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When facing a DUI charge or protecting family members, selecting a lawyer with extensive knowledge in this area of law is vital to a successful defense strategy. An experienced drunk driving defense attorney offers the best chance at avoiding penalties or having the case dropped altogether.
Alison Chapman is an associate professor of English at the University of Alabama at Birmingham where she specializes in John Milton’s 1667 masterpiece “Paradise Lost.” Over time, Chapman has read this poem extensively and recently made an interesting discovery: it contains legal terminology.
The 17th century saw significant advances in legal studies, with concepts like defense counsel’s right and a legal system requiring degrees and licenses in order to practice being introduced at this time, she said. These legal terms were prominent throughout “Paradise Lost.”
At a DUI trial, the prosecution may bring in an expert witness to discuss how alcohol affects human bodies and what factors determine whether someone has an elevated blood alcohol concentration level. A forensic expert may also be brought in to investigate field sobriety tests conducted and any potential errors with testing equipment used.
An experienced DUI defense attorney understands how to successfully cross-examine experts during cross-examination, she explained. For example, attorneys can question these experts regarding a defendant’s drinking in recent months and its effect on field sobriety tests or any injuries or illnesses which could alter performance on these tests or accuracy of chemical test results.
Hiring an attorney with expertise in DUI defense is often worth the expense. An expert DUI lawyer can minimize court time and penalties such as fines, jail time or license suspension while helping avoid missed work or obligations due to attending hearings for your case. They may even save the cost of hiring private forensic experts since NCDD members have access to an expansive forensic library containing scientific articles on drug and alcohol intoxication; methods of alcohol testing; drug recognition expert (DRE) techniques and procedures as well as more.
