Practice Area

At Harrison Patterson & O’Connor, our San Diego DUI attorney has handled numerous drunk driving matters and, when in need of a San Diego drunk driving lawyer, it makes sense to contact us for a free consultation. A drunk driving or driving under the influence (“DUI”) charge carries with it very serious consequences. A DUI conviction affects not only your criminal record, but can also affect your driving privilege, your employment, your reputation and compromise the relationship with your family. If you are in need of a DUI lawyer in San Diego or the greater Southern California area, do not delay in contacting Harrison Patterson & O’Connor. Our DUI defense lawyers act immediately to preserve your right to challenge an automatic license suspension by the DMV, while at the same time preparing a calculated defense in the criminal proceedings. If you or someone you know has been arrested on for drunk driving and needs a San Diego drunk driving attorney, don’t compound the problem by delaying or choosing not to contact an experienced drunk driving defense attorney. At Harrison Patterson & O’Connor, your drunk driving case will receive the attention of a highly qualified San Diego drunk driving attorney familiar with the nuances and ever-changing landscape of DUI law, and who also has the necessary courtroom experience to ensure the best possible outcome in your case.

A common misconception is that a drunk driving/DUI charge requires one to be under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. However, a DUI charge, by itself, does not require a positive breath reading. Instead, the charge addresses the suspicion of driving while under the influence based upon manner of driving, physical and mental symptoms of impairment, or verbal admissions. In addition to alcohol-related matters, our experienced San Diego DUI lawyers have defended cases where persons are accused of driving under the influence of drugs, not alcohol. These cases often present special problems to the prosecution. Unfortunately, there are DUI attorneys who don’t have experience dealing with these specialized DUI cases. At Harrison Patterson & O’Connor, our San Diego DUI defense attorneys have the skill and knowledge to effectively defend these cases.

In a majority of drunk driving cases, the issue will center around whether the accused had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or greater "at the time of driving". Drunk driving attorneys understand that the chemical the time they were actually behind the wheel. Unfortunately, many DUI defendants blindly plead guilty if their breath or blood test is above a .08% (or .15% in aggravated DUI cases) without evaluating whether a possible defense exists. At Harrison Patterson & O’Connor, our San Diego DUI attorneys utilize a precise mathematical formula known as a "retrograde extrapolation" to calculate the exact BAC of our clients at the time of driving. If a driver’s BAC is found to be below a .08% "at the time of driving,” a possible defense exists to the government’s charges. Our DUI defense attorneys have been successful in getting cases dismissed test results only show a driver’s BAC at the time he/she was tested, not or reduced for lack of evidence based on this defense. Let our experienced DUI defense lawyers evaluate your case for this and other possible defenses.

Our San Diego DUI attorneys, familiar with new trends in the law and well versed in courtroom criminal procedure can help minimize the impact of a drunk driving charge.

At Harrison Patterson & O’Connor, your case will be handled by a qualified San Diego DUI defense attorney who will immediately:

• review discovery from the government and for DMV possible defenses and discrepancies that will affect the state of the evidence against you;
• review your case to examine the validity of the officer's actions;
• review your case to determine the validity and or accuracy of the chemical tests administered;
• work to preserve your procedural rights;
• if needed, negotiate a disposition acceptable to you
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Whether you are arrested for a first time DUI offense, have prior convictions, are accused of refusing a chemical test, or were involved in an accident while DUI, the San Diego drunk driving lawyers at Harrison Patterson & O’Connor can provide you with peace of mind that our experienced San Diego DUI attorneys are on your side. We will work tirelessly to ensure that our clients get the best possible results in their drunk driving case.