DWLR (Driving While License Revoked)

Drug Possession/Trafficking

Juvenile Charges

Traffic Violations

Wrongful Death

Medical/Professional Malpractice

Civil Rights Law, 42 U.S.C. 1983

Americans with Disabilities Act

Tractor Trailer/18 Wheeler Accidents

Breach of Contract/Business Litigation

Workers' Compensation

Domestic Law: Divorce, Child Support, Child Custody, Equitable Distribution, Separation Agreements, Prenuptial Agreements

Wills & Estates

Commercial and Residential Real-Estate

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At the Wells Law Firm we realize that being charged with Driving While Impaired (DWI) is a traumatic event, but we also know that a DWI arrest does not necessarily mean a DWI conviction. The biggest mistake most people make in DWI cases is not hiring an attorney.
Our firm will give you a Free Analysis of your case in which we will explore all available defenses.
Look through our website to learn more about what to do after you have been charged with Driving While Impaired.

Learn about Limited Driving Privileges

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To be eligible for limited driving privileges you must have had a valid Driver's License at the time of your Driving While Impaired Charge. Additionally, you will need to complete the following four tasks before our office can assist you in obtaining your driving privilege.
1. ALCOHOL ASSESSMENT: You are required by law to get an “Alcohol Assessment” performed by a licensed agency before you can get driving privileges. The fee is set by NC Law and is currently $100.00. This assessment is simply an interview in which a trained counselor asks you questions about your drinking habits. It generally lasts about 45 minutes. The counselor will make a written recommendation to the Court as to what type of alcohol treatment, if any, you will be required to have. This can range from mandatory AA meetings, Alcohol Drug Education Traffic School (ADETS), or a 28-day treatment program. While there are many agencies which can perform these assessments, our firm has a good working relationship with First Step Services, LLC, which has several offices throughout the Triangle; call them at 919-833-8899 to find a location that best fits your needs.

2. LETTER FROM EMPLOYER: This letter is only to substantiate the hours that you work after 5pm or on Weekends as these are the non-standard hours which take special court approval. It does not need to include any references or tell about your job performance. It is important that the letter be on some form of Company Letterhead, and that it include ALL hours that you MAY work, not just your regular hours. If you work a swing shift one week and other shifts on other weeks, the letter needs to specify those hours. The more hours in the letter, the more hours the court may approve.

3. DL-123: This is a form you get from your insurance agent to show you have valid insurance. You must have this form, as a copy of your binder or policy will NOT satisfy the Court.

4. PAY $100.00 CIVIL REVOCATION FEE: to the Clerk of Court at the courthouse 30 days after the arrest to get your license back.

Possible Defenses
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Our staff works hard so that if you are convicted, best efforts will be made to ensure that you receive the lowest possible sentence with the broadest possible driving privilege. Consider the following defenses that may be available in your case:

Were you properly advised of your Miranda rights?
If the officer gave you a breath-test on a portable “alco-sensor” there are very specific rules he must follow, such as waiting five minutes between tests. If he failed to do this then your arrest may be invalid.

Did the officer have a “reasonable articulable” suspicion to stop your vehicle?
You can’t legally be stopped on a hunch or on mere suspicion. If you were not stopped for a legally valid reason your case may be dismissed.

Once stopped, did the officer have probable cause to place you under arrest?
If you passed the field sobriety tests (finger to nose, walk the line, etc.) or if the officer didn’t have you perform the tests until you got down to the station you could have a winning case.

Can the state show appreciable impairment?
Mere intoxication is not enough. If you refused the Intoxilyzer test, specific rules govern the outcome of your case.

Can the state prove that you were the driver?
This is particularly important in accident cases

Can the state prove you were “operating a motor vehicle”?
This is not as easy for the State to prove as you may have been led to believe.

After your arrest were you allowed to post bond within a reasonable amount of time or released to a sober adult?
Note: cases have been dismissed on these grounds alone.

Traffic Accident
Has you or your property been injured because of an act of another person? If so, the Wells Law Firm will fight the insurance company or corporation responsible for paying your damages so you don't have to!

When you have been in an automobile accident that was not your fault there are certain rights to which you are entitled. Insurance companies will use tactics that are designed to impede on your rights.
This is one of the many reasons your need to hire an attorney:
Insurance companies do not pay accident victims because it is morally responsible. Instead, insurance companies try pay as little money as possible to buy your release. The release is a contract which contains the victim's legally binding promise not to sue.
Unfortunately, insurance companies know that most private citizens are not able to conduct a jury trial without an attorney. They also know that most accident victims have no idea what their injuries and suffering are really worth. Thus, insurance companies ALWAYS try to settle claims and buy releases from unrepresented victims at a huge discount.
A competent, aggressive attorney puts teeth in your threat of filing a lawsuit. The adjuster knows that we do know how to take a case to trial. Simply put, we control the leverage that forces the insurance adjusters to pay full, fair value in every case.
We also control all communication with the insurance company. We handle all of your record keeping and leg work and focus the adjusters attention solely on the strengths and merits of your case.
The bottom line: the insurance adjuster works for the insurance company, we work for you.

The Wells Law Firm will aggressively pursue all available avenues of compensation in your case to make sure that you are redressed for the harm you have suffered.
Sources of Compensation in Your Case:

The Other Driver’s Insurance

Medical Bills

Lost Income

Pain & Suffering

Mental Anguish

Disfiguring Scars

Permanent Physical Injury

Your Health Insurance

Your Automobile Insurance

Medical Payments Coverage

Uninsured/Underinsured Coverage

As anyone who is familiar with the maritime industry understands that working on a vessel at sea can be dangerous. Unfortunately, thousands of maritime workers are injured each year while performing their jobs – many losing their lives. These workers and their families are left unable to earn a living or pay their bills. Under United States maritime law, workers and their families have a right to financial compensation if an injury or death occurred while working.

Maritime injury claims fall under a very complex area of United States law. Depending how a worker is classified often determines the amount of financial recovery. Consequently, reason it is fundamental that filing any claim or agreeing to any settlement to retain the services of an attorney. Additionally, there are short filing deadlines under maritime law, so time is of the essence.

Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act or "Jones Act"
The Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act or LHWCA provides workers’ compensation benefits for maritime workers who do not meet the definition of seamen under the Jones Act. Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act benefits are similar to those of state workers’ compensation benefits and do not require the employer to be at fault. Benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act include disability payments and rehabilitation services. The Act also provides benefits to survivors when a maritime worker dies from work-related injuries.