In 2016, over a million drivers were caught driving under the influence. However, the CDC has conducted research and concluded that 111 million drivers drink, drive, or take drugs and drive each year. This isn’t excusing the act, but it highlights how it’s a wider problem. Whether you live in Maryland, New York, or California, drunk driving occurs. It means that if you’ve been caught, although you have broken the law, you’re not alone.
The key thing to think about, and push towards is getting back on your feet and dealing with the situation in the best way you possibly can.
First Steps To DUI Recovery
The first thing you need to do is look after yourself from a criminal point of view. If this is a first-time DUI you’ll be in a better position than a repeat offender. It also depends on what state you’re in. If you’re in Maryland things might go differently than if you live on the West Coast, for example. Each dui accident can differ and you’d do well to consider speaking to a legal professional before taking the next steps. Once you’ve taken the right steps with the court, the police, and a lawyer you can look to build and get to a better place personally. View Website to read about how a DUI lawyer with intimate knowledge of the prosecution’s game plan can help you win the case.
Don’t Get Into The Same DUI Situation Again
You need to take the danger out of your driving. If it happens again, you’ll get a worse punishment. Follow the advice of your criminal defense lawyers, check into a rehab clinic and take some medical advice on the problem. If you genuinely believe it was a one-off mistake, you know you won’t do the same thing again. If you’ve got an actual problem with alcohol you know you’ll need to address it head-on.
There are many different programs and initiatives which can help people who struggle with alcohol and they vary from state to state. For example, and sticking with the Maryland example, you can visit the Hatfield Clinical Research Center which offers free programs. These programs are run all over the country and can help you out and give you someone to talk to. It’s also possible to visit more specialized and dedicated centres which can help you with your problems, such as this New Jersey inpatient rehab clinic. They’ll keep you in over a certain period of time until you have sufficiently gotten over your addiction, so they can be a good option to consider if you feel there’s a high risk of such an incident happening again.
Focus On Work
If you’ve been banned from driving for any period of time, you might need to have an awkward chat with your boss. If you rely on driving as a delivery driver, or something where driving is vital, you might end up out of a job. Focus on work and try to find something else which you’ll enjoy. It needs to be something which fits into public transport too, whereby you can easily get the bus or train to work. Don’t put off having a chat with your boss, the longer time you can have to look for a new job, the better.
You might get lucky and not need to find a new job, but you’ll have to get used to not being able to drive (if you get banned) which can be quite the lifestyle change.
Find A New Hobby To Aid Lifestyle Change
If you’re trying to kick bad habits, like going to a bar and drinking too much, you need new, better habits to replace them. Nothing will help your personal development more than getting into a new hobby. Think about exercise. It doesn’t have to be on an individual basis either, you can join a team sport or play a game like tennis with a friend. It might be something totally different like reading or photography. If you can find and love a new hobby it’ll be so much easier to let go of a damaging habit.
You might find it hard to let go of the habit even with the new hobby, but it’s about being clear of mind and setting out exactly what you and your family need after being charged with a DUI.