Did you go out with the thousands of others in Philadelphia on St. Patrick’s Day? If you were one of the lucky ones, you made it home without incident. If you weren’t, you found yourself busted for driving under the influence. There were undoubtedly a million thoughts running through your head once you were able to get home and now that you are safely sitting on your own couch, you are wondering what to do next. Here are five things you can do right now.
1. Take Notes
Write down everything that you remember; details are important in a DUI case. What time were you pulled over? Where were you stopped? Write down what the officer asked and how you replied. Make note of any tests that you were administered. Don’t share your notes with anyone but the attorney you hire.
2. Go Private
Deleting information from your social media accounts can result in a tampering with evidence charge in some cases. That, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t set your accounts to private. The prosecutor may browse your public profile looking for damaging evidence. When you set your accounts to private, no one can see what you post without your password. That said, don’t post anything about your arrest or your case; judges are often willing to issue a subpoena to see your full profiles.
3. Talk to Witnesses
If there were people who were with you before, during or immediately after your stop, ask them if they will testify on your behalf. Your attorney will speak with these people to secure their statements. If they will be of help to your case, your attorney may decide to call them to testify.
4. Hire an Attorney
Speaking of an attorney, very few people have one on retainer. This means that you are going to have to find an attorney to represent you. Don’t make the mistake of opening the phone book and calling the first attorney under the DUI heading. You want to hire an attorney who is experienced in representing defendants like you in your local area. Each jurisdiction has nuances that an attorney should be aware of. Hiring a lawyer in your area who is experienced in DUI cases will be your best option.
5. Breathe and Relax
It is easier said than done, but do your best to relax. Once you hire an attorney, they will take care of the details for you. Keep in contact with your attorney and do your best to live your life as you would have without an arrest hanging over your head. It is natural to wonder what is going to happen, but obsessing over it isn’t going to change anything.
If you have been arrested for driving under the influence in Philadelphia, reach out to our office. A member of our team will help you schedule an appointment for a free case evaluation. We will review your case and offer you options that are best suited to your unique situation.