Hunters Creek DUI Lawyer

Panella Law Firm Accepts Cases Throughout Florida

Get An Aggressive Defense From Our Dui Lawyers In Hunters Creek

A Hunters Creek DUI charge can come with life-altering consequences. Unfortunately, a large number of people who are charged with a DUI are first-time offenders and may not even realize they’re breaking the law.

Law enforcement can be quick to slap on charges and move you through the legal system — often with consequences that follow you for the rest of your life. If you’ve been charged with a DUI in Hunters Creek, FL, you need a DUI attorney in Hunters Creek who will fight and protect your best interests.

Panella Law Firm can help. When you need to fight back against a DUI, you need an experienced attorney well-versed in DUI defense strategies to minimize the damage.

Contact Panella Law Firm at 407-602-6559 to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your options after you’ve been hit with a DUI charge in Hunters Creek.

What Is A Dui?

DUI stands for “driving under the influence.” In Florida, you are charged with a DUI if there is evidence that you operated a motor vehicle while you had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or, if you are under the age of 21, 0.02. Drunk driving is the most common form of DUI, but you can also be charged with a DUI if you consume any substance that impairs the ability to operate a motor vehicle, including prescription medications. Police can pull you over if you appear to be behaving erratically while driving. This is the most common way that impaired drivers are found and where DUI charges are issued.

Types Of Dui Charges In Hunters Creek, Fl

Not all DUI charges are going to be the same. Charges will vary based on the details of your incident, and you can have additional charges applied, such as reckless driving. It’s possible you will need the help of experienced DUI lawyers and a Winter Park criminal defense lawyer, depending on your charges.

The first DUI offense is usually a misdemeanor charge, but it can still mean you face license suspension, community service, fines and possibly jail time.

A repeat DUI charge can be more serious. For a second offense, there are far greater penalties than the first. If you have three offenses in 10 years or four regardless of the time, it can lead to harsh jail sentences and a felony DUI charge. You can also have a felony DUI charge if you are involved in an accident that causes harm to someone else.

DUI manslaughter charges can be filed if you cause a fatal accident. This is a very serious offense and can have lifetime consequences, including severe fines or a long prison sentence. For more serious cases, you will need to work with a Hunters Creek DUI lawyer.

If you have a commercial driver’s license, you may be charged with a DUI if your blood alcohol level is .04, which is half the legal limit. A conviction will result in suspension of your license for a year.

Getting A Dui In Hunters Creek

The Problems With Probable Cause

Many people have no idea how easy it is to end up with a DUI charge. It can happen to anyone — even when you’re not drunk. A DUI is one of the most common causes of arrest in Florida for just this reason.

When you don’t know your rights, it’s easy for law enforcement to take advantage of you.

Florida state laws require law enforcement to have probable cause before they can issue an arrest for DUI. It’s very common for an unsuspecting driver to hand over probable cause without even realizing they’re being coerced into complicity in their own arrest.

Probable cause in Florida means the officer must have an identifiable reason to strongly suspect that you have been driving under the influence. Examples of probable cause include:

Breathalyzer result at or over the legal limit of 0.08%
Driver admission of driving drunk
Signs of intoxication (stumbling, slurred speech, smelling of alcohol).

If an officer finds probable cause, you can be arrested and taken to jail, even if it hasn’t been conclusively proven that you’ve been driving drunk. The problem with probable cause is that it’s often simply a matter of the arresting officer’s suspicions; probable cause does not require proof that you’ve done anything wrong.

Why Choose Panella Law Firm?

Panella Law Firm Fights For Your Freedom

Panella Law Firm is an aggressive criminal defense firm providing expert legal assistance. Attorney Michael Panella is a fierce advocate of clients who have been wronged by the legal system.

When you’re fighting a DUI charge in Hunters Creek, Attorney Michael Panella will conduct a detailed investigation into your case, develop the best DUI defense strategy for your situation, and fight aggressively to have your charges reduced or dropped entirely.

Panella Law Firm has a reputation for skilled criminal defense in the Hunters Creek area. Client testimonials and previous case results showcase just how good Attorney Michael Panella is at helping clients escape from seemingly hopeless legal situations.

When you need a Hunters Creek DUI lawyer, you want an attorney who’s passionate about fighting injustice, someone who has a track record that demonstrates skill and success in the courtroom. After a DUI charge, time is of the essence if you want to see your charges reduced or dropped.

Contact the Panella Law Firm today at 407-602-6559. Schedule a free initial consultation to discuss which DUI defense strategies will work for you.

How Hunters Creek Dui Lawyers Can Help

Probable cause is the source of a great many DUI headaches. Suppose that you have been pulled over and the officer suspects you’ve been driving under the influence. In that case, all they need to do is meet the bare minimum legal requirements to arrest you.

