DUI In Georgia

Reader’s Question:

Do I need to get DUI lawyer in the state of Georgia for my DUI arrest?

Harold

Thank you for asking Harold.

It is important to get a lawyer for DUI defense in the state of Georgia. This is because that DUI lawyers represent the constitution and force law enforcement to follow the rules and regulations that they are required to follow. Most citizens don’t know what the rules and laws are, much less how to navigate them, so it is important to have someone experienced with these matters on your team.

What most individuals don’t understand is that these DUI lawyers protect all of our rights by defending those accused of a drunk driving or DUI related offense. If it weren’t for these same DUI lawyers properly defending their clients, our law enforcement and judicial system would not take the time to ensure that all of our rights as citizens were being granted.

The fact that the officer knows there are a slew of aggressive DUI attorneys anxious to methodically poke holes in his arrest forces him to provide the accused with all of his/her rights and ensure that the person is treated fairly according to law.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

What may be the cost and fees for hiring a DWI attorney in Georgia?

Allan

Thank you for asking Allan.

Georgia DWI attorneys charge legal fees which depend on the type of case you have and the amount of time the lawyer will spend on your case. You may also choose from different types of paying schemes that include hourly charges or flat fees.

Hourly rates are calculated by multiplying the lawyer’s hourly rate with the number of hours he spends on your case. You will also pay for the time of the attorney’s assistants and other staff members as they file, research, and process numerous documents and pieces of information necessary for your case.

Contingent fees are payments whereby lawyers receive a pre-approved percentage of the amount you may receive if the case won. Because there are no possible financial rewards involved in defending a DWI case, expect to pay legal expenses up front. The attorney may request a retainer if he is working on an hourly rate, and he will deduct charges from this pre-payment as they are incurred. When you initially hire an attorney working on an hourly rate, it would be wise to make sure you have an agreement on a ceiling for the legal fees the lawyer may charge.

Attorneys also work for flat fee rates. Many DWI attorneys in Georgia will have a set rate for all of the work required to defend you  for a DWI case. When you hire an attorney on a flat rate, make sure you understand everything that is covered by that payment, and what further payments may be required should your case proceed to court or further. For example, you are arrested for DWI in Georgia and hire  an attorney. He charges you a flat rate of $10,000. For this payment, he will begin working diligently on your case toward getting it dismissed or the charges reduced. His office takes care of all of the paperwork and arrangements with the court system, conducts investigations, performs depositions and other required steps to prepare your defense. If you and your attorney are unable to prevent your case from going forward to court, you may very likely have to pay again for him to continue to defend you in court. If there are appeals after the case, you will pay again for that part of the process. So make sure you know exactly what the payments will be and exactly what you can expect for each payment.

Normally lawyers calculate their legal fees without including court costs and filing fees that you, as the client, need to pay at once. So always remember to ask for a detailed explanation of a lawyer’s fees and payment modes before you even hire a lawyer in Georgia. Georgia DWI attorneys charge fees are on the agreed amount that you are both comfortable with. Prices vary widely from lawyer to lawyer, so there are no standard fee schedules.

Goodluck!

MariCAR

Reader’s Question:

We got pulled over when we were driving home one night from a friend’s house in Georgia. We almost hit a post. My boyfriend was driving and he was charged with DUI. I’m just curious and to tell you honestly, I find it funny when the officer made him follow a penlight from the left to the right with his eyes? What did the officer do?

Mark

Macon, GA

Most police officers in Georgia perform this type of test. The term for this Field Sobriety Test (FST) is horizontal gaze nystagmus test. The medical term to describe a particular eye oscillation is nystagmus. Hypothetically, the steadiness of the eyes following the pen, and the degree at which the eyes begin to jerk indicate the level of alcohol in the blood of the driver. When the arresting officer performs this kind of test, he/she is attempting to judge if the angle is under 45 degrees to the side that the driver’s eyes begin to jerk. This typically means a blood alcohol level is over .05% if the angle is under 45 degrees.

The horizontal gaze nystagmus test is not permitted in many states. That is because the medical community does not regard it as credible. In addition, the majority of police officers that perform this test are not medically trained in the area. This means that their ability to properly judge the angle, and identify nystagmus is not reliable. Aside from the many apparent flaws, unfortunately, this FST is accepted in the state of Georgia.

Reader’s Question:

We are working with a DUI lawyer about my son’s DUI case here in Georgia and I think we have a strong defense. The other problem I have now is concerning my auto insurance because he is under my policy and I wanna know how much rate increase I will have if he stays in my policy. When all of this is over, does he need to get his own car insurance?

