How much does a New Hampshire DWI Lawyer Cost
This depends on your case, and which lawyer you choose.
There are many types of lawyers in New Hampshire. Some are general practice lawyers meaning they handle anything. Some are criminal defense lawyers meaning they just handle (or mainly handle) criminal defense. All we do is DWI defense. People who focus on one type of thing usually charge more than someone who handles everything.
For a first offense, non-jury trial, you can expect to pay at least $5,000 for an experienced DWI lawyer. If you want someone who only occasionally handles DWIs, your cost may be less.
Do I Need a DWI Lawyer?
If you don't care about a license suspension, or having a criminal record, then you probably don't need a lawyer. Even a first offense DWI in New Hampshire carries up to a 2 year license suspension (not including additional time for refusing a test). DWI is a criminal offense in New Hampshire, and if you are found guilty you will have a criminal record.
A first offense DWI is a Class B misdemeanor. DWI charges are the most complicated Class B misdemeanors to defend. Most non-DWI criminal cases are pretty straight forward. Either someone stole something, or they didn't. Either someone possessed drugs, or they didn't. Either someone assaulted someone, or they didn't.
DWI charges, however, are an opinion. The officer believed you were impaired. You likely disagree. Many things affect that opinion. Much of the opinion is often based upon Field Sobriety tests. Clients often tell me the passed the tests, but they don't know how the tests are scored. Do you know the 8 cues for the walk and turn? Or what a nystagmus is? Without having specialized training, people can't be expected to best defend their case. If you gave a test, do you know what to look for to see if it is accurate? We have handled over 1000 DWI cases and often have more training and experience with DWI cases than the officer who arrested you.
If I am guilty why not just accept a deal
If the prosecutor thinks you will just accept any type of plea offer, they might not be inclined to offer a fair or good plea. DWI convictions have a range on penalties. While many cases do result in a plea, our job is to get the best outcome possible.
Who is the best DWI Lawyer? Find the Best DWI Lawyer for your New Hampshire DWI Charge
Many people want to find the best DWI lawyer for their case. It is impossible to determine/quantify who is the "best", but you can use some factors to determine who is the best fit lawyer for your case.
Various things that people might want to consider are cost, knowledge, experience, results, and customer service.
Costs: If you are looking for the cheapest lawyer, our firm is not a good fit for you. We take pride in the services we offer and results we have received, and charge accordingly. As the saying goes, cheap and good don't combine (usually).
Knowledge: The N.H. DWI Guy has written a couple of books on DWI defense in New Hampshire.
Experience: Our firm has handles over 1000 DWI cases and have appeared in every district court in New Hampshire. DWI defense is what we do.
Results: You can view some of our past results as summarized on our website. However, it became too time consuming to update this list. Every case is unique, but we regularly/often get DWI charges dismissed.
Customer Service: We understand how important your case is to you. While a lot of the time is unfortunately spent waiting for the case to proceed, we will keep you updated on your case and let you know how we think it will be best to proceed.
If you are looking to see if we are a good fit for your case, you can call us 24/7 at: 603-384-3264 for a free consultation.