By Attorney James Czarnecki| Czarnecki & Taylor PLLC | OCT 14, 2022
What to Expect When Meeting Your Michigan OWI Attorney
When facing Michigan OWI charges, you must consult with a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible. During your initial consultation, an experienced attorney will listen to the details of your case and discuss how they can help you. Below are some things you can expect during this meeting.
After scheduling an appointment, you’ll meet or have a phone call with the attorney to review your case. If you’re in jail, your lawyer will visit you for the initial consultation.
What is involved in the initial consultation?
1. A Review Of Your Case Details – Your first meeting with a Michigan OWI lawyer should be spent reviewing the details of your case. This may include discussing whether there were any potential errors in police procedures involved in your arrest, such as an illegal traffic stop or improper breathalyzer testing procedure. Additionally, your lawyer will want to know if any particular circumstances related to your case, such as physical impairments, might have led to a false positive result on the breathalyzer test.
2. A Review Of Your Legal Options – Making informed decisions about your legal options is an integral part of any OWI case, so you must discuss your options with a lawyer at the initial consultation. This may involve discussing whether you are eligible for a plea bargain, if you have grounds for an administrative license suspension hearing, or if you may be able to have your charges reduced or dismissed entirely.
3. Advice On How To Help Your Case – In addition to receiving advice on how to proceed in your case, your Michigan OWI attorney may also provide practical tips on how you can help yourself throughout the process. For example, they may advise you to take advantage of alcohol education or treatment programs, comply with the terms of your license suspension, and gather any necessary documentation that can be used as evidence in your case.
4. An explanation of how OWI laws work in Michigan. Your lawyer will inform you about the various penalties for drunk driving offenses in Michigan, such as jail time, fines, and driver’s license suspensions or revocations. They will also explain whether there is any likelihood that your charges could be dismissed or reduced.
5. A Review Of Your Rights – Before agreeing to work with an attorney in your case, you must understand all of your legal rights and responsibilities related to any plea agreements or other decisions made during your case. During your initial consultation, a skilled attorney will help you understand your rights and obligations, including the terms of any plea agreements that may be offered as part of a possible settlement in your case. Read more on being charged with an OWI.
6. Plan For Moving Forward – After learning more about your case and discussing the options available, an experienced Michigan OWI lawyer can guide you on what steps to take next. This may include advising you whether it is better to accept a plea agreement or move forward with fighting the charges against you at trial. Additionally, they can help determine how best to proceed with taking action on behalf of your case based on factors such as the strength of the evidence against you and other relevant considerations.
7. A review of the evidence in your case. Depending on when you retain your attorney, you may have to wait for the lawyer to obtain the discovery in your case. Your lawyer will likely ask you to provide them with any documents related to your arrest, including copies of police reports, breath test results, and video footage from traffic or law enforcement officers’ dashboard cameras. They may also want to speak with witnesses present during your traffic stop or arrest and with anyone else who may have relevant information about your case. Don’t worry if you don’t have this information or material. Your attorney will get all of it during discovery.
How to get your OWI dismissed.
8. Guidance on obtaining necessary documents and submitting paperwork to reinstate your driver’s license. Depending on the circumstances of your arrest, there are specific steps that you will need to take to get your driving privileges back, including attending a hearing before the Secretary of State and installing an ignition interlock device (BAIID) in any vehicle that you own or lease. Your lawyer can provide instructions on how and where to submit these documents and inform you about when they must be submitted so they are considered valid by the SOS.
9. Attorneys fees. Overall, many factors will influence how much a lawyer will charge for legal services, and these considerations should always be considered. When discussing fees, the lawyer must clearly and honestly communicate what services they can offer and the associated costs. Considering these factors, you can help ensure that both of you have a positive and productive experience working together on legal matters.
What should you bring to your first meeting?
When you meet with your OWI lawyer for the first time, there are a few things that you should bring with you. Some of the key items to have on hand include:
1. Documentation relating to your case. If you have it, you should bring police reports, court documents, and other relevant evidence or paperwork about your case. By providing this information to your attorney, you allow the attorney to look over relevant documentation that will help formulate the strategy for your defense.
2. Documents or information relating to prior convictions or traffic infractions. These can be important in determining potential penalties and sentencing if you are found guilty of your current OWI offense.
