The Fort Worth, TX DWI / DUI Lawyer Who Helps You Out
Charged with driving under the influence in Fort Worth? Talk to an attorney who can help.
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Fort Worth DWIs Cost Time & Money. We Can Help.
Heavy financial loss, time behind bars, suspension of one’s driver’s license, societal shame, and difficulty being employed. These are possible consequences for being charged with a DWI.
What is Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)? It is a crime that is defined as operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or higher.
Around the Fort Worth area, DWIs are actually one of the more common cases. Unfortunately for Fort Worthians being charged with it, the Texas state government and the Tarrant County court system view them as reckless for driving drunk. That’s why Michael & Associates is here to fight on your behalf.
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The Consequences of Driving While Intoxicated
As mentioned above, the courts don’t look favorably upon folks charged with DWIs. Even though it’s a common crime, it carries pretty heavy penalties. Below is a list of them:
Someone’s 1st offense
- Up to $2000 in fines
- 3-180 days in jail
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to a year
Someone’s 2nd offense
- Up to $2000 in fines
- 1-12 months in jail
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to two years
Someone’s 3rd+ offense
- Up to $10,000 in fines
- 2-10 years in prison
- Suspension of your driver’s license for up to two years
- A felony on your record
These penalties can be made even worse if you’re hit with enhanced charges for things like driving with a child on board.
Your Life Isn’t Over
Aside from the criminal penalties a DWI carries, there are financial and social consequences. Your insurance rates can go up and you may even lose your license. Not only that, but people may treat you differently after finding out about your record – you may even have difficulty finding employment due to it.
Making a mistake isn’t worth flushing your life down the toilet. You owe it to yourself to build a strong defense team for your case.
You shouldn’t try to handle your DWI by yourself. Employ a strong legal team or attorney with the experience, knowledge, and win rate to give you a fighting chance.
Join the Michael & Associates Family
Here at Michael & Associates, we’ve got you covered throughout the whole DWI ordeal. We provide the best possible treatment for our clients throughout Funky Town Fort Worth. We ensure that you’re taken care of both in terms of defense and emotional support by giving you the VIP treatment. You’re like family to us, and we take your charges just as serious as that.
We’re more than just a friendly bunch. We have the skills and experience needed for the job. We have been fighting DWI cases for almost ten years now, and we’ve represented our clients in hundreds of cases. The majority of these cases were wins – we either got the charges dismissed entirely or at least reduced.
If you’re wondering about who Michael is in our firm’s name. Ben Michael is our managing partner. Unlike other firms that stick you with a so-so lawyer, you get full access to Ben himself. He will be in your corner throughout the entire fight, explaining every little detail of the case and ensuring your absolute comfort.
You’re like family with Michael & Associates. Want to get your defense started already? Schedule a free case review now.
Frequently Asked Questions about DWI/DUI in Fort Worth
At Michael & Associates, we take pride in offering you the white-glove treatment and the best outcome you can hope for.
There are so many lawyers in Texas who offer clients big promises but deliver scant results. These lawyers aren’t always worth what they charge. Do they give each case 100%? Usually, they don’t. They just try to close a case quickly so they can move on to an easier one.
Ben Michael has a different philosophy. We only take on the cases we can handle personally. By limiting our caseload, we can offer that white-glove treatment to each client.
We give our clients Ben’s direct number. He is available any time of the day to his clients. At other firms, you are lucky if you can leave a message and get a call back the next day. Usually, it takes days.
Ben Michael is there to see you through the entire process, from beginning to end. We know that our clients are facing one of the worst moments in their lives. At their lowest point, we can step in to help things get back on track. We fight for you.
Michael & Associates will accept felony and misdemeanor criminal cases of all types. We work on cases that include, but aren’t limited to, the following:
- DUI / DWI
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Assault & Battery
- Family Violence
- Domestic Abuse
We don’t practice:
- Traffic Law
- Family Law
- Immigration Law
- Civil Law
Our firm is licensed to practice law in every county in Texas. We are accepting new clients across the state, in all major metropolitan areas.
Just like any other city in Texas, when you are stopped in Fort Worth (or anywhere else in Tarrant County), anyone operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher can be charged with DWI. Your BAC is the number that represents the saturation level of alcohol in your system. Exactly how many drinks it requires to be at or above .08% is different for everyone. Your height, weight, and sex are all contributors. It mostly relies on how long it has been since you took a sip of alcohol.
It all comes down to whether or not you have any prior convictions.
First Offense
- A fine as high as $2,000
- Up to 6 months in jail, with 3 days mandatory
- Losing your license for a year
Second Offense
- A fine as high as $4,000
- From 30 to 365 days in jail
- Losing your license for as many as two years
Third Offense
- $10,000 fine
- 2 to 10 years in prison
- Losing your license for as many as two years
Additional penalties that might apply for having an underage passenger in the motor vehicle:
- Increased fines up to $10,000
- Up to two years in jail
- Six additional months of driver’s license suspension
The first thing you should keep in mind is that failure to stop for an officer will send you directly to prison. Do not run from the police. You will make things much worse for yourself, and you will not outrun them.
When the officer approaches the vehicle, make sure both of your hands are visible. The officer will ask for your paperwork and license. When you go to retrieve them, ask first and let the officer know where you are reaching. Always be as polite as possible.
The officer might also ask you if you know the reason they initiated the traffic stop. You should politely tell them you don’t know why you were stopped. They are looking to establish a reason for the stop, and use that probable cause in court. Don’t remove that line of defense from your lawyer’s arsenal.
Keep in mind that you are on bodycam, so always be as respectful as possible. However, you have the right to refuse to take breathalyzer and field sobriety tests. You will lose your license for a year if you refuse to take a breathalyzer, but if convicted of DWI you would lose the license anyway. Your lawyer can help you fight for a good outcome in either case.
If the officer who initiated the stop thinks they notice any slurred speech, alcohol on your breath, or bloodshot eyes, you might be detained for suspicion of DWI. Once arrested, police will ask you to submit to a breathalyzer or blood test. Refusal means suspension of your license.
Officers can (and will) get a warrant to draw blood, and force you to submit to the test, but obtaining the warrant will take some time. Once they’ve gotten the warrant, it’s in your best interest to let them draw the blood. Otherwise, they will do it by force, and it will not be pleasant.
Never answer questions without a lawyer present, and ask to have a conversation with your lawyer as soon as possible.
Yes. You should always put up a vigorous defense against a DWI charge. This situation requires you to mount a swift and robust defense. You need a tough lawyer by your side.