DWI / DUI Defense Attorneys, Pittsburgh, PA

One mistake — one drink too many, and now you’re facing a DUI charge. Multiple DUIs or even a first-time DUI can create a number of legal and personal difficulties that can impact your life, as well as the life of your family.

It is critical to consult with an experienced DUI lawyer as soon as possible. The Law Offices of David S. Shrager will help you avoid the harsh penalties that Pennsylvania imposes upon offenders. Contact us 24/7 for a free consultation — Email Us or call our office in Pittsburgh at 412-567-7967.

Our office is located on Forbes Avenue, and we offer free parking to our clients for their initial consultation.

Over the past 25 years, we have handled hundreds of DUI / DWI cases in Pennsylvania.  In a free consultation, we can quickly analyze your case and tell you exactly what we can do.

How Your DUI Case Could Be Won

Never assume that you’re case cannot be won, regardless of whether your blood alcohol content was above the legal limit. There are numerous DUI defense strategies that can be used to win your case at trial, or to have the charges dismissed:

• Was there legitimate reasonable suspicion for the officer to pull you over?
• Is there explicit proof that you were the driver of the vehicle, or that you were “in control” of the vehicle?
• Did the officer improperly search your vehicle?
• Was your blood-alcohol test administered within the required time period?
• Was a proper chain of custody established during the collection and testing of your blood sample?
• Were you advised of your rights regarding the breathalyzer test?
• Was the officer biased against you by ignoring the things you did right during the Field Sobriety Test (FBT), and did he or she follow the proper procedures outlined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Did you have a physical or mental ailment that prevented you from being able to pass a field sobriety test?
• Were the “symptoms of intoxication” caused by embarrassment, frustration, allergies, or fatigue?
• Upon being arrested, did the officer attempt to elicit incriminating responses from you before advising you of your Miranda Rights?

Alternatives to Trial

In cases where going to trial is not the best option, or the charges cannot be dismissed, alternatives should be considered. Because of our reputation as being aggressive and successful trial lawyers, district attorneys often cooperate with us in reaching an alternative solution for our clients. We can help our clients avoid serving a single day in jail.

House Arrest and Work Release

Even though the new Pennsylvania DUI laws state that someone with one or multiple DUI offenses must go to jail, there are alternatives. Allegheny County and many of the outlying counties have extensive programs that allow a person convicted of a first, second, or third DUI to serve their sentence in their own home (house arrest). In addition, these same programs also permit a person to go to work and not lose their job.

Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD)

If you have been arrested for the first time, you would likely be eligible for the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. This program offers defendants the ability to keep a clean record if they follow the conditions set forth by the court. Upon completion of the program, the judge orders the dismissal of the charges, and also orders the expungement of the defendant’s arrest record.

Other Important Issues Involved in Drunk Driving Cases:

• Chemical Test Refusals: In Pennsylvania, if you refuse to submit to chemical tests of your blood, breath, or urine, your driver's license will be suspended for one year. We can appeal your driver's license suspension. Even though PennDOT says your license should be suspended, we will fight to have a judge overturn the recommendation. In many cases, even when PennDOT has the evidence that your license should be suspended, we can win you a valuable delay in the suspension of your driver's license for six months or more, enabling you to maintain your job.

• Driver's License Suspension: Besides being inconvenient, a driver's license suspension can also yield serious financial consequences for those who drive to work or drive for a living. We can help restore your license if it has been suspended due to the non-payment of fines, failure to respond to a citation, or an accumulation of points.

• DUI Vehicular Homicide: If you are involved in an accident while intoxicated and another person is killed, you could be charged with vehicular homicide. We will evaluate your case and work with expert toxicologists and accident reconstructionists to prepare a solid criminal defense.

• Second and Subsequent DUI: A second or subsequent DUI calls for a mandatory jail sentence under the new Pennsylvania DUI statutes. At the Law Offices of David S. Shrager, in many of these cases, we can help you avoid going to jail and also help you keep your job. With more than 40 years of combined legal experience, our lawyers have handled hundreds of repeat DUI arrest cases and saved many individuals from incarceration or losing their job.

• DUID: If drugs are found in your system during a DUI blood or urine test, you could be charged for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID). If convicted, the penalties are severe, involving expensive fines, jail, and driver's license suspension.

Free Initial Consultation, Call us 24 Hours a day - 7 Days a Week

Email Us or call us toll free today at 1-866-504-9974 or 412-567-7967 to schedule a FREE consultation with a trusted Pennsylvania DUI defense attorney.

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