3. A list of questions or concerns you want to discuss with your lawyer. You should write questions that you have regarding your case. This will help ensure you get the answers and guidance you need during your first meeting. Although you will have other conversations after your initial consultation, it is important to ask questions to get them answered for your benefit. This will help ensure that all of your concerns are addressed, and it will also give you a sense of whether the lawyer is a good fit for your case.
Overall, when you meet with an OWI lawyer for the first time, it is important to come prepared with any documents and information that you think may help your case. By having these key items on hand, you can ensure that your consultation runs smoothly and that you can start working with your lawyer to develop a strong legal strategy for your case. Additionally, be sure to ask questions about what to expect during the legal process to feel confident and prepared as your case moves forward. By taking these steps, you can ensure that you get the best possible outcome from your OWI charge.
Hiring a Michigan OWI attorney.
Hiring a Michigan OWI attorney can be a complex and stressful process, especially if this is your first drunken driving charge. There are several important factors you should take into consideration when selecting an attorney to represent you in your case. Some of the most important things to consider include the attorney’s experience with Michigan OWI cases, their reputation within the legal community, and their track record of success with other clients who have been charged with OWI offenses.
One of the first things to look for when searching for a lawyer is whether they have extensive experience handling Michigan OWI cases. You should also look for an attorney with a good reputation within the legal community.
Finally, when selecting an attorney to represent you in a Michigan OWI case, it is important to find someone who has had success with cases similar to yours. You want to make sure that they have experience winning OWI cases so that they will be able to navigate this process smoothly and effectively on your behalf. Read How we win Michigan OWI cases and Necessity Defense to OWI.
If you are looking for a lawyer to handle your Michigan OWI case, it is important to take the time to research your options carefully and find someone who has extensive experience and a strong reputation within the legal community. By keeping these considerations in mind as you make your selection, you can be confident that you are hiring an attorney who will give you the best possible chance of success in your case.
Contact Us.
At Czarnecki & Taylor, we have a team of skilled and knowledgeable lawyers who know exactly what it takes to successfully defend against charges of operating while intoxicated. Whether you have been arrested for drunk driving or drugged driving, we will work tirelessly to build a strong defense on your behalf and help you achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
Our attorneys understand that every situation is unique, and they will take the time to listen to your side of the story before working with you to create a strategy tailored specifically to address the specific challenges of your case. We may be able to argue that there were errors during the traffic stop or arrest process that resulted in any evidence collected against you being thrown out. We may even be able to demonstrate that the testing equipment used was faulty and resulted in inaccurate results, which could help reduce or dismiss your charges. Whatever your situation, we will work hard to get the best possible outcome for you.
We have extensive experience representing clients who have been accused of drunk driving and other criminal charges. We will carefully examine the evidence in your case and determine the best strategies for achieving a favorable outcome. Whether it means negotiating a plea deal or taking your case to trial, you can count on our team to aggressively advocate on your behalf.
Our experienced attorneys are knowledgeable about all aspects of OWI cases, including breath and blood testing procedures, license suspensions, ignition interlock devices, field sobriety tests, administrative hearings, and more. No matter how complex your situation may seem at first, we can help you understand your rights and options, and we will fight aggressively to protect you against the severe penalties associated with a conviction.
If you are facing criminal charges for operating while intoxicated, contact our law firm today to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys. We understand what’s at stake, and we will work tirelessly on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome in your case.
This article is based on our experience handling Michigan drunk driving cases in the tri-county area including but not limited to the following courts:
- 37th District Court: Warren, Centerline
- 38th District Court: Eastpointe
- 39th District Court: Roseville, Fraser
- 40th District Court: St. Clair Shores
- 41A District Court: Sterling Heights
- 41A District Court: Shelby Twp, Macomb Twp, Utica
- 41B District Court: Clinton Twp, Harrison Twp, Mount Clemens
- 42-1 District Court: Romeo, Washington Twp, Armada, Richmond, Ray Twp
- 42-2 District Court: New Baltimore, Chesterfield Twp, Lenox Twp, New Haven
- 44th District Court:Royal Oak, Berkley
- 52-4 District Court: Troy
- 72nd District Court: Locations in Marine City and Port Huron
Contact Czarnecki & Taylor
If you are charged with a Michigan OWI, Czarnecki & Taylor are here to help. We are available 24/7 at (586) 718-2345 for a free initial consultation.
Our firm’s impressive track record for success and aggressive Michigan criminal defense is unparalleled for achieving exceptional results for our clients facing any type of criminal charge.
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