For over 20 years, the DUI defense lawyers at The Umansky Law Firm have helped Central Florida residents fight charges of DUI and drunk driving. As former prosecutors and public defenders on the state and local level, our Orlando DUI attorneys have a unique insight into the type of strategy that will be used against you so they can determine the best approach for your defense. This knowledge, combined with our aggressive representation and caring attitude, is a winning formula for positive results as shown by our ratings and reviews.
When the average person thinks of a DUI, the picture that often pops in their head is someone who got caught driving under the influence of alcohol. While it is true that most DUI arrests involve individuals in passenger vehicles under the influence of alcohol, there are numerous other manifestations of a DUI in Orlando. Some of these include:
Learn more information about Florida DUI charges by reading the following guides:
Defense Strategies include:
Each type of DUI has a separate set of penalties and qualifying factors. However, they all deal with an individual operating a vehicle (motor or non-motor) under the influence of drugs or alcohol. There are even instances when you can be charged with driving under the influence when you’re not driving at all.
For example, you’re driving home from the bar after having a few drinks, and you find yourself starting to doze off. Instead of risking getting pulled over or getting involved in a damaging accident, you decide to pull to the side of the road and sleep it off. You wake up to an officer tapping on your window and the next thing you know you’re being handcuffed and thrown into the back of a squad car. The officer explains that even though you weren’t driving the vehicle at the time, the keys were still left in the ignition.
Situations like these occur often and result in people who tried to do the right thing getting charged with a DUI. At The Umansky Law Firm, we are committed to helping our clients fight unfair DUI charges so they can move forward with their lives.
Getting arrested for drunk driving can be an awful experience. From spending any time at all in jail to having to get your car out of impound, you may feel exhausted, grimy, and even anxious or scared about what happens next. These feelings are completely natural. You are probably asking yourself, “What now? What are the penalties for DUI? What do I do about my license? How do I hire an Orlando DUI lawyer?”
Whether it’s school, work or basic errands, we need to drive to maintain our livelihood. Needless to say, the first step we take is getting your license back. In Florida, if you have never lost your license for a DUI, you may be eligible to obtain an immediate hardship license at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), but you only have 10 days to apply from the date of your arrest.
The process to do this is called a waiver hearing as you are simply waiving your right to challenge your suspension and in return, you receive a hardship license. The hardship license allows you to get to school or work and run errands that are necessary for your daily life.
The consequences of a DUI can range from monetary fines and jail time to years of driver’s license suspension and the inability to obtain auto insurance. The severity of the consequences will depend on your situation. An Orlando DUI lawyer at The Umansky Law Firm can provide a free case assessment to help you understand the penalties you may be facing. Our DUI attorneys take the time to break down the information and educate you to ensure you fully understand your current situation and the road ahead.
We discuss information such as:
If this is the first time you’ve lost your license for an alcohol-related offense, you can apply for a hardship license and enroll in the DUI level one school sponsored by the Florida Safety Council. A hardship license provides you with restricted driving privileges in Florida, depending on the type of hardship license you receive.
There are two kinds of hardship licenses you can apply for in Florida:
We will show you how to enroll and take your enrollment paperwork to the DMV and ask them to waive your hardship hearing. Our qualified DUI defense attorneys can provide you with legal guidance through each step of this process.
Have you lost your license for an alcohol-related offense in the past? Learn more about handling a DUI as a repeat offender.
After being rear ended by a drunk driver and sustaining multiple injuries, I contacted the Umansky law firm. Bill and his associates were fantastic. They took control of all medical billing, and devised a course of action to assist in getting a fair and just settlement. We were contacted and kept abreast of the situation every step of the way. Thanks to Bill and his associates for making a difficult situation tenable. I highly recommend this law firm.
– Rick Grierson
The state of Florida is particularly harsh on DUI offenders. The initial penalties for a first offense often involve probation license suspension and possible jail time depending on the specifics of your case. However, with every subsequent offense, the penalties get more severe and the likelihood of you facing time behind bars steadily increases. Criminal penalties will vary depending on which of the following categories you belong to:
Our team of Orlando DUI defense lawyers at The Umansky Law Firm can help protect your freedom. We can evaluate your case, make you aware of potential penalties, and serve as your legal representation throughout the legal process.
We pride ourselves on staying on the cutting edge of technology. We understand the latest developments in field sobriety testing, breathalyzers, ignition interlock devices, and other new technologies and techniques that can affect your case. Learn more about our DUI Defense Strategies.
We do more than offer a free consultation. We can review your facts, determine a strategy of defense and go over your alternatives instead of just walking in and pleading guilty to a DUI.
If you have never been charged or arrested for DUI before, you may be eligible to get your charge dropped in a DUI diversion program. In many cases, we may be able to reduce your charge to Reckless Driving and in some cases even Careless Driving, a civil citation. You will also receive a free guide to dealing with your arrest which provides helpful tips and information about the process.