Law Office of Elizabeth A. Lawrence Blog

One of the biggest dangers facing drivers and pedestrians is drunk drivers. Even if you are doing everything right and react appropriately, you could still be harmed by someone who is driving under the influence. When you are trying to avoid accidents and the risk of sharing the road with drunk drivers, it’s good to understand when most DUI arrests and crashes occur.

What Is a DUI?

In the state of Maryland, it is illegal to drink and drive. There are two different common types of violations related to driving while intoxicated, and they are known as driving while under the influence (DUI) and driving while impaired (DWI). DUIs are serious and occur when someone has a BAC of .08 or higher. DWI is slightly lower and happens when someone has a BAC of .07. If someone is driving under the age of 21 with any amount of alcohol in their system, it is considered a DUI.

The Problem With Drunk Driving

Every day in the United States, an average of 32 people are killed in a drunk driving crash. Unfortunately, that number is climbing over time instead of decreasing. Both those who go out drinking with friends and those who are sober and sharing the road with other drivers are at risk of being a victim of an intoxicated driver. Cops take DUIs very seriously, so DUI arrests and DWI arrests are very common.

What Time of Day Do Most DUI Arrests and Accidents Occur?

While DUI arrests and accidents can occur at any time of day, there are some hours when there is a higher risk of encountering a driver under the influence. The period of time from midnight to 3:00 AM is the most dangerous time to be on the road. During that period, 2/3 of crashes involve a driver under the influence. Outside of that high-risk period of time, 6:00 PM to midnight and 3:00 AM-6:00 AM were the other highest-risk times.

What Types of Drivers Are Most Likely to Be Involved?

Adults who are between 21 and 24 years of age are the most likely to be impaired on the road. This probably does not come as a shock to most people, as these drivers are young and most likely to underestimate the risk they are taking.

Protect Yourself with The Law Office of Elizabeth Anu Lawrence

If you or a loved one is uncertain how to proceed after being the victim of a DUI or arrested for DUI, choose an experienced firm like the Law Office of Elizabeth Anu Lawrence to give you the help you need.  Please give us a call at 443.352.3201. Skype and telephone consultation are both available to clients.

Being arrested or charged with a crime can be very frightening, especially if you have never been in a similar situation before. Unfortunately, when you are emotional and under a great deal of stress, you are more likely to make mistakes that could jeopardize the results of your case. Here is what you should do if you are accused of a crime in Maryland.

How Do You Know You Are Accused of a Crime?

There are numerous ways that you might find out you have been accused of a crime. First, you might be arrested by a police officer and be informed of the accusations against you. In some cases, you might be served with paperwork that details the accusations against you. In any situation where you have found out that you are accused of a crime, you can expect police or detectives to ask you questions relating to what happened to determine whether or not they would like to pursue charges or investigate further.

What Should You Do If You Are Accused of a Crime?

If you are innocent, your first impulse will probably be to speak with the police and defend yourself. Unfortunately, this can cause more harm than good. First, you should immediately call your lawyer. The Law Office of Elizabeth Anu Lawrence will be able to inform you of any steps you should take and provide you with counsel. Anything that you say, even if you think that it is innocuous, can be used against you. You have a right to remain silent and a right to request your attorney, and you should take advantage of them.  

Should You Allow Searches or DNA Samples to Be Taken?

Many people believe that those who have nothing to hide readily allow the police to take DNA samples or search their homes and vehicles. However, that is not the case. Even if you know that you are innocent and not involved, you should never give police blanket permission to search your home, inspect your car, or take your DNA. If the police do have enough evidence to show that you might be connected, they will be able to get a warrant. Unless you are presented with a court order, you do not need to comply.

Should You Talk to the Person Accusing You?

No. Do not ever attempt to reach out to the person or business that accused you of a crime. You might feel angry, hurt, or shocked and think that contacting the person will clear up the misunderstanding. However, this almost always backfires and leaves you in even more trouble, as they might accuse you of intimidation.

Protect Yourself with The Law Office of Elizabeth Anu Lawrence

If you or a loved one is uncertain how to proceed after being accused of a crime, choose an experienced firm like the Law Office of Elizabeth Anu Lawrence to give you the help you need.  Please give us a call at 443.352.3201. Skype and telephone consultation are both available to clients.

If you are currently in the middle of the immigration process, you know that it is a lengthy and often complicated process. With visa wait times longer than desired, we’ve compiled a few tips to help make sure you steer clear of any immigration slowdowns and achieve your goal of US citizenship as soon as possible.

There is no question that the aftermath of a car accident can be an overwhelming time for anyone. The process is even more stressful when an injury is sustained as a result of the crash. Even still, the immediate aftermath and the days following an accident are among the most important times throughout the entire experience when it comes to seeking the recovery you deserve. As such, let’s take a look at a few mistakes to avoid in the aftermath of your car accident.

Legally speaking, no one is required to work with an immigration lawyer in order to become a United States citizen. However, it can certainly make life a lot easier as you embark on one of the largest moves in your life. What traits should you seek out as you search for the ideal immigration lawyer to represent you along this journey?

There are two types of crimes one can be charged with in the state of Maryland: felonies and misdemeanors. As the most serious of the two crimes, felonies are usually attached with more severe and long-lasting consequences. This knowledge can steer individuals towards electing self-representation when faced with a misdemeanor charge. Even though felonies are more serious, any crime has the potential to impact your future and introduce difficulties into your life. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common misdemeanor charges in the state of Maryland, along with their associated outcomes that an experienced criminal attorney can work diligently to reduce or remove altogether.

There are many myths and urban legends surrounding DUI convictions. With over one million DUI arrests made per year, some misinformation is bound to be spread over time. In the aftermath of an arrest, it’s critical to differentiate between these myths and the truth in the interest of securing the best possible outcome for your case. As such, let’s observe the most common misconceptions surrounding Maryland DUI law.

There is a wide range of traffic offenses in the state of Maryland, each with a variety of consequences scaled to the severity of the corresponding offense. Regardless of whether you were involved in a minor infraction or have been accused of a more serious offense, there is no question that anxiety can creep in during the aftermath of a traffic related offense. In this blog, we outline the consequences associated with each level of traffic offenses, and steps you can take to keep those consequences at a minimum.

Back in April, we published a blog post giving an overview of Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). There is a chance that SIJS could be a great option for you or your child under the age of 21 who has become undocumented through means outside of their control. To help you gain a deeper understanding of SIJS and whether you may qualify, here are five frequently asked questions about SIJS.

Back in April, we published a blog post outlining The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The post outlined the numerous benefits filing a VAWA case can present to women suffering due to circumstances involving domestic violence. Among these benefits is immigration relief. VAWA offers immigration relief and allows individuals impacted by domestic violence to apply for permanent resident status after receiving VAWA designation. To do so, the affected individual must fill in the VAWA self-petition and subsequently complete an application for adjustment of status based on VAWA. While this sounds excellent on paper, there are a hand full of questions that tend to pop up along the way. In this blog, we’ll answer the most common of them!