Criminal Defense Lawyer in Hazelwood, MO

Criminal Defense Lawyer Hazelwood, MO. Having a criminal charge filed against you, even a minor one such as a moving violation or DWI, can change someone’s life permanently. Not only will your reputation among friends, family, and colleagues be permanently soiled, if found guilty you will be looking at major penalties ranging from fines to hours spent performing community service to even time behind bars. Furthermore, if your charges are felonies, a conviction means your rights as a citizen will be heavily limited, including the inability to vote or own a firearm.

Having the right Hazelwood criminal defense lawyer representing you in a court of law can your charges being lowered, if not entirely eliminated, and having to face these penalties. You need a lawyer who gives your case the ultimate in personal attention and care, who will map out a proven, winning defense strategy custom-made for your distinct circumstances, and do all that they can to reduce—or even eliminate—the effect that criminal charges can have on your life.

The experienced Hazelwood, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte are here to help Hazelwood-area citizens of all kinds who are looking at criminal charges limit the effect they have on their freedom, lives, and reputations. Our standard of offering successful, client-focused legal representation is unequaled among criminal defense lawyers in Hazelwood. We are eager to talk to you about your case today and offer free, no-strings-attached initial consultations. If you are facing criminal charges and want to put the attorneys at Combs Waterkotte in your corner, call us at (314) 900-HELP or talk to us online today.

A Complete Hazelwood, MO Criminal Defense Lawyer

The skilled Hazelwood, MO criminal defense lawyers at Combs Waterkotte handle a diverse array of case types and criminal charges, such as:

• Motor Vehicle Theft
• Assault/Battery
• Domestic Violence
• Theft/Larceny
• Probation Violations
• Drug Charges

Working with the right lawyer can be the difference between your case being decided in your favor and being deprived of your rights and freedoms. In contrast with other Hazelwood criminal defense lawyers, our firm centers our entire experience around complete, total client satisfaction. When you choose Combs Waterkotte, you can rest assured that you can call your Hazelwood, MO criminal defense lawyer at any time of day to talk about the facts of your case, how you want to proceed, or any other topic. Regardless of where you are, what time it is, or your present circumstances, you will have a direct line to your attorney to lend an ear in your time of need.

When Should I Call A Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you ever get in trouble with the police, you may believe that if you “lay low” or say the right thing, you will be all right and they will not hassle you further. However, this is a rare occurrence, and you should take any criminal investigation seriously and be ready to speak with an experienced St. Louis criminal defense lawyer at any time.

It is wholly possible that you may not think you need to chat with a criminal defense lawyer, but calling one could greatly improve the result of your case. Here are a few scenarios where calling a Hazelwood defense lawyer is the right thing to do:

• When officers “just want to ask questions”. If you were at the scene of a crime and had nothing at all to do with it, it’s fine to talk to the police. However, you still need to watch your mouth, as the police did not directly witness the crime: after all, this is why they are talking to you to begin with. A younger or excited officer could take your account the wrong way and think that you are a person of interest. If police want your eyewitness account, request if you can make an appointment with the officer. This way, you can call an attorney, discuss what you saw and how you were involved, and make sure what you tell the police clearly establishes that you were just a bystander. If the facts of your case are not clear and could possibly place you under suspicion, you may want to hire a criminal defense lawyer to safeguard your rights.
• When police want you to sign something. Police cannot force you to do anything unless they have a reasonable suspicion that you committed a crime. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution provides you protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, and heavily limits their ability to obtain search warrants or make you grant access to personal data. But, police will from time to time ask you to sign “releases”, which permit them to get blood work or scans to see if you had drugs or alcohol in your system. If the police request that you sign one of these documents, politely refuse and ask to talk with a lawyer. Voluntarily permitting the police to get access to these records, even if they did not have a legitimate reason to ask for them, automatically makes them admissible in court as evidence, so it is critical to know your rights at all times.
• When you have been arrested for a crime. This is the most obvious time you need a criminal defense lawyer in Hazelwood, MO. If you are ever actually detained by the police, you should immediately invoke your right to remain silent, say that you do not want to answer any questions without a lawyer by your side, and call a Hazelwood criminal defense lawyer who can help you stand up against charges and accusations.

Fixing Traffic Tickets In Hazelwood, MO

If there’s one thing that Hazelwood drivers do not want to see behind them, it’s the distinctive sight of police sirens pulling them over for something they did on the roads. Motorists all over Hazelwood, MO know that local municipal police departments use traffic enforcement not to promote good driving habits, but sometimes as a way to fill city coffers (especially if the municipality you are driving through has a dwindling property tax base, or indeed does not have a property tax at all).

Being written a traffic ticket in Hazelwood, MO isn’t just a nuisance, it’s also a drain on your finances. If you choose to pay your Hazelwood traffic ticket, you essentially plead guilty to the charges against you and they go on your driving record. Depending on the type of your offense, you could be facing a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license, and your car insurance premiums will greatly increase. Tickets generally cannot be expunged from your driving record for a minimum of three years, as well, which means that if you are pulled over once again during this window you could be looking at stiffer penalties.

More and more Hazelwood drivers are choosing Combs Waterkotte as their Hazelwood traffic ticket lawyer, and with good cause. Combs Waterkotte brings unequaled legal intelligence to every single one of its cases, even minor moving violations. Our firm works without rest to ensure that the charges on your traffic ticket are reduced to non-moving violations (which, after you’ve paid them, are removed from your record or affect insurance premiums) or have your ticket dismissed due to police not following proper procedure. Best of all, our premier Hazelwood traffic ticket lawyer services come at an exceptional value: just $49.99 for most cases, providing you access to quality legal services at a price you would not expect. If you have recently been given a traffic ticket in Hazelwood, MO and do not want it to stay on your driving record, call us now at (314) 900-HELP to speak with our firm and start the process of getting your Hazelwood traffic ticket fixed.

Other cases we take on in Hazelwood, MO include:

• Child Abuse & Neglect Lawyer
• Homicide Lawyer
• Assault Lawyer
• Rape Defense Lawyer
• Sex Offense Lawyers
• DWI Attorney
• Crime Defense Lawyers
• Domestic Violence Defense Attorneys
• Child Pornography Defense Lawyer

Contact Seasoned Hazelwood, MO Criminal Defense Lawyers | Combs Waterkotte

When you have been accused of a crime, from a small traffic ticket for not properly changing lanes to substantial felonies, talk to a skilled Hazelwood, MO criminal defense lawyer at Combs Waterkotte first. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to book a free case review. Our firm is here to chat with you at a time that fits your schedule to help you defend yourself against criminal charges and keep your precious reputation amongst family and friends.