If you've been arrested and charged with a DUI, the first thing you need to do is hire an attorney. Being charged with a DUI can ruin your life, especially if you don't take the appropriate steps to protect yourself. If you haven't hired an attorney yet, here are four reasons why you should do that right away.

1. You Didn't Know You'd Consumed Alcohol

If you failed your field sobriety test, but you didn't know you'd consumed alcohol, it's time to hire an attorney. There are a number of ways that you can become intoxicated without your knowledge, especially if you've just come from a party. Someone may have spiked your drink, or even the punch bowl. The host may have added alcohol to some of their dishes. If you consumed baked goods at the party, you could have consumed cannabis without your knowledge, which could also lead to a failed field sobriety test.

2. Your Field Sobriety Test Was Inaccurate

If you've failed your field sobriety test, and you feel that the results were inaccurate, you need legal representation. There are several ways for a field sobriety test to be inaccurate. For instance, the breathalyzer machine might not be calibrated properly. If you had recently gargled with a mouthwash that contained alcohol, or you used a breath spray that contained alcohol, you could blow a false-positive.

3. You Hadn't Been Drinking

If you've been arrested for a DUI, but you know you haven't been drinking, you need to speak to an attorney as soon as possible. There are some medical conditions, such as diabetes, that may leave your breath smelling like alcohol. Or, you may have been wearing shoes that left you with an unsteady gait. Not only that, but if you were taking the field sobriety test in the rain or while there was snow or ice on the ground, results could have been tainted by your inability to maintain sure footing.

4. Your Rights Have Been Violated

If you've been charged with a DUI, and you feel that your rights have been violated, you're going to need an attorney right away. You have certain rights that cannot be violated, including the right to have an attorney present during questioning. If you were denied the right to have your attorney present, or you did not receive your Miranda warning prior to being questioned, you need legal representation.

Contact a DUI lawyer for more help.