom (sometimes over zoom) to assist with that first hearing. Unfortunately, you don’t get to talk in advance to that lawyer to ask about conditions of release, whether you might be taken back into custody, or whether there are options to avoid the ignition interlock (blow and go) in your car. Basically, you miss out on any opportunity to strategize before court in an effort to keep you out of jail and have fewer restrictions while the case is pending.
Help For Your DUI Driver’s License Suspension Hearing
Most importantly, since public defense money has to be spent on criminal cases only, the public defender cannot help you with your Department of Licensing DUI Hearing. That means, if you want to try to avoid having your driver’s license suspended 30 days after your arrest, you need to submit the DOL Hearing form and have a private DUI attorney file their notice of appearance for that hearing.
You only have 7 days after your arrest to make that request so it is very important that, if you want help with your driver’s license hearing, you find a private attorney as soon as possible after the arrest.
If you are unsure about your next steps, give our office a call! (360) 792-1000
