If you're facing a DUI charge, don't try to handle the situation on your own. One mistake could leave you with some serious problems, including harsher penalties for a conviction. Before you face the judge for your DUI charges, you need to hire an attorney. You may think you can't afford a DUI attorney, but that's not the case. You actually can't afford to go to court without a DUI attorney. Here are just four of the ways a DUI attorney can help you to avoid costly mistakes.

Keep You From Saying the Wrong Thing

If you've been charged with a DUI, prosecutors are going to try to get you to incriminate yourself. Those tactics include trying to get you to say the wrong things to investigators. If you're not familiar with their tactics, that's exactly what can happen. Unfortunately, something that seems minor to you can end up being a piece of information investigators can use against you. That's where a DUI attorney comes into the picture. They'll be present at all the interviews you'll have with investigators. They'll be by your side to make sure you don't say anything that can hurt your case. 

Maintain a Calendar for Your Court Dates

If you have a habit of forgetting important dates, that habit can cause serious problems when you're charged with a DUI. There will be court dates and filing dates that you need to keep track of. If you don't, you could end up adding to your legal troubles. When you hire an attorney to handle your DUI, they'll maintain a calendar for all your court dates and filing dates. They'll even have their staff send you reminders about those dates. That way, you'll be there for all your required court appearances. 

Understand How the Prosecutors Work

If you're facing DUI charges, there will be a prosecutor assigned to your case. Some prosecutors are more difficult to work with than others. If you try to handle your own DUI case, you'll be facing those prosecutors by yourself. Unfortunately, prosecutors know how the legal system works, which means they'll have the advantage. That's why you need to hire a DUI attorney. Not only do they understand how prosecutors work, but they also know their way around the courtroom.

Help You to Get Your Record Cleaned Up

If you're convicted of a DUI, that conviction could stay on your record for quite a while. During that time, it can interfere with your ability to obtain employment or even housing. There are ways to have the conviction removed from your records. But, the process is difficult to navigate. If you hire a DUI attorney, they can start working on the expungement as soon as possible. That way, you can get on with your life.

For more information, contact a law firm like The Kaiser Law Group.