(732) 582-5076Staunch Legal Advocates Helping Our Clients Avoid Conviction
Many drivers believe that DWI cases are simple. These drivers assume that there’s no way to avoid a conviction if the breathalyzer or blood test results show intoxication. When someone makes this assumption, there’s a good chance their DWI case will end in a plea deal. However, failed breath and field sobriety tests do not guarantee a conviction. DWI cases are actually incredibly complex. The results of these tests are not always accurate, so they can be picked apart and disproven in court. A Bayville DUI lawyer can help in this process.
At The Hernandez Law Firm, P.C., our dedicated team of New Jersey legal professionals is here to help. We’ve seen what a conviction for DUI charges can do to a person’s life — causing devastation even on a first offense. Fortunately, there may still be hope if you’re charged with an alcohol or drug DUI. You don’t simply have to accept the consequences of a conviction without putting up a fight. Hire Steven Hernandez at The Hernandez Law Firm, and he’ll work tirelessly to reach the best possible outcome in your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Experienced Attorney Protecting the Rights of Vehicular Crime Defendants
A number of criminal offenses fall under the “vehicular crimes” category, including vehicular homicide, assault by auto, and eluding. Each of these crimes is unique, but all of them carry serious penalties that could impact you for the rest of your life. If you have been accused of committing a vehicular crime, it’s important to fight the charges with the help of criminal defense attorney Steven Hernandez. Our law firm has seen police tack on additional vehicular crimes to already serious DWI cases. This is often done to negatively affect the accused and increase the likelihood of a plea deal.
It’s easy to look at these situations and think that a plea deal is in your best interest. However, our law office has seen many defendants face an unfair conviction when they handle their case alone or opt for a public defender. The reality is that there are a variety of legal defenses — potentially dozens — that could make a failed blood alcohol content (BAC) or field sobriety testing completely irrelevant. At our law firm, Steven Hernandez is committed to providing the strongest possible defense to each of his clients and will work tirelessly to reach the best outcome in your case.
Put simply, you don’t have to go through this alone. We’ll work hard to have charges dismissed, and if this isn’t possible, you’ll have a civil trial attorney on your side who isn’t afraid to fight it out in court.
What Penalties Exist for DWI in New Jersey?
Anyone with legal experience can tell you that there is no “standard” example of DUI charges. Situational variations can affect the charges a person faces. This is also true regarding the potential consequences they’ll face. It’s even possible that individuals facing criminal charges could receive stiffer sentencing based on how they choose to handle the charges — with prosecutors seemingly punishing defendants who choose to fight the allegations against them.
Regardless of the situation you’re in, it’s essential to understand the potential consequences you’ll face if convicted of impaired driving:
- Court costs and surcharges
- Fines and fees
- Ignition Interlock Device (IID) installation and monitoring
- Driver’s license suspension
- Alcohol education classes
- Increased car insurance premiums
- Incarceration
- Community service
- Permanent criminal record
- Potential civil liability
It’s important to remember that the best defense will always be based on the individual circumstances of your case. For instance, a person with prior offenses may be less inclined to agree to a plea deal even when accused of the same crime as someone else. That’s because legal penalties for DWI in New Jersey continue to increase with every subsequent conviction. Whether you’re facing your first offense or your tenth, you need an experienced DWI attorney in Bayville on your side.
Contact The Hernandez Law Firm today for a free consultation.
Top Lawyer in Bayville Representing Clients Accused of Disorderly Person Offenses
Many people don’t know what a disorderly person offense is, so they aren’t sure what to do once they find out they are being accused of committing one. A number of crimes are classified as disorderly person offenses, including simple assault, shoplifting, and possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana. Each of these crimes is unique, but they all carry serious penalties. However, a DWI offense does not fall under this category. Instead, it’s considered a traffic offense.
However, any Bayville DWI defense attorney can tell you that this doesn’t make the offense any less serious. The potential consequences are extreme — oftentimes more serious than disorderly person offenses. For this reason, it is in your best interests to contact criminal defense attorney Steven Hernandez if you are charged with impaired driving or a disorderly person offense. Remember, prosecutors will sometimes tack on additional crimes to scare you into accepting a plea deal.