Our DUI lawyers in Hunters Creek know that the arresting officer’s suspicions often don’t meet the legal threshold for probable cause. However, all too often, the handcuffs go on. Then, the rest of the scenario plays out by the book, with hearing, charges, jail time, and other consequences.

Without an experienced DUI lawyer in Hunters Creek defending your rights, it’s easy to be swept along with legal proceedings. DUI charges are fightable with an experienced DUI attorney in Hunters Creek. An attorney will thoroughly investigate the circumstances of your arrest and charges and devise the best DUI defense strategy to fit your case.

There are many ways a DUI defense lawyer in Hunters Creek can call into question your charges, including:

Questioning probable cause
Questioning grounds for initial investigation and detention
Ascertaining whether your Fourth Amendment rights were violated
Questioning the validity of field sobriety or breathalyzer tests
Arguing that medication or a medical condition played a role.

Many factors can contribute to a DUI arrest. When you don’t have aggressive DUI lawyers in Hunters Creek fighting for you, it’s easy to have your rights stripped away.

Faqs

Our Hunters Creek Dui Lawyers Answer Common Questions

Here are a few of the questions that we hear from those who are facing DUI charges.

What are the consequences of a DUI in Hunters Creek?

The severity of your charges will depend on the circumstances of your arrest. Charges may depend on whether an accident, injury, or property damage occurred along with the DUI and whether you have any prior DUIs or other driving offenses on your record.

– Fines
– Community service
– Probation
– Imprisonment
– Revoked or suspended license.

DUI charges stay on your record. One DUI charge can also make a huge negative difference in the outcome if you ever get into legal trouble again. The best way to protect your future is to act aggressively to have charges dropped or reduced.

How high will my legal fines be after a Hunters Creek DUI?

For a first offense DUI in Hunters Creek, fines range from $400 to $2,000. However, if you have a minor in the car or your blood alcohol level is at or above 0.15%, fines increase, ranging from $2,000 to $4,000. When it’s not your first offense or other charges are also involved, fines can be much higher

How much jail time could I face for a DUI charge?

Even if it’s your first offense and no other charges were involved, you can go to jail for a Hunters Creek DUI. A first offense can land you in jail for up to six months, or nine months if you had at or over 0.15% blood alcohol content or there was a minor in the vehicle.

An experienced Hunters Creek DUI attorney can make a big difference to your outcome. Even when it’s not possible to have charges dropped entirely, an attorney can advocate for community service, probation, or a substance abuse program over jail time.

Can you refuse a breathalyzer test?

When you agree to a breathalyzer test, you give police evidence that can be used against you in court, which can make your conviction easier. However, if you do refuse a urine test or breath test, then you may be charged with an additional crime.

How much does a Hunters Creek DUI attorney cost?

The cost of a Hunters Creek DUI lawyer will depend on the circumstances of your case, including whether you’re facing additional charges and whether it’s your first offense. As with any service, clients pay more for high-value legal representation better equipped to provide the desired outcome.

Avoiding A Dui Conviction

The best way for you to avoid a conviction is to never drive under the influence. However, if you have already been arrested, it’s still possible to avoid a conviction with the right help from a Hunters Creek DUI lawyer. Schedule a consultation with a lawyer as soon as possible after the incident.

A Hunters Creek Dui Requires Aggressive Defense

Panella Law Firm Can Protect Your Rights And Your Future

If you’ve been charged with a Hunters Creek DUI, you can’t afford to wait. Contact Panella Law Firm to speak with an aggressive lawyer for DUI today.

After a DUI arrest, you have only ten days to apply for a hardship license or work permit. Acting promptly can help ensure that your rights are defended as legal proceedings unfold. The sooner Attorney Michael Panella can begin investigating your case, the more opportunities he has for questioning the decisions made by the law enforcement officers who arrested you.

Attorney Michael Panella is the Hunters Creek criminal defense attorney who has your back when you don’t know where to turn next.

Contact Panella Law Firm today at 407-602-6559 to schedule an initial consultation and begin discussing the defense strategy that can clear your name and protect you from harsh legal consequences that you don’t deserve.

Attorney Mike Panella

For Mike Panella, the concept of zealous advocacy developed at an early age – fueled by what he perceived to be an unjust resolution in a personal family legal matter. Mr. Panella would later attribute his passion to defend the rights of those who stand accused to those inequities in the legal system he observed, and considered unjust. Before opening Panella Law Firm, Mr. Panella served as an Assistant Public Defender for Florida’s 18th Judicial Circuit Public Defender’s Office and worked hundreds of cases in both Brevard and Seminole Counties. Mr. Panella was undefeated at trial. [ Attorney Bio ]