Garth

Columbus, GA

It’s a good thing that you are working with a DUI lawyer since a DUI charge should be taken seriously. I’m pretty sure your son’s DUI lawyer would work in his best interest so that he won’t be convicted. With regard to your auto insurance, it will be an option for you and your son to get his own policy. If he owns a vehicle (one that is under his name), then getting his own auto insurance is definitely an option. But if he doesn’t own a vehicle and he just drives yours, then he has to stay on your auto insurance policy. This would actually depend on the guidelines of your auto insurance provider in Georgia.

The rating system of the auto insurance company would decide on how much your rates can go up because of your son’s DUI citation. Because these rating systems vary from one auto insurance company to another, you have to talk with your auto insurance agent to know what the premium increase could be. Normally, a DUI conviction is seen as a greater risk by majority of the auto insurance carriers, hence probably his premiums would show this.

Remember that the guidelines of every auto insurance company are different so you have to consult with your insurer to determine if your auto insurance payment would be affected by the DUI case of your son. If he stays in your auto insurance policy, you can expect that his DUI can cause your premiums to go up because traffic offenses, especially DUI, are taken seriously by auto insurance carriers.

Reader’s Question:

Sad to say I’ve not had much luck with brokers here in Georgia to find me affordable rates. I know I can do better, can you tell me where I can go to get the most affordable car insurance rates?

Kauffman

Atlanta, GA

Yes, you can probably do better in finding the best car insurance rates especially with the help of the Internet. Agents and brokers are no longer your sole method of finding good car insurance coverage. So how exactly can you find the best deals on the Internet? Here is a guide to help you out:

Insurance Comparison Portals

These are websites dedicated to giving you access to the latest car insurance rates. You can obtain a free car insurance quotation and be able to compare the offers of many different auto insurers in the market. This beats having to spend hours on the phone with agents or a quarter of your day meeting with a broker. It only takes a few minutes to enter your information and receive a quote listing all available rate offers in your area. This saves you time, effort, and maximizes your chances of finding the best-priced deals for you.

Independent Rating Agencies

These agencies can guide you in choosing the best-overall car insurance company out there. Companies like Moodys, Standard & Poors, J.D. Powers, and A.M. Best rate the performance of different companies. Visit their website and get a good idea about which insurers in your area rated as the best.

Insurance Company Homepages

Don’t forget to visit the website of the insurer your interested in. Find out about the details concerning their policy as well as possible discount options you can be eligible for. This kind of information can help you decide if a certain insurer is the right one for you or not.

Reader’s Question:

My wife got charged for DUI here in Georgia, what sort of penalties or fines are we looking at?

Dandre

Columbus, GA

Georgia, like the rest of the country, has very strict laws for DUI or Driving Under the Influence offense; even harder are the DUI penalties reserved for those who are actually convicted of a DUI. Among them includes costly fines, suspension of one’s drivers license, and even incarceration. A DUI offender is also required to get the necessary DUI auto insurance coverage, before being allowed to drive again.

Some very important information about DUI penalties in Georgia:

$300 – $1,000 fine, possible one year sentence to prison, mandatory 40 hours community service, and license suspension for a year on the first DUI offense.

$600 – $1,000 fine, possible incarceration from 90 days up to a year, and license revocation for the next three years for a second DUI offense.

$1,000 – $3,000 fine, mandatory imprisonment for 15 days, 30 day community service and license suspension for the next five years on the third offense. Any further offenses afterwards will be treated as a felony and can face up to 10 years in jail.

You cannot afford to drive around without the appropriate auto insurance coverage, if you have a DUI on your record. Doing so puts you and everyone else at great financial risk should you get involved, or cause, an auto or drunk driving accident. Aside from heavier DUI penalties, your auto insurance premiums may also become prohibitively expensive.

Knowing how and where to get the most affordable auto insurance, for a DUI offender, can save you hundreds of dollars a year on an otherwise very expensive kind of auto insurance coverage. The Internet is your best tool and resource for finding such relatively inexpensive auto insurance, thanks to the many dedicated online auto insurance portals and DUI specialist available on the Net. Getting the best auto insurance after a DUI is now far easier.

The best way to avoid the heavy burden of DUI penalties is to still avoid drunk driving altogether, and by being a safe and responsible driver. But if you do get convicted, at least you know now where to go to find and compare the most up-to-date auto insurance quotes, coming from more providers to help you get the right auto insurance policy at the right price.

