If you're planning to hire a DUI attorney to fight a charge, it's a good idea to prepare for your case. These four things are the first issues a DUI attorney services provider will want you to address.

Keep Track of All Mailed Notices

You will receive information about your court dates through the mail. Pay close attention to all details included in these notices because failure to appear for your day in court is likely to lead to a summary judgment being entered against you. If you need to request a different court date, you'll want to have your lawyer file your request as soon as possible.

Collect All Arrest-Related Paperwork

When you are released from the police station after an arrest, the police will provide you with related paperwork. Collect all this paperwork and make copies of everything. Even small, seemingly unrelated details can tip a DUI attorney off to whether proper police procedure was followed during the traffic stop and the subsequent arrest.

If you were appointed a lawyer to help you get through arraignment, make sure you get contact information from them. The attorney you eventually hire will want to be able to touch base with them about the details of the case.

The paperwork should include critical information about why and how you were charged. For example, there should be details about the breath analysis machine used. Your blood-alcohol concentration reading will be included. Combining information from the BAC reading with what's known about the machine, a lawyer may be able to draw into question whether the reading was valid.

Provide Medical Information

Even if you're not planning to present a medically-grounded defense, it's worth collecting any information you might have about medical conditions you had at the time. If you were prescribed any drugs, your lawyer will want details on those. Medical defenses often require some research, and it's best to provide information as soon as possible to provide your attorney sufficient time.

Include Information About Previous Convictions

If you've previously been convicted of a drug-, alcohol- or driving-related offense, your DUI attorney will want to know that upfront. This will allow them to remind the court that previous incidents don't have bearing on the present circumstances.

Conviction information also can provide context for decisions like taking a plea or discussing a diversion program. You and your lawyer can also decide whether you might want to seek a bench or jury trial.