We are often quizzed by (understandably) sceptical prospective clients about our success rates in defending drink driving cases. In 2016, the firm achieved our highest levels of successfully defended cases since the firm’s inception in 2000.
But what do these figures include and exclude? After all, they do say statistics can be capable of being manipulated to say what you want, don’t they?
So here we have it, warts and all, a full breakdown of the methods we use to compile the statistics.
What is included?
Concluded Cases where a final result is known. Last year, for example, we represented a total of 132 clients who were defending drink or drug driving related charges that make up our 95% success rate. We won 125 out of 132 cases as outlined below.
| 2016 Successes | Number of cases won | Number of cases lost | 2016 Success Rate % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excess Alcohol – Breath Sample | 64 | 6 | 91% |
| Excess Alcohol – Blood Sample | 12 | 0 | 100% |
| Excess Drugs – Blood Sample | 27 | 1 | 96% |
| Excess Alcohol – Urine Sample | 4 | 0 | 100% |
| Fail to Provide a Specimen | 18 | 0 | 100% |
| Total Alcohol cases trial success rate (*figures include successful appeals and exclude cases lost that are the subject of appeal as at 23 December 2016) | 125 | 7 | 95% |
This includes cases that are discontinued before trial, withdrawn on the day of trial, won after a trial or won on appeal.
We also include cases where we have successfully defended at least one out of multiple offences (eg. Drink driving acquitted yet fail to stop after an accident convicted.)
What do we exclude?
Cases that are ongoing in the Magistrates’ Court when a result is not yet known.
Guilty Plea Cases where a client has chosen to plead guilty at the outset.
Cases where we are no longer acting *
Cases where a client changes their plea **
*It is extremely rare for a client to change to an alternative solicitor after first instructing us. However, if a client does make this decision, the result linked to their case is not included in our data.
Equally, if a client does not comply with our contractual terms for payment and we are forced to cease acting for them, we do not include their case result in our stats.
**Clients also rarely change their plea once they are committed to pleading Not Guilty. However, as we are aware that this is something some less scrupulous firms actively encourage so as to preserve their statistics, we have decided to include this information in our data from 2017. This data was not included in our 2016 figures. For the sake of transparency and to show anyone interested in proceeding to instruct us, we have included below the details of cases where a client initially pleaded not guilty, what charge they faced and why they changed their plea.
| 2016 | Number of cases where client changed plea from Not Guilty to Guilty Before Trial (not included in the statistics %) |
|---|---|
| Excess Alcohol – Breath Sample | 4 |
| Excess Alcohol – Blood Sample | |
| Excess Drugs – Blood Sample | |
| Excess Alcohol – Urine Sample | |
| Fail to Provide a Specimen | 1 |
| Total Alcohol cases trial success rate (*figures include successful appeals and exclude cases lost that are the subject of appeal as at 23 December 2016) |
In 2016 a total of 5 clients changed their plea from Not Guilty to Guilty. This equates to 4% of the clients who pleaded not guilty at the outset and whose cases were concluded in 2016.
Client A decided to change his plea at the very 1st hearing against our advice as the client wanted to get the case over and done with in one day.
Client B decided to change their plea at the trial as they were offered an alternative charge of drunk in charge rather than driving with excess alcohol which carried penalty points rather than a mandatory ban of 12 months and the client was happy to accept this.
Client C decided to change their plea at trial as the case was likely to be adjourned and they couldn’t afford further “Refresher” fees.
Client D decided to change their plea at trial as he got caught drink driving again before his trial date, and as he had pleaded guilty to that charge, he thought it best to plead guilty to the charge we had been defending and dealing with.
Client E decided to change plea at 1st hearing as they got caught driving under the influence and charged with fail to provide, this was before the 1st hearing and they decided to plead guilty to both.
2017 so far
It has been an interesting year in the world of drink and drug driving cases. There have been a number of unhelpful case developments that have led the Geoffrey Miller team to work even harder of our strategy development. We are fortunate in that our team comprises some of the country’s top strategists and we regularly collaborate with the leading barristers and forensic experts in the field of drink driving law.
Geoffrey Miller Solicitors is at the forefront of the industry often leaving other lawyers “scratching their heads” as to how we achieve the results we do.
Due Diligence
We recognise that our prices, like our statistics are around the higher end of the market and make no apology for this. Our prices reflect the very high likelihood of the result you are hoping for. They also reflect our extremely high standards when it comes to service, communication and strategy.
Our statistics are possibly the most comprehensive and detailed out there. We show you the data behind the stats so you can see how the figures have been arrived at.
Rather than simply take our word for it, we urge all clients to make use of our interactive testimonial scheme “Ask Our Clients!” You can make direct contact with dozens of clients who have stood in your shoes once upon a time. They have volunteered to be contacted by anyone considering instructing us for a chat about their experience.
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Geoffrey Miller Solicitors are specialists defending drivers nationwide for all types of driving offences. Call our team of expert driving offence solicitors for some free initial advice.
You can also book an appointment with Jeanette Miller a.k.a. Miss Justice using our online booking system. If Jeanette is unavailable for your preferred date and time you can book an appointment with a member of our legal team. Please have as much information about your enquiry before the call e.g. Date of Hearing, Paperwork etc.
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