Michigan Lawyer Blog
You have completed your due diligence in your quest to find a Michigan DUI attorney.
You have a meeting scheduled to discuss your case. What information do you need to be prepared to discuss and what documentation should you bring?
When you were arrested, you were likely taken into custody and held until your blood alcohol level diminished sufficiently in order for you to return home, or until you were bonded out by friends or family. Before you leave, you should have a bond receipt from the jail, a paper driver’s license and vivid memories of what you have experienced since you were stopped by the police.
You should come to your meeting prepared to provide as much information as you can recall involving your arrest and the events leading to your stop by the police. Your DUI attorney will want to know where you were drinking, the names of the individuals you were with, what you drank and how much you had to drink. You will be asked when you had your last drink and whether you drank on an empty stomach or whether you recently ate a meal. You may also be asked information regarding any medications you are currently prescribed. While not advisable, many of the medications you take may have warnings against consuming alcohol. These medications may have the effect of amplifying the appeared on impairment or response time. You may be asked whether you recall operating your motor vehicle. You may also be asked whether you have ever been arrested before and whether you have any prior convictions. Now is not the time to withhold information from your attorney. You need to think of your attorney as your priest, your pastor or your rabbi. The more information you can provide the better. Any information you withhold can come back to harm you and your case. Most attorneys you will speak with have represented many people over a variety of different settings. While you may be ashamed or remorseful regarding your arrest, the more information you can provide and the more honest and forthright you can be the better. Conversations you have with your lawyer are protected by privilege.