When you're accused of committing a crime, it can throw your life into complete disarray. In addition to the stigma of having to fight criminal charges, you could experience a lot of financial and personal hardship related to your legal situation.

The biggest thing to remember when you're facing criminal charges - no matter what they are - is that you have rights. By exercising these rights, you can help your legal situation immensely with little to no cost to yourself. Never forget that the legal system holds people accused of crimes innocent until proven guilty. What you do in the immediate aftermath of being arrested can make a big difference to your case.

If you've been arrested or charged with a crime, remember the following tips:

DON'T RESIST, EVEN IF YOU'VE DONE NOTHING WRONG.

In many cases, resisting an arresting police officer can make your legal situation even worse. If you're being arrested and charged with a crime, follow all the instructions that law enforcement give to the best of your ability, no matter how unjust you feel the circumstances are. There will be a time to state your case, but the immediate moment usually isn't it.

MAKE SURE TO USE YOUR PHONE CALL.

In most cases, you're allowed to make a phone call to an important person. I recommend you use this to call your attorney, but depending on the situation, you may need to call a trusted friend or family member in order to make arrangements for them to call the lawyer or other people (like a bail bondsman) on your behalf.

DON'T SAY ANYTHING YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

Keeping what you say to a minimum, at least until you have an attorney present, can be a big help to your case. Always try to wait to talk to the police until after the attorney is there.

CALL ME FOR LEGAL HELP.

When you've been accused of a crime, I can help you with your legal situation. As a criminal defense attorney with over 40 years of experience, I've seen lots of different cases and can use that to your legal advantage. Even if you've been charged with a crime, you're still a person worthy of understanding and respect. I will listen to the details of your case and give you an honest opinion about your options. Whether it's a DUI charge or unpaid traffic tickets, there's usually a way to look at your case that can help you avoid jail time or outrageous fees or fines.

If you've been charged with a crime, call me today for a consultation.

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

When you're accused of a crime, you need a dedicated, experienced attorney to help you with your case. Since 1979, I've helped the people of Lynchburg, Virginia with their defense needs, including cases like DUI charges and traffic violations. If you need tenacious criminal defense, I can help. Give me a call today to go over the details of your case.