Charles Dickens in a Tale of Two Cities started his iconic novel with this dichotomy. Maybe it is a matter of perspective for which team you are rooting. I sure was happy but my two Bruin sisters and friends may not have been as happy …or maybe didn’t give a s_ it.
When you look at the big picture, maybe winning the cross town rivalry, the Big Game, wasn’t that important. So what is important? Most would say good health and security. Maybe your team won, but while driving home you were rear ended or arrested for a DUI from to many celebratory beers. Now things are not Alright, Alright, Alright!
Did you plan ahead to know what to do? When I have TV interviews, my “Accidentally Yours” radio show or this weekly legal column, I advise those who read or listen to plan ahead! For decades I have said, ‘People Don’t Plan To Fail, They Fail To Plan.’ Don’t wait until things go wrong to decide which lawyer to hire for an accident or DUI.
After all you have the names and number of a plumber or electrician etc. at hand, in case of an emergency. Isn’t an auto accident of DUI of more importance…a greater emergency? In my opinion, the last thing you should do is to wait until disaster strikes and you are pressured with pain or in custody, to make that crucial decision…Which Lawyer Should I Hire?
Auto Accidents and DUI cases have a lot in common with respect to what clients should or should not do. In both instances Silence is Golden. As a rule the less you share the better off you are. Don’t admit fault in an accident or admit guilt with a DUI. It is not always what you say but what the other side THOUGHT THEY HEARD YOU SAY.
I advise my clients to take down their social media. Prosecutors and insurance adjusters save time and money by checking Facebook sites. Some accident victims post that they are going skiing or playing in a tennis tournament, after an accident. This is after they complained to the doctor how much they hurt and all the things they can’t do because of the pain. Arguably, if they can play a sport, then they were not that injured. At least that is the argument the insurance company adjusters and lawyers will make.
The kiss of death is when a client posts that they were lucky not to have been stopped the day before when they were even drunker or any other post about their drinking and driving habits etc. To put the odds on your side you should always hire a local attorney. One who will know the judges and court employees and that should be done ASAP. Once one retains a lawyer, they can no longer be contacted by the DA or insurance investigator on a DUI or accident case.
After an accident you must preserve evidence by writing things down right away. Smart cell phones can be used to take picture of parties, cars, streets and to obtain statements from drivers and wits.
There is no way you can truly win after you are in civil or criminal litigation. Your stress from your accident or arrest is often mollified by lashing out at those closest to you. After all, you aren’t going to yell at your boss, but will at your spouse or kids. This leads to domestic violence arrests as well as divorces and disharmony with the family. So be careful that you don’t do something that allows a lawyer to make more money off of you!
DALE GRIBOW
REPRESENTING THE INJURED AND CRIMINALLY ACCUSED
“TOP LAWYER” – California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-20
“TOP LAWYER” – Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019
PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating
“DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT… CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER….THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME”
ARTICLE SUGGESTIONS? DALE GRIBOW 760-837-7500/dale@dalegribowlaw.com.
