Important Qualities to Look For When Hiring a New Jersey DWI Lawyer
Everyone makes a mistake when it comes to responsibly consuming alcohol. However, there is no need for a bad decision to stay with you for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, a drunk driving or driving while under influence (DWI) offense in New Jersey can significantly impact your life in the long-term.
Some of the penalties you may face if convicted on DWI charges include heavy fines, loss of driving privileges, interlock installation, community service, and possible jail time. A conviction can also significantly impact your social life and the ability to secure employment. In order to avoid these serious consequences, it is important to hire an aggressive New Jersey DWI attorney to fight the charges and avoid a conviction.
Characteristics of a Good Drunk Driving Lawyer
The most important characteristics of a successful DWI attorney are experience, diligence and care. You also need to have regular access to your attorney via different platforms, such as phone, email and text.
Below are four important qualities to look for when choosing a New Jersey DWI attorney:
- Experience & Knowledge. All lawyers can technically navigate the laws for clients in any field of law. However, just like any other profession, lawyers have different specializations. A family lawyer can help If you’re filing for divorce; a criminal lawyer can help if you have been charged with murder; and an accident lawyer can help if you’ve been injured in an accident. Similarly, if you have been charged with drunk driving, you need to hire New Jersey DWI attorney who specifically handles these types of cases.
- Proven Track Record. It is also important to look at an attorney’s track record before hiring a drunk driving lawyer. The successful track record should span over the various types a case can be handled, such as getting a case dismissed through negotiations, trial or a plea.
- Reputation in the Community. An attorney’s reputation can be a good indication as to how he will handle your case as well. When doing your research, it is important not only to look into the attorney’s reputation amongst his clients, but also other lawyers in the community and the judges he has appeared before on other cases.
- Responsiveness. Having a lawyer with good communication skills is an important tool in successfully handling your drunk driving case. You should choose a New Jersey drunk driving attorney who can communicate legal advice in a way that you’re able to clearly understand the laws involved in your situation, the plea options available to you, and the potential issues that might come along the way.
Call a DWI Attorney in New Jersey
If you or someone you know has been issued a DWI citation or arrested for drunk driving in New Jersey, an experienced attorney can help. Call Beninato & Matrafajlo Attorneys at Law, LLC at 908-355-7100 to schedule a free, complimentary consultation with our legal team today.
Dan T. Matrafajlo, Esq. is the Managing Member and Lead Partner at Beninato & Matrafajlo, Attorneys at Law, LLC, a New Jersey-based personal injury law firm with offices in Elizabeth and East Brunswick. With over two decades of experience representing clients in complex matters—including motor vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death cases—he has recovered over $100 million on behalf of his clients and is known for securing significant results. He has also helped shape New Jersey personal injury law through notable Appellate Division decisions such as Hardison v. King and Frenklakh v. Lojek, with his litigation work featured in the New Jersey Law Journal, underscoring his authority in the field.
Mr. Matrafajlo was recognized as a Super Lawyers® Rising Stars honoree from 2012 to 2017 and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum—an honor reserved for attorneys who have achieved multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Combining deep legal expertise with a client-focused approach, he provides strategic, results-driven representation while guiding clients through every stage of the legal process. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and is admitted to practice in both New Jersey and New York.
