Going to Court for a DWI in Texas? Remember These 5 Things

September 25, 2017

After being arrested for and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Texas, you are likely to be released from the jailhouse on bond or for other reasons without getting a full or clear explanation as to what is going to happen afterward. You can probably expect to be told when your next court day will be, but beyond that information you may not be told much at all. Understandably, this “good luck” attitude often presented to alleged criminal offenders can leave you feeling confused, lost, and even hopeless.

If you want to turn your situation around and successfully fight for your rights and driving privilege after a DWI arrest, you need to know what to expect in the upcoming court dates, hearings, and trials. Our team at Tyler Flood & Associates has prepared a useful list of five things to keep in mind that should help you through the entire process. Of course, if you already know that you need the legal guidance and representation of a trusted Houston DWI attorney, do not hesitate to contact our firm right away.

Here are five things to keep in mind when going to criminal court for a DWI charge:

  1. You still have the same set of rights: When you go to court for a DWI, you have the same rights as someone accused of committing a crime. You still have the right to legal counsel and the right to not give self-incriminating statements. Although you might feel smaller standing before a judge, you are not by any means.
  2. You should dress appropriately: Consider the courtroom to be a professional environment, like a high-brow office space. Try to dress nicely and cleanly. You do not need to buy a new suit or dress but shorts and flip-flops are out of the question. In fact, many criminal courts will not even see you if you are dressed too casually and will instead send you away to await a new court date. If your local DWI court does enforce a specific dress code, intentionally failing to meet it a repeated number of times could be seen as being in contempt of court, which is a crime in and of itself.
  3. Plea deals are not always favorable: You should almost never plea guilty on your first appearance. DWI's are complicated cases and a good attorney needs a good amount of time to conduct a thorough investigation of your case. Remember a plea of guilty to DWI in Texas results in a permanent conviction on your record.
  4. The state needs to prove a certain set of facts: In order to convict you for driving while intoxicated, the prosecution must convince a jury or a judge of several facts. In short, it has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you were the one operating a motor vehicle in a public place within Texas borders, and while your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level made you legally intoxicated, and that your BAC was at that level due to drinking alcohol or taking drugs. If just one of these points can be defeated, the whole argument against you may be unraveled by a skilled DWI defense attorney.
  5. You can consider appealing a negative outcome: The defense in a DWI case can appeal a verdict or ruling that was not beneficial for the defendant. Appeals are dependent on factual or judicial errors during the trial or hearing that could have altered the outcome. You cannot expect an appeal to be succeed if it is filed simply because you personally did not like the outcome. The prosecution, on the other hand, cannot appeal after losing a case at trial.

Remember: If you are preparing to go to court for a DWI case and do not know where to begin, you do not have to go it alone. Start constructing an effective defense today by calling and talking to a Houston DWI attorney from Tyler Flood & Associates.

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NOT GUILTY
Driving While Intoxicated (Blood Draw .16)
Client had bond forfeited while case was pending for not being able to attend trial when Judge ordered us to be there due to his teaching job at Texas A&M University. When he finally...read more
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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