Reader’s Question:

What is the penalty for driving under the influence in Georgia? How can I get cheap auto insurance if I have a DUI conviction on my record?

Rick

Atlanta GA

Like every state, Georgia has strict laws when it comes to DUI or Driving Under the Influence offenses. Much more severe are the punishments that a driver faces if proven and convicted of a DUI charge. DUI penalties includes some very costly fines, revocation of your driving privilege, and offenders are often sentenced to jail. Once allowed to drive again, getting an auto insurance provider that specializes on DUI cases is essential in order to get back on the road.

Georgia has the following DUI penalties:

• 1st DUI offense: $300 – $1,000 fine, possible one year in jail, 40 hours mandatory community service, and 1 year license revocation.
• 2nd DUI offense: $600 – $1,000 fine, possible 90 days up to one year in jail, and a three-year license suspension.
• 3rd DUI offense: $1,000 – $3,000 fine, mandatory jail time 15 days or more, 30 day community service and a 5 year license suspension. Consecutive offenses within 10 years may already be considered as a felony.

Someone with a DUI offense or record simply cannot afford to drive without the appropriate levels of auto insurance coverage. Doing so will not only expose you to great financial burdens for getting involved, or worse, causing an auto accident, driving uninsured will also increase your risk and therefore you auto insurance rates. At this point it’s not just the DUI penalties you should be worrying about.

Auto insurance coverage after a DUI can be very expensive, unless you know how and where to get the right DUI auto insurance policy. This is where the beauty of the Internet comes in, with the huge number of dedicated auto insurance portals and websites offering easy access to the latest auto insurance rates, finding the right kind of DUI auto insurance takes only minutes!

Prevention is still better than cure if course, so avoid DUI penalties altogether by driving safely and responsibly. But if it does happen, make sure you get the most affordable DUI auto insurance policy by comparing your options on the Web once you are allowed to drive again. Done correctly, you could save hundreds of dollars annually on your auto insurance needs.

Reader’s Question:

Aside from liability insurance which is required here in Georgia, why do financing companies require a driver who leases the car to them to have collision and comprehensive coverage?

Samuel

Augusta-Richmond County, GA

Even if you are not done paying for the loan on your car, the state of Georgia still requires you to have at least the minimum level of liability coverage on your vehicle insurance. As a matter of fact, most of the time, financing companies would require you to have comprehensive and collision coverage even though it is not mandated by the law.

If you have collision coverage as part of your vehicle insurance, it will pay for any damage on your leased car if you get hit by another vehicle or if you hit an object. Then if you have comprehensive coverage on your vehicle insurance, it will pay for any damage on your leased car that is caused by anything other than a collision such as theft, vandalism, storm, flood, fire, etc.

The collision and comprehensive coverage on your vehicle insurance is a good investment not only on the financing company’s part but also on yours. If you think about it, if you don’t have these types of coverage on your vehicle insurance, you would have to pay for the repairs of the car from your own pocket. So you don’t have to worry about your car being damaged so long as you have collision and comprehensive coverage on your vehicle insurance. Keep in mind though that these types of coverage also have deductible that you have to pay first before your car insurance company picks up the rest up to the limits of your vehicle insurance.

Tags: auto insurance, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, vehicle insurance

Reader’s Question:

What are the different types of SR22 insurances that I can get here in the state of Georgia?

Genevieve

Atlanta, GA

SR22 insurances are usually being required by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to those whom they consider as high risk drivers. High risk motorists are mostly the people that have shown poor driving behavior, most notably those who have been cited for driving under the influence (DUI).

SR22 insurances in Georgia have two kinds of policies:

1. Owner policy – SR22 insurance policy for a motorist who owns the automobile. Owner insurance policy could be purchased with comprehensive insurance for additional premiums to pay.

2. Non-owner policy – SR22 insurance policy for the operator of the automobile and not necessarily the one who owns it.

SR22 insurances are being filed by the car insurance companies to the DMV as a guarantee that the high risk driver has at least the minimum state-required car insurance coverage. The Georgia DMV is the one who is going to decide how long the high risk driver would have to maintain the SR22 insurance policy. This would actually depend on how serious the traffic infraction is.

High risk drivers who are required to get SR22 insurance need to make sure that the policy would not lapse. Additional penalties will be applied to the driver if the SR22 is cancelled or terminated.

