Elliot J. Segel

Elliot J. Segel is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the Georgetown University Law Center . He is a veteran litigator, with 27 years of courtroom experience that includes more than 100 jury trials.

In the first half of his legal career, Mr. Segel's law practice focused almost exclusively on criminal defense, during which he handled all types of criminal cases including numerous homicide cases . He was also defense counsel in the 1985 trial of Commonwealth v. Gemelli , reported to be the longest criminal trial in Erie County court history.

In the last 15 years, Mr. Segel continues to do criminal defense work. For example, he created new law in Pennsylvania that limits law enforcement ability to conduct warrantless searches of citizens' homes in the case Commonwealth v. Gindlesberger , which was litigated all the way to the United States Supreme Court. However, in this time period most of Mr. Segel's work involves representing injured persons in automobile and motorcycle cases, medical malpractice cases, and dog bite cases.

Tibor R. Solymosi

Tibor R. Solymosi is a graduate of Allegheny College and The Syracuse University College of Law. Prior to obtaining his law degree, Mr. Solymosi had over 16 years of construction experience as a commercial and industrial general contractor. Mr. Solymosi's primary areas of practice are personal injury, medical malpractice, workers compensation and construction/civil litigation. In addition to practicing amongst the various Pennsylvania Commonwealth Courts, he has practiced before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and several Ohio State Commonwealth Courts on a pro hac vice basis.

Mr. Solymosi, in the past, has served as pro bono counsel to the Erie County Bar Association's Pro Bono Program and is a previous member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute of Erie.

Mr. Solymosi resides in the City of Erie, Pennsylvania.

Erie Pennsylvania DUI Lawyer | Segel & Solymosi Law Offices

Do You Need a DUI Lawyer?

Every state has some sort of "drunk driving" statute. The term "drunk driving" is in quotes because none of these laws require that you be "drunk" or "intoxicated" to be guilty. All that is required is that your ability to operate a vehicle has been impaired to any extent at all or that your Blood alcohol level exceeds the state limit (which is now .08% in all states). Some states call it DWI (Driving While Intoxicated), but it refers to the same offense. The consequences of DUI differ drastically from state to state and are influenced by your age, blood alcohol limit (BAC), whether you have been arrested for DUI in the past, and whether you caused injury or death during the DUI.

A Pennsylvania DUI Lawyer can help...

Assess your legal situation

An experienced DUI Defense lawyer can help you understand what you are up against and the fines you may be required to pay. A DUI lawyer mostly deals with DUI matters and knows the process inside and out – including options that a public defender may not tell you.

Explain the consequences

The consequences of a DUI vary greatly from state to state and a DUI lawyer will be able to explain how those consequences in your state apply to you such as

• harsher punishments for those arrested with BAC limits over .08,
• special laws for underage drivers arrested for DUI,
• possible community service or plea bargaining,
• overlapping jurisdiction of Courts and your state's motor vehicle licensing department to suspend or revoke your license, and
• contingent license programs that allow you to use your vehicle to get to and from work.

Manage the process

Dealing with the motor vehicle department can be frustrating and time consuming. A DUI Lawyer can manage the process for you by completing the required forms; making phone calls; scheduling and/or representing you at a Motor Vehicle Department suspension hearing, and making other necessary arrangements.

Represent you in court

An experienced DUI Lawyer knows the ins and outs of the courtroom and may be able to obtain a lesser sentence for you if your situation and state law allows for it.

Don't know if a DUI Lawyer is right for you? Here are some general guidelines:

Definitely hire a DUI Lawyer if you already have several DUI's and receive another; or if your DUI arrest was the result of an accident or if anyone was injured; or if you are a professional driver whose livelihood depends on keeping your license.

Seriously consider hiring a DUI Lawyer if you've been arrested for a second DUI (in the same or another state) or were arrested with a BAC limit over double the legal limit as harsher penalties may apply.

You might want to hire a DUI Lawyer if you don't understand your rights or DUI laws, what you need to do, or the consequences you face. You also might want legal representation if you are in a profession (or plan to be) that requires bonding or in which any criminal conviction might prevent you from getting or keeping a professional license. If you don't know the requirements, then you need expert advice before handling the case yourself.

If you would like a free, no obligation DUI consultation, CALL NOW 814.454.1500 .

Why fight it?

One of the main reasons you should challenge a DUI is because of the serious nature of the penalties. A DUI conviction carries with it the possibility of jail time, steep fines and the loss of driving privileges. With the help of Segel & Solymosi, all aspects of your DUI charge will be scrutinized so that your rights will be protected. You cannot afford a DUI conviction because:

• you can receive jail time or either Alternative Housing or Intermediate Punishment (House Arrest with an ankle bracelet) at your expense;
• your driver's license can be suspended from thirty (30) days to eighteen (18) months;
• your car insurance rates WILL rise or your coverage may be canceled;
• the average out-of-pocket cost for a DUI conviction is between $1,500 and $5000;
• you may be required to have an Interlock Ignition switch installed in your vehicle at your own expense; and,
• you could lose your job due to any of the above.

The Traditional DUI Stop, What to Expect!

To execute a traditional DUI traffic stop (other than those made at a DUI checkpoint), a police officer must have a reasonable suspicion that you have committed some violation of the Motor Vehicle Code, usually for a moving violation or because your vehicle is not up to code.

From the moment the officer initiates the stop, he or she is observing your actions to determine if you are intoxicated. The officer will be observing and scrutinizing odors coming from the vehicle, your speech, your attitude, clothing, the conduct of passengers as well as other physical evidence to make his initial determination of whether or not to proceed further with his DUI investigation. If ordered out of your vehicle, the officer may employ several field sobriety tests to determine if you are intoxicated. These tests include the walk and turn, the one leg stand and various other counting or alphabet tests. If the officer finds that there is probable cause to believe that you are under the influence, you most likely will be arrested and taken for either a blood or breath test to determine your exact blood alcohol level.

In the event your blood alcohol level exceeds 0.08% or if the office simply believes, based on his observations, that you were incapable of safely operating your vehicle, you will charged with a DUI and most likely multiple other criminal and / or vehicular charges. At this point it is imperative that you immediately contact an attorney. The attorneys at Segel & Solymosi are available 24 hours a day and can be reached at 814.454.1500 or by e-mail at es@ssinjurylaw.com. We look forward to resolving your DUI and DUI related charges.