Free Chicago DUI Consultation
If you have been arrested for DUI in Chicago or anywhere in Cook County, the most important thing you can do in the first 24 hours is talk to a lawyer. The 90-day Statutory Summary Suspension hearing deadline is already running. Dashcam and bodycam retention windows are short. The decisions you make in the first week shape the rest of the case. The consultation is free.
What the Free Consultation Covers
The consultation is a real conversation, not a script. It covers:
- The specific charge or charges you are facing. Class A misdemeanor first-offense DUI is one situation. Aggravated DUI involving a felony enhancement is a very different one. The specific statute and the specific factors matter.
- The deadlines that are already running. The 90-day Statutory Summary Suspension hearing window starts at arrest. Other procedural deadlines depend on the specific case.
- Evidence preservation. Bodycam, dashcam, witness identification, and other evidence have to be requested promptly. We discuss what we will request and how.
- The realistic outcomes. Based on the facts you describe, what are the realistic ranges of outcomes? Dismissal, reduction, supervision, conviction with what consequences.
- Whether retention is the right next step. Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes the case is better suited to a different lawyer or a different approach. The consultation is honest.
What the Free Consultation Does Not Cover
The consultation does not include drafting motions, filing pleadings, appearing in court, or formally representing you. Those activities require retention. The consultation is informational and strategic, designed to give you the information you need to make a decision about how to proceed.
Why Moving Quickly Matters
The 90-Day Deadline
The Statutory Summary Suspension hearing has to be requested within 90 days of arrest. Miss the deadline and the suspension takes effect with no opportunity to challenge it. The hearing is one of the most useful tools in DUI defense: it generates discovery, surfaces evidence, and can result in keeping the license.
Bodycam and Dashcam
Cook County agencies have varying retention periods for bodycam and dashcam footage. Some retain for 30 days unless specifically preserved. Once the footage is gone, it cannot be reconstructed. A preservation letter from a Chicago DUI lawyer locks the footage in.
Witness Recollections
Witnesses forget details quickly. The driver of the other car, a passenger, a bartender at the place you were before the stop, a friend who can establish the timeline. Identifying and interviewing these witnesses early is the difference between using them at trial and losing them.
What to Have Ready
- The date and time of arrest.
- The city or jurisdiction of arrest.
- The court date if one has been set.
- Whether you took or refused a breath or blood test.
- Any paperwork from the officer, especially the Statutory Summary Suspension notice.
- Any prior DUI arrests or convictions.
If you don't have these details immediately, reach out anyway. The lawyer can work through them together with you.