Will Your DWI Case Go to Trial?

 Posted on November 22, 2023 in DWI

Each year, thousands of people get pulled over for a DWI. If you are facing a driving while intoxicated charge, you are probably wondering how long it will take to resolve your case.

A DWI conviction carries both legal and professional consequences. Besides having a permanent criminal record and spending time in prison, you may face losing your professional license and could even lose your job. 

A DWI charge requires immediate action. If you have been charged with a DWI, speak with a Frisco DWI defense attorney as soon as possible.

Texas DWI Facts

Summary of Texas DWI records for 2021:

• There were 89,457 DWI charges 
• DWI charges increased by 7% from the previous year
• 1,824 of these charges resulted in a release with charges dropped
• 11,836 defendants pleaded guilty, and 564 defendants pleaded not guilty
• 8,044 defendants were convicted for the original offense, 3,834 defendants were convicted for another crime, and there were 1,917 case dismissals

Plea Bargains

If you have been charged with a DWI, you do have the option to settle your case through a plea bargain. A plea bargain is when the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for a reduced sentence or for a lesser charge. A plea bargain usually resolves a criminal case.

A plea bargain has the following benefits:

• Defendants can save time and the cost of going to trial
• Prosecutions save time and resources by not going to trial
• Saves both sides from the uncertainty of trial
• Helps to relieve an already “clogged” court system

Although the offer of a plea bargain can come at any point prior to trial, a plea bargain is usually most successful when negotiated early in the process. 

What Happens if Your Case Goes to Trial?

Only a small percentage of criminal cases go to trial. It is difficult to know exactly how many DWI cases are litigated in front of a judge or jury, but the number is low. That said, trial is necessary to fight DWI charges in some situations.

If your case is not settled through a plea bargain, your attorney will prepare you for trial. At trial, both the prosecutor and your defense attorney will present evidence to support their case. Each side will call upon witnesses during direct examination, and then the opposing sides can question those witnesses during cross-examination.

You are innocent until proven guilty, so the burden lies on the prosecutor to prove that you are guilty of the alleged offense. In criminal cases, your guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that a person of reasonable intelligence could not have any doubts about the defendant’s guilt based on the available evidence.

With over 500 DWI trial victories, our Collin County DWI defense attorneys have the experience to defend any DWI charges brought against you.

Charged with a DWI? Contact our Frisco, TX, DWI Defense Attorneys Today

The impact of a DWI can follow you for the rest of your life. If you have been charged with a DWI, let our Collin County, TX, DWI defense attorneys protect your rights. Contact Law Offices of Biederman & Burleson P.L.L.C. today online or by calling 469-333-3333 to schedule your free consultation.