Your Denver Colorado DUI Case

If you have been arrested for drunk driving in the Denver area, you are not alone. In fact, about 30,000 Colorado motorists face DUI charges each year. That’s more than 80 people per day – or about one every 15 minutes. What you do about it can have a major impact on your freedom, independence, livelihood, financial well-being and quality of life.

At Rosenthal & Heymann, we understand the confusion, anger and embarrassment that frequently accompany a drunk driving charge. And we want you to know something right up front: Drunk driving charges are serious charges in Colorado. But just because you are arrested for drunk driving, doesn’t mean you have to be convicted of drunk driving.

We believe everyone facing Colorado drunk driving charges is entitled to an experienced and aggressive defense. Contact our Denver
DUI defense attorneys today for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights throughout the Denver area, including Lakewood, Englewood, Boulder and Aurora.

Of urgent importance, is dealing with the Affidavit and Notice of Revocation, which should have been given to you by law enforcement if you took a breath test. The notice requires you to request an Administrative Hearing through the Colorado DMV within 7 days of your arrest. Failure to request a hearing will result in the automatic suspension of your driving rights.

Steps in a Colorado Criminal DUI Case Include:

• Summons: Issued at the time of your arrest. Outlines the charge and notifies you of the date, time and location of your court appearance.
• Arraignment: Court appearance, which typically includes a plea of not guilty. Hopefully you have obtained an attorney by the time of your arraignment.
• Pre-trial Conference: Typically this is a meeting between a defense attorney and the state’s attorney, where a discussion of the merits of the case and possible plea agreement or reduction in charges will be discussed.
• Suppression Hearing: An experienced DUI attorney will move to suppress evidence in your case, which will be heard by a judge prior to trial. The outcome of a suppression hearing can help determine whether you and your attorney should fight the charges at trial or can obtain a better deal from prosecutors, including a reduction or dismissal of the charges.
• Trial: By now, an experienced attorney will have represented you at the DMV Hearing, where he or she will have benefited from a good first-look at the case against you while fighting for your driving rights. Through pre-trial conference and the suppression hearing, you and your attorney have either determined that you have a good chance of beating the charge or that other circumstances specific to your case make going to trial the best option.

Visit our What Now section for a discussion of the steps you need to take to protect your rights. But in general, you should consult an experienced Denver drunk driving defense lawyer, request a DMV hearing, save all paperwork and other evidence associated with your case, and make a detailed report of everything that happened on the day of the arrest, including the arrest itself. Statements made by law enforcement are meant to convict you. Documenting evidence in your favor -- including restaurant and bar receipts, statements made by law enforcement and other evidence – is the responsibility of you and your defense attorney.

The penalty for drunk driving in Colorado can be enhanced in cases where a defendant has a previous drunk driving conviction – another reason it is important to fight a DUI charge. A driver accused of causing a serious or fatal accident while driving under the influence, will also face additional charges. Additionally, employers are often taking a tough stance against employees convicted of drunk driving, especially if you have to drive as part of your employment. Successfully fighting a drunk driving charge, or obtaining a reduction in charges, can frequently save your job and protect the financial well-being of you and your family.

If this is your first DUI offense, you will typically be eligible to obtain a hardship license for work and other necessities– provided that you properly comply with the DMV hearing process. At Rosenthal & Heymann, we offer comprehensive defense of drunk driving charges. By representing clients at the DMV hearing and fighting for their right to drive, we can get a good first-look at the case against you while building your criminal case.

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in Denver or the surrounding area, contact the DUI defense lawyers at Rosenthal & Heymann today for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights.

Rosenthal & Heymann – Call 303-825-2223 – Free Consultation