If you’ve been charged with drunk driving, you probably wonder how much a Maryland DUI
lawyer costs?
The cost of a Maryland DUI attorney can vary depending on a number of factors, including;
experience, locality, complexity of the case, prior record, and various other facts about
you and the charges.
I’m attorney Randolph Rice and in this video I’ll lay out the various factors and considerations
that dictate the cost to hire a dui lawyer.
When considering hiring a DWI defense lawyer for your drunk driving arrest, make sure you
look for a counselor that you feel comfortable with.
The lawyer you hire is going to be your spokesperson in court and guiding you along through the
process.
You want a counselor that is “put together” and presents the best image for your case
and you.
One of the biggest factors when it comes to the cost of a Maryland DUI lawyer is the experience
of the attorney.
(An attorney who has just finished law school and in their first couple years of practice
may not cost as much as a lawyer who’s been practicing longer) Young lawyers often charge
less than an older and more experienced lawyer because they need more business and they’re
trying to build a client base.
This may be dangerous when selecting a DUI lawyer because experience is one of the key
factors in a successful drunk driving defense.
As an example: Driving while impaired defense lawyers that have been practicing for more
than 8 years have handled potentially hundreds if not thousands of DUI and DWI cases.
Look for a lawyer or law firm with experience in the courtroom as well as knowledge of the
drunk driving laws in Maryland or your State.
A successful outcome is different for each driver facing a DUI or DWI charge in Maryland.
Review the possible outcomes with your lawyer and discuss the probability of each disposition
in your case.
Another factor to consider when it comes to the Maryland DUI lawyer cost is the location
of your case as it relates to the lawyer’s office or primary practice location(s).
There are some jurisdictions that may be a farther drive for the lawyer.
If an attorney has to spend more time traveling to the courthouse, that may cost the client
more money.
Time and knowledge are the most important assets a lawyer can offer.
If it takes more time for the lawyer to complete the task of defending your case, then the
cost will be higher.
Therefore, if you hire a lawyer for a case in western Maryland but the attorney at law
is located on the eastern shore of Maryland, then it may cost you more money.
It is smart to choose a lawyer who practices within a set number of jurisdictions to ensure
a consistent price point.
As an example, our office represents individuals and families in a handful of counties and
cities in Maryland.
These include: Carroll County, Cecil County, Howard County, Baltimore County, Baltimore
City, Harford County, Anne Arundel County and Worcester County.
We have a network of lawyers in the other Maryland counties that we trust and refer
driving while impaired cases to.
Give us a call and we can put you in touch with these lawyers.
Another factor to consider in the cost for a Maryland DUI lawyer is the prior driving
record of the client.
When a client has no prior DUI or DWI convictions, the legal cost will be considerably less than
if the client has prior drunk driving convictions.
As a general rule, a first time offense driving under the influence charge is always going
to be less expensive than a 2nd or subsequent arrest and charge.
The reason being is that the client will be facing more serious penalties and it may take
more time and more effort on the part of the lawyer to prepare the client and to defend
the case in court.
A first time DUI may cost considerably less than a second or subsequent DUI arrest.
The facts of each case may dictate the cost of a Maryland DUI lawyer.
In other words, if the DUI arrest involves an individual under 21 years old or an accident,
particularly an accident if someone was injured, the cost may be greater.
For example, a drunk driving arrest with an accident is going to cost more than a DUI
with no accident.
Or, a dui accident with injuries may cost more than a dui accident with no injuries.
This factor may dictate a greater expense to hire a lawyer because of the fact that
the case is more serious and requires more work on the part of the lawyer.
A lawyer may be more expensive if the DUI case will require a trial before either a
judge or a jury.
I7n Maryland, if an individual is facing a penalty more than 90 days, then that individual
has a right to a jury trial.
In most DUI arrests, the police officer will charge both the DUI and the DWI.
DUI stands for “driving under the influence” while DWI stands for “driving while impaired.”The
reason this is important is because DUI carries a maximum penalty of one year whereas a DWI
carries the maximum penalty of 60 days.
Because the DUI could potentially result in a penalty of greater than 90 days, then the
defendant has a right to a jury trial.
This means that the lawyer may be required to try the case before a jury which could
take multiple days and thus a higher-cost.
If the case is going to result in a plea, then it may take less work on the part of
the lawyer and therefore the fee maybe less expensive.
Typically speaking, the legal fee for a DUI lawyer in Maryland, for a first-time offense,
can range anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000.
This may not include the cost to appear for a motor vehicle administration hearing in
the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).
If there is a requirement to appear for a MVA hearing, there may be an additional cost
to hire the lawyer.
Yes, some DUI and DWI defense attorneys offer payment plans.
For example, our office will charge a flat fee for the drunk driving defense.
We typically offer payment plans to allow the client to make an initial half down payment
before the trial date and then the balance due within 3 months after the first payment
is made.
It is always wise to ask your DUI defense lawyer if they offer payment plans for your
case.
Most attorneys at law will offer some sort of payment plan for defending dui and dwi
cases.