Chicago DUI Attorney

Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious offense that can result in multiple life-altering penalties upon conviction. If you have been arrested or charged with DUI in the Chicago area, it is imperative that you get the skilled defense you need to avoid being convicted and sentenced to such penalties as license suspension, time in jail, probation, ignition interlock device installation, and high fines. The best way to ensure you have the defense representation you need is to retain the legal counsel of a DUI attorney who has experience defending clients charged with DUI in both criminal court and at their summary suspension hearings. With an experienced Chicago DUI lawyer aggressively fighting on your behalf, you have a much better chance of winning your case and walking away and getting your life back to normal.

DUI Defense Lawyer Serving Chicago, Cook, Dupage & Lake Counties

While most criminal defense firms may take the occasional DUI case, our firm focuses heavily on DUI matters and has been for many years. Our attorneys are members of the prestigious National College of DUI Defense and frequently attended DUI defense seminars around the country each year. Our lawyers handle hundreds of DUI cases each year and have amicable relationships with prosecutors and judges in each of the courts we visit. Because our attorneys focus so heavily on DUI cases, they have significantly more experience to work from than other lawyers who may not be as familiar with each facet of DUI defense law. Understanding the principals of chemical blood and breath testing, effects of ingestion, drug reactions, and how police conduct their investigations are all part of the experience we bring to the courtroom. Our DUI attorneys know the system, know how police might lie during their investigation, and know how to identify faults in their case against you. We will fight aggressively with the prosecutors and questions their facts to ensure that you are given every opportunity to have the case dismissed prior to trial.

It may be the smallest detail of a case, but when brought to light, it can turn the matter around and result in a positive case outcome for a client. For example, you may have submitted to a breath test that showed your blood alcohol concentration to be well above .08%. Our team knows how to effectively challenge breath test results by questioning the manner in which the test was administered or the device itself. Because we know how these devices must be properly calibrated and maintained and because we understand exactly how a test should be administered, we can recognize procedural violations that may influence the outcome of the test and therefore its admissibility in court. This is just one example - we thoroughly investigate each client's case to determine the best approach.

Why fight your DUI charges?

Most people assume because the police arrested them, they must be guilty. They may even have friends and family members condoning their perceived behavior and try to persuade you to plead to the DUI charge prior to speaking with a DUI lawyer. The single biggest problem with this scenario is that you simply do not have the facts to your case and more importantly, IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO PROVE YOUR OWN GUILT! - Remember, it is the arresting agency and prosecutor's job to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty of DUI. This means that they must compile facts and evidence about the case that will prove to a judge and jury that you are guilty. Given this burden of proof, there are numerous legal procedures they must follow during the initial police stop, investigation, field sobriety test (if conducted) breath/blood test, observation period, and within the police report that they must follow. Only after the have followed every step to near perfection and have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty, can you be convicted. By hiring a DUI attorney to represent you, each facet of the case can be carefully scrutinized and questioned to dispel any biased "facts" and set the record straight. Only a qualified Chicago DUI lawyer with the type of experience our firm presents can guide you through this process and get your charges reduced, dismissed or found NOT GUILTY.

Why our law firm?

When you come to the law office of Fagan, Fagan & Davis, you will have an entire team of skilled defense attorneys working on your behalf. Your case will be handled by a lead attorney, but all elements of your case will be peer-reviewed by the other DUI defense lawyers at the firm to ensure the best possible defense strategies are being used on your case. Furthermore, we are constantly pushing our defense skills to the next level, and are always looking for new, innovative ways to defend people facing DUI charges. We feel that by providing you with a small army of highly trained Cook County DUI lawyers, your chances of overcoming your charges and achieving a winning verdict increase significantly. Whether this is your first arrest or you are facing charges for a second or third DUI offense due to prior convictions on your record, we are confident in our ability to provide you with the hard-hitting defense counsel you need. We understand all of the elements of a DUI case and can use this specialized knowledge to more effectively handle your case.

If you feel that your DUI is a result of an unlawful police stop, an experienced attorney from our office can help you prove that the officer pulled you over without probable cause. The officer must have witnessed you committing some act that gives him or her probable cause to believe you were driving under the influence in order to pull you over. The only exception is that if a roadblock or a so-called roadside safety check is in place, the police are allowed to stop and detain drivers briefly without probable cause. A skilled DUI attorney can conduct a full investigation of your case in order to uncover the evidence that may prove you innocent. When a person is arrested for a DUI in Chicago, he or she may face a specific procedure before being taken into custody. It is important that you understand the steps of a DUI arrest and how you should behave and respond to police questioning. Click here to read more about DUI arrests in Chicago…

Plea Bargains vs. Trials
At Fagan, Fagan, & Davis, we can help you decide what your best legal option is. One of the decisions you will have to make is whether to accept a plea bargain or whether to take your case to trial. A plea bargain involves pleading guilty in an effort to avoid an expensive and long trial. You may also avoid harsh penalties and sentences that may result from a trial. However, if you take your case to trial, you have the opportunity of being found innocent. Going to trial could clear your record and have your charge dropped. On the other hand, going to trial could result in severe consequences should you be found guilty. A Chicago DUI defense attorney from our legal team could review all the details of your case and give you the information you need to make the most desirable decision for you. Click here to read more about plea bargains & trials.

Contact a Chicago DUI Lawyer

When searching for the right Chicago DUI attorney to handle your case, being knowledgeable and experienced is not enough. You should look for an attorney who also has a proven record of achieving winning verdicts. At our firm we are proud to say we’ve won countless DUI cases on behalf of clients throughout Cook County. Furthermore, we will make sure you have a clear understanding of your rights under the law, as well as what you can expect to face during the DUI process. But above all else, we promise to do our utmost to provide you with the superior defense you need. Helping you avoid a DUI conviction is our top priority!

Let us show you why we’re the right team of attorneys to handle your case. For more information about our DUI services, please contact a Chicago DUI lawyer at our law firm today.