Turn your social media profiles to private
Prosecutors are becoming far more tech savvy, and are increasingly scouring social media pages for evidence to use against people. So it’s a good practice to be very careful about information and photos you make public. That goes double if you’re arrested. If you’re not comfortable eliminating your social media presence, at least turn all your accounts to the highest privacy setting. Now is not the time to have your pages reviewed for anything incriminating.
Save your vacation days
Clients ask us whether or not they have to tell their employer about a DUI. The short answer is: Maybe. Remember that a DUI arrest is not a DUI conviction. What you should be thinking about, however, is making sure you can be available for court when you need to be. You might also need the time for treatment or community service. It’s also hard to know ahead of time how long a DUI will take to resolve. Some are resolved on the first court date, others might take months or longer depending on the complexity of the case.
And plan on how you’ll pay for everything
DUIs are expensive — they can cost up to $18,000 if you’re convicted. Start planning now if you need to liquidate any assets or borrow from family. It doesn’t feel good, but it certainly won’t feel any better under duress.
Consider scheduling a drug and alcohol evaluation
Drug and alcohol treatment might very well be a part of your sentencing if you manage to work out a deal with the prosecutor’s office. It’s often required even if the charge is being amended and sometimes even when it’s dismissed. The first step to receiving treatment is receiving an evaluation from a licensed drug and alcohol evaluator. Drug and alcohol evaluations cost money, so talk this over with your attorney before you take this step, but being proactive can only help you, especially in the early stages.
Find a great attorney
Use AVVO to find someone who specializes in DUIs, check scores, use free consultations to ask questions. Make sure you are comfortable with the attorney. We came up with some important guidelines for finding the right lawyer. Check them out here.
And let them do their job
Seriously. DUIs can be challenging, stressful, and sometimes scary. Worrying about your case once you’ve settled on the right attorney adds nothing. You’ll get past this, but it requires patience. Working with a good lawyer helps, too.
