My career started out very differently than it looks today. In fact, I was on the other side of the courtroom aisle, working for the prosecutor’s office. After nine years of doing that, I became a criminal defense attorney. I knew I could help people more on this side.
I distinctly remember working with my first DWI client 10 years ago, just after I left the prosecutor’s office. As soon as I’d gotten to the office on a Monday morning, the call came in. When I picked up the phone, a man asked, “Do you handle DWIs?”
He told me he worked at a nearby hospital, and he’d met friends to watch a big college game on his night off. As he was saying goodbye to his friends, a big group of coworkers who had just gotten off their shift walked in. Since he didn’t have to work the next day he sat back down and had another beer with them before leaving to go home. Then, on the way home, he’d gotten pulled over.
As we talked, he rapidly fired question after question, and I could tell he’d really been stressing about this situation all weekend. One friend told him he was going to jail, and a coworker told him he would lose his job.
We spent about an hour on that call. By the time we hung up the phone, he was like a totally different person. We even shared a few laughs.
I realize good people find themselves in bad situations. My job is to help. You don’t have to lose sleep or live in fear of the worst possible thing happening. Rarely does the worst-case scenario ever come true.
You are dealing with a lot right now. You may experience emotions ranging from embarrassment to confusion and even fear. However, I want you to know that those are natural feelings about any legal situation. Take a deep breath. You will get through this.
And I promise you, it will be OK. I’m going to offer the same friendly advice I would give my sister or any close friend– forgive yourself.
Yes, you made a mistake.
Yes, you have a legal issue to deal with that may not go away as soon as you’d like.
But carrying the guilt and shame associated with a DWI will not help you solve the problems. The best solution is to hire a defense attorney to take proper legal steps so you can rest easy.
I know you have a lot of questions. One thing to keep in mind, it’s never as simple as a yes or no answer. I’m not trying to scare you. I’m here to reassure you and resolve this issue for you.
I am passionate about handling DWI cases because these are the things that can have a lasting impact on you if mishandled. I want to minimize the damage. When someone hires me, I want them to realize a DWI is just a one-time thing. It will be OK.
I not only invite you but also encourage you to call my office at 417-882-2522 or email me at mrussell@mrdlawyers.com to discuss the specifics of what happened to you.