Tags: car insurance, non owner insurance policy, owner insurance policy, SR22 insurance, SR22 insurance policy

Reader’s Question:

I know that the best way for me to get the best auto insurance coverage here in Georgia is to compare quotes. But I’m getting a little bit confused from all the things that I see online, what can I do about it?

Hakeem

Athens, GA

I perfectly understand that you are only making sure that you get the auto insurance coverage in Georgia that will suit the needs of your specific vehicle. What really matters in the end is that you get the best auto insurance coverage. When doing some comparison shopping, be certain that you increase your deductible to be able to have cheaper premiums, specifically if you are an excellent driver. Also, make certain that you are not getting complete coverage for older cars that don’t have as much value as newer model vehicles.

While you are comparing auto insurance quotes, you have to be certain that the details that you obtain from the auto insurance providers are the most precise. Remember that you only have to deal with an auto insurance provider that has a good reputation. Only sign up for a policy with an insurer that have a longstanding profile of dealing with car insurance claims efficiently. Since you are getting a little bit confused with the information that you see online, you may take the conventional car insurance way and get in touch with an insurance agent. You may ask clarification on the things that you are confused about auto insurance.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance claims, compare auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

My son has borrowed a car from a car rental agency with a rental car insurance but unfortunately he got a little accident and damaged the car he borrowed. Though he has his own car insurance, is it possible here in Georgia that he is not well protected using a rented car?

Francine

Augusta, GA

Rental Car insurance is something that you purchase when you had rented a car however either you use your own car insurance policy or the rental car insurance you are still protected in many ways just like paying for damage of the car you rented in case of accident. Though there is nothing wrong with the rental car insurance you still have to know details before you make a decision to purchase.

If you have gotten a Collision Insurance Coverage here in Georgia you don’t have to worry damaging a rental car for your own personal car insurance will cover any car you are driving. The thing is, when you purchased coverage from the rental car company will kick in first for the collision coverage you bought in your personal car insurance is known to be an excess in any other coverage and require you to pay a deductible. Even if you get a Comprehensive Coverage that will also cover a rental car in any way that it can cause damage, it is still an excess coverage that you have to pay for deductibles too. The best thing to do before renting a car you should first check what coverage you have in a rented car and you should also ask the rental car company what they have to offer.

Tags: car, car insurance, comprehensive coverage, rental car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I have been meaning to find a new car insurance provider here in Georgia and with a little bit if polishing, I think I may have already found a better replacement. What is the best thing that I need to do in order for me to cancel my current car insurance policy?

Pacey

Athens-Clarke County, GA

For you to stay away from a mix-up that goes along with having a cancellation on your insurance record, here’s what you need to do. Get in touch with your insurance agent or your insurer and let them know that you would like to cancel your policy. Make certain that you tell them all the details, including the date that you want to terminate your policy. In case you don’t tell them particular details, you could finish off driving all over the place without knowing that you don’t have insurance. You will then receive a cancellation request form from your auto insurance provider. This may have already been filled out and all you have to do is sign it. Be sure to review the details because there could be something wrong.

Furthermore, if you go with another car insurance company and were not able to officially drop your old policy, you need to show your former insurer that you have new car insurance. Normally, what you have to do is give them a copy of your existing insurance ID or the first page of your new premium statement. Be certain that the paper you are sending them includes your name and your present policy number and mail it back together with the cancellation form. You would probably get confirmation through the mail that your policy termination has been dealt with.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance policy

Reader’s Question:

I wonder how car insurance companies view first time accidents of their customers. Do you think I have to switch car insurance providers here in Georgia after one at-fault accident?

Cáel

Sandy Springs, GA

In case you decide to switch car insurance companies in Georgia after one at-fault accident and start getting in touch with different insurers, the incident will stay on your record and chase you even if you switch insurance providers. Car insurance companies share details about their customers’ record on file. In case the accident caused tremendous damage on the parties involved, it would be suitable to benefit from the insurance that you have already paid for.

A car insurance expert explains that majority of car insurance providers assess crashes and property damage on a case-to-case basis if the rates will be higher. A lot of car insurance providers, especially the bigger ones have the tendency to be merciful with a first accident or traffic infraction. But there are a lot of things to consider such as the degree and amount of the damage and the kind of traffic infraction. If you have an excellent driving history and got into an accident for the first time, that might not be an issue the way you are viewed by the car insurance company. However, a driver who has a lot of accidents and claims will be perceived in another way.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance company, car insurance rates