It's a general truism about most situations in life: One thing leads to another.
And that is certainly true when it comes to a drunk driving conviction. Driving drunk can lead to all sorts of negative outcomes—and if you are convicted of doing so, one of those outcomes is an increase in your car insurance premiums.
Rewarding Good Driving; Penalizing Bad Driving
While insurance often seems extremely complicated, the way rates are figured is generally pretty easy to understand. In the end, it all comes down to your driving record. If that record is good (meaning you have been involved in few accidents or traffic violations), your rate, as a rule, will be lower. If your driving record is bad, your rate, as a rule, will be higher.
A drunk driving conviction, of course, goes on the negative side of the ledger. If you are convicted of drunk driving, you can expect your insurance rates to rise. That increase in rates can be quite expensive. And while your rates may come back down if you maintain a good driving record following your conviction, in the meantime, you will be shelling out a lot of extra money as a result of driving under the influence.
One of the reasons a drunk driving conviction results in higher car insurance rates is that you’ll be required to provide an SR22 or Statement of Financial Responsibility. This is a special certificate of insurance that states you meet the minimum requirements necessary for a high-risk driver. Not all insurers will provide SR22 coverage, and the ones that do will charge additional fees for the service.
A DUI Arrest Is Not the Same as a DUI Conviction
We want to be clear here: we have been talking about the negative results of a drunk driving conviction. But an arrest is not, of course, the same thing as a conviction. If you have been arrested for drunk driving, you need to mount a vigorous defense to give yourself the best opportunity to avoid criminal penalties and increased insurance rates.
And that means you need an experienced DUI defense attorney right away. Your attorney will investigate the circumstances surrounding your arrest and will determine which of a number of potential defenses might be best for your specific case.
There Are a Variety of Available Defenses After a DUI Arrest
Your lawyer will understand all the possible defenses on offer—and will know how to pick the right defense for your situation. Among the options your lawyer may choose from to build your defense are:
- Lack of proof that you were driving or in control of the vehicle in question
- Lack of reasonable suspicion to make the traffic stop in the first place
- Lack of evidence for an arrest
- Improper administration of field sobriety tests
- Failure to properly advise you of your Miranda rights and/or of the implied consent rules
- Inaccurate testing of blood or breath; an illegal or improper blood draw; and/or defective retrograde analysis
- Denial of your right to an independent test
By now, it is probably obvious that it is not a good idea to go it alone if you have been arrested for driving under the influence. Instead, your best move is to hire an attorney immediately. Griffen & Stevens has the expertise you need and is up-to-date on all DUI laws in Arizona.
We Are Ready to Help After Your DUI Arrest
The attorneys of Griffen & Stevens Law Firm are ready and able to mount an aggressive defense on your behalf following a DUI arrest. We will help protect you from lengthy jail sentences, high fines, and, yes, potential insurance rate increases. When possible, we will get your case dismissed.
We are committed to approaching each case—and each individual—with personalized attention and professionalism. You can count on us to treat you with dignity and respect—and to use our knowledge, experience, and skills to give you the best opportunity to win your case.
Don’t wait and don’t go it alone. Contact us today to discuss your situation.
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