The DUI Trial Process

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Some DUI cases are resolved or thrown out before reaching trial. However, many will still reach this climactic point.

Jury selection is the first segment of any DUI trial. Juries are selected from potential jurors “pool.” They are usually questioned by prosecution or defense (like requesting certain potential jurors to be removed). For instance, if one of the potential jurors has strong ties with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), he or she may be taken out of the jury. This is done so that dispositions are not biased and a fair verdict will be achieved.

When trial begins, both prosecution and defense starts their opening statements. Evidence and witnesses will be presented and the opposing party may cross-examine them.

Lawyers from opposing camps will have the final chance to convince the jury during the closing arguments. Typically, the prosecution will prove guilt while the defense will argue innocence. Then, the judge will give instructions to the jury.

It’s now time for deliberation and conclusion. Some cases will take a few minutes while some take a few days. Upon reaching the verdict, the courtroom clerk will read it aloud.

With this process, it would be unwise to hire a lawyer who doesn’t specialize in DUI law. And don’t even try to defend yourself. A DUI charge is a serious matter and should be given to the hands of the expert.

Tags: defense, dui, jury, law, lawyer, lawyers, MADD, prosecution, trial
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Accident Injuries: Decide whether to Go to Court or Not

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

Some claims for accident injuries will be settled before going to court. However, a few will definitely proceed to litigation and trial.

Unless you are advised by your attorney, settling out of court will always be in your best interest. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that you are represented well.

It would be helpful to research your attorney’s past experience before hiring them. Have they taken many injury claims to trial? Or maybe their track record is filled with settling cases before going to court? Some accident attorneys have reputations of being good and tough – this might deter your opponents from the desire to take the case to trial.

Of course, litigation can be tiring and stressful. Aside from the costs associated with it, the preparation for the case will never be taken lightly. Then during the hearing, you will be required to face the lawyer of your opponent who has questions specifically designed to confuse you or trigger some negative emotions.

It’s true that there are some cases where you really need to go to trial in order to get your claim. An example of this includes a dispute on whether the injuries you sustained were really caused by the accident. So if you can find a good accident attorney, he or she has the responsibility to prepare you and inform you of the scenarios you’ll expect in court hearings.

Tags: accident attorneys, court, dispute, injuries, litigation, trial
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