For over a decade, Steven Hernandez has helped the accused fight their charges and protect their freedom. Unlike other DWI lawyers in Bayville, NJ, our law offices offer a free initial consultation so potential clients can better understand what they’re up against. You want a legal advocate with extensive criminal law experience, and that’s precisely what you’ll find at our law firm. Contact us today to discuss your case and learn how we can help.
Criminal Law Attorney Helping the Accused Fight Criminal Charges in Bayville
People in the state of New Jersey can be charged with a wide range of crimes. Some of these crimes are more serious than others. However, no criminal charge should ever be taken lightly — no matter how minor the crime may seem. It’s typically possible to identify the severity of the crime based on whether it’s handled in Berkeley Township Municipal Court or Ocean County Superior Court. More serious crimes are heard in superior court. Anyone facing a DWI charge will instead be in municipal court. Of course, aggravating circumstances could change this.
A Bayville, New Jersey DWI lawyer can help you understand that being convicted of a crime can lead to serious penalties and long-term consequences that could affect your future. Beating your criminal charges is the only way to avoid these penalties and consequences, but you can’t do it alone. Prosecutors are committed to securing convictions, and they’ll go to whatever lengths necessary to accomplish this goal. If you’ve been charged with a crime, seek legal representation from criminal defense attorney Steven Hernandez as soon as possible.
What Defenses Are There for DWI Charges in New Jersey?
An experienced DWI attorney in Bayville, NJ, will have knowledge of many legal strategies that can overcome impaired driving charges. There are a few attorneys out there who won’t focus on a legal strategy — instead only trying to negotiate a plea deal. Unfortunately, this can result in a less-than-fair outcome. The municipal prosecutor is going to try to get the strictest possible deal with several serious penalties. You need an attorney who is willing to push back against this and, if necessary, take your case to trial.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of potential legal defense strategies:
- Improper or illegal traffic stop or checkpoint
- Medical conditions affecting BAC (e.g., GERD)
- Rising blood alcohol content defense
- Improperly trained officers
- Physical ailments affecting field sobriety testing
- Improper arrest procedures
- Failure to observe the accused prior to testing
- Constitutional violations
- Contaminated blood sample
- Failure to maintain testing devices
- Faulty testing equipment
It’s important to remember that these defenses are not one-size-fits-all. You can’t simply choose one at random and try to argue it in court. In fact, doing so can result in disastrous consequences. Those who refuse to accept a plea deal and don’t have an effective defense will likely face the most severe penalties — because the prosecutor will be upset that they were forced to go to trial. In these situations, a plea deal with license suspension and community service would’ve been far preferable to jail time in addition to losing a license and other penalties.
Fortunately, neither of these outcomes is necessarily unavoidable. With a Bayville, NJ DWI attorney on your side, it’s possible to secure a favorable plea deal or even have charges thrown out altogether. At The Hernandez Law Firm, we’ll work hard to ensure the best possible outcome in your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Contact a Bayville, NJ DUI Lawyer Today
Are you facing criminal charges? The sooner you hire a DWI attorney, the sooner your lawyer can start protecting your rights. While it’s admirable if you have faith in the system, it’s important to remember that innocent people are arrested and convicted all the time. Any former prosecutor who’s honest with themselves will admit this. In fact, some studies estimate that up to 15% of individuals convicted of crimes are actually innocent. In recent years, we’ve seen more than one example of people wrongfully convicted of impaired driving due to faulty breath tests and the misconduct of police officers.
At The Hernandez Law Firm, P.C., we see these as travesties of justice. Some people may believe that Bayville, NJ DUI/DWI lawyers go to law school in order to help criminals beat the system. In reality, it’s the job of every defense attorney to ensure the system is working how it’s supposed to. If a prosecutor cannot prove that a person was drugged or drunk driving beyond a reasonable doubt, then the defendant should not be convicted. And even if the evidence is stacked against you, we understand that losing your driver’s license and other criminal penalties can disproportionately affect your life.
Our goal is to prevent that from happening. Contact Steven Hernandez at The Hernandez Law Firm as soon as possible to review your case and discuss your legal options. To schedule your free consultation, call (732) 582-5076 today.