No one would deny that New Year’s Eve is a big night for people driving under the influence, DUI. Every year, despite the rise in ride-sharing services, despite the heavy crackdown with police check-points, and despite all the widespread information about how dangerous it is to drive under the influence, thousands of people will be arrested for just that.

Los Angeles DUI Lawyer

If you have been arrested for drunk driving anywhere in the Los Angeles area, you owe it to yourself to get the advice of a knowledgeable Los Angeles DUI attorney as soon as possible. The fines, license suspension and increased insurance rates that may result from a DUI arrest can together represent a much greater expense for you than an attorney’s fee.

Contact a Los Angeles DUI Attorney Today!

As a former prosecutor, Los Angeles DUI lawyer Daniel Perlman understands prosecution strategies inside and out. He is committed to staying ahead of the prosecution through uncovering any procedural errors, contradictory evidence or violations of your civil rights. Mr. Perlman’s ability to challenge the evidence obtained against you helps him develop an effective defense strategy.

Free Initial Consultation – Los Angeles DUI Lawyer

For a free initial consultation about your options for resolving a Los Angeles DUI charge, contact us at the Law Offices of Daniel R. Perlman in Los Angeles online or call 213-514-8324 or 213-514-8324. Mr. Perlman will determine the right defense strategy based on the facts of your specific case. We handle all types of DUI cases, including:

First-offense DUI: Contrary to the rumor mill, nearly 80 percent of our first offender clients’ cases are resolved without a DUI conviction. A first DUI offense anywhere in the Los Angeles area represents a pivotal point in your life. It is critical to understand all the consequences you are facing. These go beyond fines, driver’s license suspension and financial hardship to the real threat of dramatically increased penalties should you face any alcohol-related charge again down the line.

Underage DUI: Alleged juvenile DUI offenders face unique challenges when facing such charges. We are prepared to respond to those challenges. Drivers under the age of 21 are placed under heightened scrutiny by California law. Any driver under 21 who has a blood alcohol concentration of .01 or higher may be charged with a misdemeanor crime.

Felony DUI: These are serious charges that require urgent attention. Felony charges include DUI causing an injury or a fourth offense within 10 years. A DUI may be a felony in Los Angeles in a number of ways:

  • A fourth DUI conviction within a 10-year period
  • A DUI causing bodily injury where the drunk driver caused the accident
  • A DUI conviction if the defendant has one prior felony DUI conviction
  • The last thing you want is a felony conviction on your record. In addition to the possibility of serving a significant period of time in prison, a felony DUI conviction could significantly impair your future employment opportunities.

DUI involving drugs, whether prescription drugs or banned substances (“street drugs”), carries the same penalties as DUI involving alcohol. Many people who are arrested for driving under the influence of drugs are shocked to find out that they may be convicted of a crime for driving while under the influence of a legal drug. In California, drivers may be convicted of driving under the influence if their driving is impaired by illegal drugs or prescription medications. Even drivers who have a valid prescription for a medication may be convicted of driving under the influence.

Drivers who are under the influence of marijuana and other illegal drugs are likewise shocked to learn that they can be arrested for driving under the influence even if they used drugs several days prior to driving. Since marijuana and other drugs may remain in a person’s system for an extended period of time, a chemical test may show traces of the drug several days after it was taken.

Multiple DUI charges will result in higher penalties based on how many times you have been previously convicted. We are often successful in minimizing statutory jail sentences by seeking treatment options. The days when any drunk driving charge was treated like a traffic ticket are long gone. Even first-time offenders charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in California face an array of life-changing consequences today, so if you have one or more prior DUIs on your record, your need for a dedicated defense lawyer is critical.
Whether this is your second DUI charge or your fourth within 10 years – which means you are looking at a felony charge and the possibility of a serious jail sentence – your situation is tough, but not hopeless. The single best step you can take is to contact an attorney nowwho will truly focus on your case and pursue every option for protecting your future.

DUI involving an accident causing property damage, injury and/or death requires a knowledgeable, experienced defense attorney. This is as serious as it gets, involving the possibility of state prison, so it is important to hire a diligent and skilled lawyer. It is critical to recognize that a DUI involving an accident or injury can be charged as either a felony or misdemeanor – and that your attorney may be able to impact that decision by the district attorney. Your case may call for challenging not only the circumstances of the DUI arrest itself, but the causes and outcomes of the crash, including:

  • Whether you broke a traffic law or were otherwise negligent in addition to driving under the influence
  • The number of people injured in your auto accident and the severity of their injuries
  • Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have the same negative consequences as driving a vehicle while intoxicated.
  • DMV hearing: Act promptly to protect your driving privileges. We must request your hearing within 10 days of your release or your license will be automatically suspended.

Possible DUI Defenses

Although it is never easy to beat a DUI charge in Los Angeles, you probably have a stronger defense than you think. In order to expand your options for a positive outcome, our law firm seeks to determine any procedural or civil rights violations, including:

  • Why did the arresting officer pull you over?
  • Was there a field sobriety test?
  • Was there probable cause to support the DUI arrest?
  • How was the blood test at the police station administered?
  • Are there inconsistencies between the police report and the criminal complaint?

There are hundreds of possible police errors, and they can add up to reduce your charges. Depending on the facts of your misdemeanor or felony DUI case, our DUI attorneys can concentrate on seeking a dismissal based on any violation of your constitutional rights or a reduction based on other errors or mistakes by law enforcement. Our Los Angeles DUI lawyers are also fully prepared to secure a victory by casting doubt on the evidence obtained against you. There are numerous possibilities to defend your DUI charges, but the first step in that defense is giving us a call!

Los Angeles DUI Attorney

In addition to defending clients against criminal DUI charges, we also represent clients at DMV hearings, which will determine the length and conditions of a driver’s license suspension or whether a license will remain valid.

To learn more about our approach to client service in Los Angeles DUI defense, contact the Law Offices of Daniel R. Perlman in Los Angeles at 213-514-8324, at 213-514-8324 or by e-mail. Whether you were arrested coming out of a bar; leaving a restaurant or birthday party; or celebrating a special holiday such as New Year’s Eve, Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July (Independence Day), Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s or St. Patrick’s Day, it is essential to hire a DUI defense lawyer as soon as possible to seek the best possible results you can get.

Working with a Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are facing a DUI conviction, you’ll want to work with a criminal defense lawyer that handles DUI cases. Once you and your attorney have discussed the specifics of the allegations you are facing, you will be informed about the strengths and weaknesses of your case, including the risks of conviction and punishment that you face. A defense attorney will be able to negotiate a plea deal or decide to move forward with a trial, while constantly working to ensure your best interests.

The criminal defense lawyers at Daniel Perlman Law in Los Angeles will put our experience to work for you. We believe every defendant has the right to a zealous defense. We offer free initial consultations and will usually quote a flat fee that will cover all the services necessary for your case, including trial. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers, call 877-887-4541 or contact us by e-mail.

Daniel R. Perlman, Esq.
Law Offices of Daniel R. Perlman
11355 West Olympic Blvd.
Suite 200,
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 299-2009