Alabama Criminal Defense Attorneys
Being charged with a crime in Alabama can change your life in an instant. When facing criminal charges, it is essential that you have an experienced, knowledgeable, and aggressive criminal defense attorney fighting on your side. A felony conviction carries with it more than just a sentence – it can strip away your personal rights and change your life forever. Even misdemeanors can have drastic effects on your life. A suspended driver’s license, heavy fines, and even Jail time are very real possibilities for both felonies and misdemeanors.
Most people know that the burden of proof is supposed to be on the prosecution in a criminal case. A defendant is held to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However individuals who have tried to take on the legal system without quality legal counsel often report having felt as if they carried the burden of proving their innocence. As if they were guilty until proven innocent. While this should never be the case, unfortunately it often is. Having an experienced, knowledgeable attorney, who is familiar with the criminal courts and judges, and can correctly interpret the law, can make the difference between a judgment of acquittal or a guilty verdict.
As a defendant, you need an advocate. Someone to fight on your behalf. It can mean the difference between a life-changing conviction and a dismissal of the charges. Bobby Hornsby and Matthew Hornsby will analyze and investigate every aspect of the criminal case, from the initial police report, to the prosecution’s evidence, to ensure that you have the best defense possible. The Justice system can be confusing for those charged with a crime. The experienced attorneys at Hornsby & Hornsby understand how the system works and they know how Judges and Juries think. Don’t try to take on the system alone. Give yourself the best chance to keep both your good name and your freedom.
Alabama DUI Lawyers
DUI (driving under the influence) is one area of criminal law where the police and prosecutors make the most mistakes – case destroying mistakes. But without an experienced DUI defense attorney fighting for you, these crucial mistakes may go unnoticed, and you could be found guilty anyways. Knowing how to analyze and attack the police procedures and actions before, during, and after the DUI arrest, and interpret the complex DUI statutes is essential to victory at trial.
New laws have strengthened the penalties and fines for DUI convictions, which can result in thousands of dollars in fines, court costs, and increased insurance premiums, up to one year in jail, an automatic suspension of driver’s license, and months of alcohol testing and educational classes. Now more than ever, it is essential that you are represented by a DUI attorney.
Many people do not know that the manner in which the police officers administer the field sobriety tests, as well as the breathalyzer machine can make or break the prosecution’s case against a client. Police officers will not freely admit to a mistake and prosecutors will not voluntarily dismiss a case just because mistakes were made in the investigation and arrest in a DUI case. It takes a skilled and experienced attorney to find these errors and attack the prosecution’s case with them.
Even if you think you may be guilty, rarely is it a good idea to plead guilty to a DUI without the assistance of a DUI attorney. There are typically several options available to a person charged with DUI – options that can save you thousands of dollars, jail time, your driver’s license, your job, and your record. The attorneys at Hornsby & Hornsby have been successful in getting clients’ DUI charges dropped and successfully defeating DUI charges in court. They have the skills and experience needed to successfully defend you or your loved one in a DUI case.
Why Fight a DUI?
A DUI charge, or Driving Under the Influence, is a very serious criminal charge that could result in jail or prison time, heavy legal fees and countless other problems down the road. Even if the evidence against you seems overwhelming, it is always in your best interest to fight against your DUI charges. To put up a winning fight, you need an experienced DUI Attorney, such as the attorneys at Hornsby & Hornsby, Attorneys at Law.
A DUI Attorney can help you navigate the complexities and intricacies of the legal system, which commonly favors convicting alleged criminals. The penalties for Driving Under the Influence in the state of Alabama are severe, as are the consequences for not submitting to a chemical test to determine intoxication levels. Only an experienced DUI Attorney can properly advise you on what is in your best interest – and represent you to a victory in trial.
Refusing to Submit to a Breathalyzer Test
The state of Alabama has an implied consent law. This means that if you choose not to submit to a chemical or breathalyzer test, your license is automatically suspended and you will be forced to pay legal fines. Refusal for first-time offenders results in a 90-day license suspension, while a second or third offender’s refusal results in a 1-year license suspension. Even if you win at trial or the charges are dropped, your license will remain suspended for your failure to submit to the breathalyzer. While a drivers license suspension is often very difficult for clients, it is sometimes advisable for a person to refuse to submit to the breathalyzer. The license suspension may be more desirable than a failed breathalyzer exam, which could provide the police with additional evidence foe the DUI. The only way to know how to handle a DUI stop is to consult with an experienced DUI attorney.
Consequences of DUI Charges
A drunk driving arrest is not taken lightly in the State of Alabama, and a DUI charge on your record can have many negative consequences for you. Many factors are taken into account when determining an offender’s punishment for driving under the influence. These factors include:
- Whether or not this was a first offense
- The general criminal record of the offender
- The level of intoxication
- The offender’s submission or refusal to submit to a chemical test
- Damages or injury caused to others or property due to driver’s intoxication
A first time offender could potentially face imprisonment for up to 1 year as well as fines ranging from $600-$2,100. Second time offenders have a minimum required sentence of at least 5 days in jail and up to 1 year of imprisonment, with fines ranging from $1,100-$5,100. A third time offender has a mandatory imprisonment sentence of 60 days that could be increased to up to 1 year, at least 30 days of community service, and fines ranging from $2,100-$10,000. Fourth time offenders are charged with a Class C Felony and face mandatory jail time of at least 1 year, a 3 year license suspension and fines between $4,000-$10,000.
Don’t risk your freedom and record. Contact DUI Defense Attorneys Bobby Hornsby or Matthew Hornsby for help in winning your Case Today!
Protect your rights by hiring an aggressive DUI Defense Attorney from Hornsby & Hornsby, Attorneys at Law to represent your case by calling (205) 856-1000 today.
Alabama Landlord and Tenant/Eviction Attorneys
Being a landlord is tough. State laws have set up a complex set of rules that a landlord must follow, not only to properly evict a tenant but avoid serious legal liability along the way.
No matter how much work you do at the front end, occasionally you get a tenant that needs to go. Maybe they won’t pay their rent, or they commit a crime on your property, or they breach other provisions of the lease. Don’t waste your time trying to evict the tenant without an attorney. Judges dismiss eviction cases every day because of the landlord’s failure to jump through the legal hoops required. After having already spent hundreds on court fees, and weeks or months trying to get to court, the landlord has to start all over and pay an attorney anyways. Bobby Hornsby and Matthew Hornsby can help you deal with the tenant appropriately before and after filing the eviction and ensure that your case moves quickly through the court process so that you can get a paying tenant moved in. The attorney fee can be as inexpensive as $300.00.
For more tips on being a successful landlord, read Matthew’s articles on this subject: Dealing with Tenants – Part 1 & Dealing with Tenants – Part 2
For answers to Landlord’s frequently asked questions, see Landlord’s FAQ.
Call Hornsby & Hornsby, Attorneys at Law at (205) 856-1000 or email Matthew Hornsby at matthornsby@att.net or Bobby Hornsby at bjhornsby@att.net for a free consultation regarding your landlord-tenant matter.