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Robert Henderson
Robert Henderson
December 22, 2023.
I want to give a special thanks to Tyler Flood & Associates. Getting charged with a dwi was the worst feeling and situation I've been in, but the professionalism and confidence that Tyler Fllod & Associates showed throughout my case definitely helped me get some sleep at night. Then when they called and let me know that my case was dismissed and all charges dropped was incredible. Once again, thanks to Tyler Flood & Associates.
Zeta Ze
Zeta Ze
December 15, 2023.
Houston DWI/DUI Tyler Flood is the best lawyer to represent you in a DWI/DUI case. Mr. Flood saved my license from being suspended in a non-refusal weekend. In a case, where I feel I did everything wrong and had 0 chance, in my opinion, for a dismissal, my only hope and chance was to hire Mr. Flood and his firm. Having had previous experience with Mr. Flood's firm, I felt that if I had any percentage chance of a dismissal, I had to go with Mr. Flood again. As I am writing this review, I'm still in shock and awe in how Mr. Flood was able to get a dismissal before trial completely started. Mr. Flood knew the law better than the arresting officer and Prosecutors. Even the judge was impressed and paid him a compliment after the dismissal. In my opinion, if you want a fighting chance, hire Mr. Flood and his firm. Mr. Flood genuinely cares about all his clients and does not merely see you as a customer. He and his team are always working on your case. Trust his process. They are absolutely the BEST.
briana Munoz
briana Munoz
December 5, 2023.
Thanks to Tyler Flood I am able to continue my life, him and his partners were amazing in guiding me throughout this hard process. Tyler and his team got me a CASE DISMISSED on my DWI case. His team kept in contact with me on every small detail about my case while being able to thoroughly explain every possibility for me. I also never had to step foot in a courtroom! Him and his team had my back every step of the way and never made me feel like it was not going to be okay. Tyler flood is the BEST DWI/DUI attorney no doubt, please consider letting him take your case if you are ever in need of an amazing lawyer.
A D
A D
October 19, 2023.
When I found myself in a precarious situation and didn’t know where or who to turn to I was recommended to Tyler Flood and Associates. After researching and reading many reviews I decided to hire and retain Flood and Associates services. This was one of the best decisions I made in my life, not only were they there for me in every dim moment and never too busy to answer every question I had whether it was frivolous or not, his expertise was demonstrated to me during my trial. So much so that two other defendants asked for his name and number during my trial. He fought tooth-and-nail for me and he will for you too. I’m only rating him five stars because I can’t rate him any higher. I’ll thank him for the rest of my life.
Dylan
Dylan
October 12, 2023.
Houston DWI/DUI Attorney Tyler Flood is the best in the business! Tyler and his team made the entire process stress free for what is a very stressful situation. From winning the first administrative hearing (to retain my license/avoid a breathalyzer) to getting the dismissal before trial even started. He is truly the best in the business!
Cesar Ricardez
Cesar Ricardez
October 3, 2023.
I hired Tyler Flood the day after my DUI arrest after reading glowing reviews about him and I couldn’t be happier that I did so. He took care of both my cases to keep my driving rights and the misdemeanor DUI charge in court. I never even had to appear in court or do anything, him and his team took care of anything while I carried on with my life and would just get updates whenever they appeared in court on my behalf. At the end, my driver license was never suspended and they got my case dismissed. Lesson learned, I don’t wish anyone to get in my situation but if you do, don’t hesitate to hire Tyler Flood and his team, they are extremely professional and they go for the win. No deal, no probation, got it all dismissed.
M J
M J
September 14, 2023.
Tyler Flood, Houston DWI/DUI attorney is fantastic! He is professional, smart and takes pride in getting the best possible outcome for you. This was my second DWI and I didn't want to take chances. I found him on Google and I too was in disbelief with all the 5.0 star reviews. Upon meeting him I quickly discovered it was all true. A lawyer with his own science lab WTH??????? Long story short he got my case dismissed without going to court. You can not put a price on freedom. The only downside is I only hope to need his services this one time. 😀 Thanks again Mr. Flood God bless.
John Sellers
John Sellers
August 31, 2023.
Houston DUI/DWI attorney Tyler Flood is the guy to go to!! I started my journey with these guys on August 4th of this year, my case was dismissed before the end of the month!! Well worth it!! They are organized and efficient, kept me informed of what was going on and answered all my questions. I have shared with my friends and definitely recommend to anyone.
texasdiamonds
texasdiamonds
August 29, 2023.
Houston DUI/DWI attorney Tyler Flood is an outstanding attorney and person. If you are in need of a lawyer who understands the panic and sheer fear a family feels when this happens in their lives,Tyler Flood is the attorney for you. He has an outstanding educational background, his office includes an on-site, state-of-the-arts laboratory, and he is surrounded with a legal team to provide background and research data for him to be successful in representing you. He is a One-of-Kind, highly accomplished attorney that will promptly respond to you throughout the duration of your case. Seriously, this guy NEVER sleeps! Tyler Flood understands the importance of a person’s reputation and the seriousness of a DUI/DWI charge. If you choose to work with him, he will work with you to be successful! Tyler Flood is AWESOME!
Trey Perrett
Trey Perrett
August 14, 2023.
Words cannot express what a dominating lawyer Tyler Flood and his team are. I ran into some trouble in 2021 and I was just getting my family, career ,and life together. I was completely scared of what the repercussions could be for the rest of my life. I asked civil layers who they recommend and repeatedly Tyler Flood’s name was given to me. At my first appointment, I was overcome with anxiety of what will happen next. Tyler put me at ease immediately. He believed I had a case. They were great on response time and helping me navigate the often confusing legal system. It’s a long process to have a case brought to trial but I knew I had an amazing lawyer and his team in my corner. Finally, I received the call that my case was dismissed, and I was cleared of all charges. I could not be happier with the way he and his colleagues handled my case and brought home the W. I strongly recommend having Tyler Flood in your corner because he delivers.
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Disclaimer: The information on this website does NOT constitute legal advice. If you need legal advice, then retain an attorney to discuss the facts of your case. If you would like to discuss your case with an attorney at Tyler Flood & Associates, Inc., then please contact us to schedule a consultation. Until we specifically agree to act for you on a matter, you should not provide us with any confidential information or material.
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