Las Vegas DUI Attorney Blog

Hiring a DUI Defense Attorney – Questions you should ask

October 6, 2013 | Hofland & Tomsheck

In previous posts to this Blog we have discussed things to consider when selection the “best” lawyer for your individual DUI or Drunk Driving case in Las Vegas. In this post, we offer you some insights as to the types of questions you should ask your potential Nevada DUI Defense Attorney when you meet with him or her for the first time. While this list is not meant to be all inclusive, the following can be very helpful:

What areas of law do you focus on?

Many people think that “all lawyers are the same.” This is simply not the case. Every lawyer has different training and experience. More importantly, there are HUNDREDS of various areas of specialization within the law. While a person may be the best real estate lawyer in your State, he or she may be the worst at litigating a case in Court. There are literally 100’s of stellar civil litigators in Nevada, many of them don’t know the first thing about defending a criminal case and know NOTHING about the best way to defend a DUI charge. Choosing a lawyer is no different than choosing a doctor – – If you had a stomach ache, you likely wouldn’t go to dentist. DUI charges are unique and require focused training and experience. While an attorney may tell you when you ask “Yea, I handle DUI cases” – – make sure the lawyer you select focuses a large portion of his or her practice (at least ¼ of the cases he or she handles on a regular basis) on Drunk Driving/Driving Under the Influence/DUI and related charges.

How to hire the “best” DUI Lawyer — things you should consider

October 1, 2013 | Hofland & Tomsheck

Some of the questions that are often asked to Nevada lawyers are “who is the best lawyer” or “How do I find the best attorney.” These questions are often asked by those who have been arrested for Driving under the Influence or are curious about what they should do if they are.

While it is impossible to know who “the best” lawyer is for any individual case and there are likely several individual attorneys or firms who rank among the elite in their practice area, there are certainly several things a person should consider before hiring a lawyer for their DUI case.

Among the things to consider are the following:

Don’t focus on television or radio ads. While many good lawyers DO advertise in today’s information driven age, the presence of an ad on television means nothing about a lawyer’s ability or work ethic. Instead of snappy ads, focus on things like the organizations a lawyer belongs to, what certifications and specialized training he or she has received, ratings from independent rating agencies or referrals from other members of the legal community.

Interview more than one attorney. While there are some situations where you would want to hire the first person you talk to, such as an ironclad referral from someone knowledgeable that you implicitly trust, in most cases it is good to talk to more than one individual attorney. This allows you get different perspectives from different professionals and to develop a sense of comfort in the relationship with attorney you are talking with. This is very important given the fact that you must trust the person who is standing up for you in Court while you fight your DUI charge.

When Driving Under the Influence Becomes a matter of Life and Liberty – – DUI Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm or Death.

September 22, 2013 | Hofland & Tomsheck

Accidents involving motor vehicles are a very common occurrence in the Las Vegas Valley. Most of us have come to accept fender benders on our streets and highways as a way of life and rarely give them a second thought nowadays. When the accident is alleged to have been caused by someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol however, the consequences become much more severe for the person causing the accident.

A 21-year-old Los Angeles woman was severely injured recently and admitted to the hospital in critical condition after being part of a two vehicle accident, allegedly caused by a person driving under the influence of alcohol.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan police department reported that this accident occurred shortly after 1:00 in the morning on September 21, 2013 in the vicinity of Las Vegas Boulevard and Siren’s Cove Boulevard near the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino.

A full summary of the accident can be found here.

According to witnesses and the review of evidence located at the scene, a BMW was turning left from Siren’s Cove Boulevard to northbound Las Vegas Boulevard. The driver of the BMW, who appears to be from Las Vegas, lost control of his vehicle and struck as which was abiding by traffic laws at a light signal. All three individuals in the taxi cab were injured and taken to an area hospital. One passenger in the taxi suffered severe injuries which are considered to be life threatening.