Morgan County, WV DUI Lawyer

An arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence in West Virginia will place you in a very difficult and stressful position. While wondering what to do next, you need to understand that being found guilty of DUI will lead to severe penalties. You could be fined thousands of dollars, lose your driver's license and be forced to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. Even first time offenders can be sent to jail. However overwhelming things may seem, doing nothing should not be an option.

Hiring a qualified West Virginia criminal defense lawyer with specific experience in drunk driving defense can make a difference in the disposition of your case.

Morgan County DUI Lawyer Harley Wagner has the only law practice in the entire state that focuses exclusively on West Virginia DUI defense. His knowledge of West Virginia DUI laws and understanding of the legal system will ensure that your rights are protected. His goal is to build an aggressive defense and seek to reduce or eliminate the penalties associated with your charges.

Berkeley Springs DUI Attorney Harley Wagner understands that sometimes bad things happen to good people. He is here to help you, not judge you. Harley Wagner will listen to your account of the arrest, study the details of your case and then honestly assess your legal options.

The first meeting is absolutely free and there is no further obligation. To learn how DUI Lawyer Harley Wagner can help you avoid jail and fines, contact him now for a free consultation. Call (304) 901-7400 or fill out the on-line request form to the left.

Following an arrest for impaired or drunk driving in West Virginia you will be facing two separate cases. One is the criminal case that is resolved in the courts. The other is a civil case filed by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Starting immediately after an arrest for DUI, your license is at risk. Once you receive notice of license suspension, you have a thirty-day window during which you can request a special license hearing and try to retain your driving privileges. If you file a hearing request within the 30 days, you can continue to drive not only until the hearing date but approximately three to four months past your license hearing until the final decision on the hearing is received. If you do not act in a timely manner, your license will be automatically suspended without a hearing.

The DMV hearing will determine how long your license will be suspended and the conditions for return of your driving privileges. The driving restrictions handed down and the legal remedies available to you are influenced by the details of your arrest. This includes whether you refused to submit to a breath or blood test to check blood alcohol content, had a blood alcohol content (BAC) allegation above or below .15% at the time of arrest or have any prior alcohol related driving offenses on your record. Note that West Virginia has an implied consent law that requires motorists to be tested whenever asked by a law enforcement officer. Having a DUI arrest on your record and refusing to submit to a test could result in the lifetime revocation of your license and, at minimum, one full year.

Morgan County DUI Attorney Harley Wagner has experience with license hearings and he knows how to maneuver the complex process. He can petition the DMV on your behalf and work to help you keep your license. Even in a worse case scenario, Harley Wagner can advise you on how to reduce the duration of the suspension.

Time is limited, and you will lose your license if you do not take the necessary steps. If you want to keep your driving privileges, contact Attorney Harley Wagner now.

Before deciding to ignore your arrest or plead guilty to an offense of driving under the influence in Morgan County, WV, consider the criminal and civil penalties if convicted. You could be sent to jail, be required to install an ignition interlock device, lose your driver's license and your auto insurance, be forced to pay significant fines and made to enroll in an alcohol education program.

The severity of the penalties depends on a number of conditions, especially having a prior DUI offense on your record during the past 10 years. A third offense is filed as a felony, and that includes arrests made anywhere in the United States. Your blood alcohol content is also a factor, with a BAC below .15% being filed as a 'non-aggravated' DUI and above .15% being considered 'aggravated' and subject to enhanced penalties.

Perhaps the most life-changing consequence of being found guilty of DUI in WV is having a permanent criminal record. This could lead to loss of current job, reduced employment opportunities in the future, a damaged credit score and even the inability to travel to Canada.

Just because you have been arrested does not make you guilty. There are ways to defend against a DUI and challenge the state's evidence. You could have the charges reduced to a non-criminal offense, see your case dismissed or be found not guilty. Hiring experienced Berkeley Springs WV DUI Attorney Harley Wagner can lead to a positive outcome to a difficult situation. Contact him now and ask him to begin building a defense for you.

The law firm dedicates 100% of its resources to helping clients accused of driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination of the two. Morgan County WV DUI Lawyer Harley Wagner has defended over eleven hundred clients in seventeen West Virginia counties accused of DUI related offenses ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies. That level of experience can indeed benefit the outcome of your case.

In addition to qualified legal guidance, the law firm extends personalized attention to each client throughout the disposition of their cases.

Attorney Harley Wagner has substantial knowledge of WV DUI law and emerging DUI defense strategies, and he has lectured other attorneys on drunk driving defense. He continues to develop his legal skills at national seminars. He has been trained in the operation of the breath test equipment used in the state of West Virginia. Harley Wagner has completed both student and instructor national certification programs in the application of standardized field sobriety tests, which is the same student training that police officers undergo at the police academy. The culmination of this special training and commitment to learning offers you a more complete and effective DUI defense.

Harley Wagner is a lifetime member of the National College for DUI Defense and serves as the West Virginia state delegate. He is also a member of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where he serves on the 16-member DUI committee. Harley Wagner has received an AVVO rating of 10.0 - Superb. He is the author of 'West Virginia DUI Defense, The Law and Practice' and is the co-founder of the West Virginia DUI Defense Lawyers Association.

Office manager and law firm paralegal Heather Ann McCoy assists with criminal cases, ensuring that they proceed smoothly and efficiently. She has been trained in areas of WV DUI defense and works directly with Harley Wagner to provide their clients with answers to their questions and excellent customer service. Ms. McCoy has previously worked part-time for the Berkeley County Magistrate Court and she received her Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paralegal Studies from Hagerstown, Maryland Business College.

The laws associated with DUI in Morgan County are harsh, but Attorney Harley Wagner will work to get you the best possible result.

Don't be sent to jail. Don't suffer fines of thousands of dollars. Don't lose your driver's license.

Contact Morgan County West Virginia DUI Lawyer Harley Wagner 24/7 and begin getting the help you need. Call (304) 901-7400 for a free consultation or complete the secure form to the left.