Breckenridge Criminal Defense Attorney

Highly-Experienced Breckenridge & Dillon Criminal Defense Lawyer Ready To Assist You

If you are facing criminal charges in Breckenridge, Dillon, or anywhere in Summit County, your future is at stake, and the lawyer you choose to represent you could make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Protecting your freedom, livelihood, and reputation is our number one priority.

What Are Criminal Laws?

Criminal laws make up the body of law that defines crime and criminal behavior. Specifically, criminal laws make particular behavior illegal and punishable by incarceration, fines, and other penalties.

What Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Do?

A criminal defense lawyer represents their client when the government has brought criminal charges against them. The defense attorney’s job is to defend their client’s rights throughout the criminal proceedings. Your attorney will review the facts and evidence, the law, and develop a defense strategy. When facing a crime, your freedom and reputation are on the line. It is imperative to have an attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced in criminal law. Our criminal defense attorney in Breckenridge stands ready to defend you!

Why Choose Us?

Our Experience

Attorney Mark S. Rubinstein is a seasoned trial lawyer with 25 years of experience who has handled a wide range of criminal defense and personal injury cases for clients in the mountain communities of Colorado. He is uniquely qualified to defend Colorado people against drug charges through his four years of experience in the Denver Drug Court Project. Before he began his current practice, he worked with a large insurance defense firm for more than four years, which gives him a distinct edge in handling personal injury claims for his clients.

We Provide Personal Contact

Mr. Rubinstein handles his cases personally instead of handing the work off to paralegals, law clerks, or associates. He is always available to his clients, night or day, and you can rest assured that he will give your case his full attention and work hard to protect your rights and interests.

We Have Knowledge of the Local Courts

Just as important as understanding the law is knowing the court system. Over the last 25 years, we have become familiar with the local courts, including the Breckenridge Municipal Court and the Summit County Courthouse.

Types of Criminal Cases We Handle

Our Breckenridge criminal defense attorney handles many types of criminal cases. No matter the type or severity of the crime, we are here to protect your rights and freedom.

Drug Crimes

We represent clients charged with many types of drug offenses, including possession, distribution, trafficking, manufacturing, and cultivation crimes. In Colorado, many drug crimes are felony offenses with steep penalties. If you are charged with a drug-related offense, let us put our comprehensive and unique experience to work for you.

DUI

In Colorado, even a first-offense DUI can have severe consequences on your life. DUIs are prosecuted strictly. A conviction can lead to incarceration and hefty fines. In addition, you may face the following:

• Loss of your driver’s license,
• Community service,
• DUI school,
• Installation of an ignition interlock device, or
• Any number of these combined.

DUIs can make it difficult to keep or obtain gainful employment because many jobs require a clean driving record. A DUI might make it difficult to enroll in school, enlist in the military, lawfully possess firearms, and much more.

Whether you had a one-time lapse in judgment or are facing your second or subsequent DUI, contact Mark S. Rubinstein, P.C. today. We have helped clients accused of DUI offenses for 25 years.

Traffic Offenses

Mark S. Rubinstein can represent you for offenses such as failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, driving with a revoked or suspended license, reckless or careless driving, eluding a police officer, or habitual traffic offenses.

Breckenridge Hit-and-Run Lawyer

Mark S. Rubenstein has represented numerous clients who have fled the scene of an accident. Mark knows from his experience that hit-and-run cases can be very complicated. Successfully defending hit-and-run cases requires extensive knowledge of Colorado’s hit-and-run law and sophisticated trial skills. 

Fight or flight

The general public might think that running from an accident is never justifiable. However, if you find yourself looking for a Dillon hit-and-run attorney, you may understand that leaving the scene of an accident has more to do with fright and confusion than anything else. Car accidents are startling incidents. The adrenaline rush activates our “fight or flight” reaction. The flight reaction makes people want to run instead of doing what the law requires—which is staying at the accident scene and rendering aid or returning immediately to the location of the crash. 

Common Hit-and-Run Scenarios

Hit-and-run accidents are more common than many people realize, and not every incident involves a malicious driver trying to avoid criminal consequences. Hit-and-run accidents can happen in many ways and often involve a combination of factors. 

Parking Lot Mishaps

A driver may accidentally hit another car while parking or navigating a busy parking lot and then drive away without realizing the damage they may have caused.

Side Mirror Clipping

On crowded roadways or in tight traffic situations, the side mirrors of two vehicles can accidentally collide, causing minor damage. A driver may not notice or may choose to leave the scene without checking for harm. 

Pedestrian Collisions

Pedestrians can suddenly step into the path of a vehicle, leaving the driver little time to react. Some drivers, overwhelmed by the situation, might flee the scene in a state of shock.

Cyclist Incidents

Bicyclists can be hard to spot, especially in blind spots or on crowded streets. Unfortunately, accidental collisions with a bicyclist can occur, and drivers may unintentionally leave the scene out of fear and confusion, or they may simply not know they hit someone. 

Minor Fender Benders

Minor rear-end collisions or fender benders can lead to hit-and-runs if drivers underestimate the damage

Unattended Property Damage

Drivers may accidentally strike property such as mailboxes, fences, or road signs. Some drivers may assume the damage was inconsequential and leave without reporting the incident. In these scenarios, accidents can escalate into hit-and-runs when drivers fail to fulfill their legal obligations, often due to fear, distraction, or lack of awareness of the extent of the damage caused.

What Does the Law Say?

Even if you are not responsible for causing the crash, you must remain at the scene with one exception. The law allows you to leave the crash scene to report it to emergency responders. But you must return to the accident scene if directed to do so by the police.  

Building a Strong Hit-and-Run Charges Defense 

In Colorado, a strong defense strategy for hit-and-run cases typically involves several key elements. First, a skilled attorney may investigate the incident thoroughly, seeking to establish doubts about the defendant’s knowledge or intent to flee the scene. Demonstrating that the driver was unaware of the accident or had a genuine reason for leaving can be crucial. Second, they may examine the evidence meticulously, looking for weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, such as unreliable witness testimony or inconsistencies in the evidence chain. Lastly, an effective defense may negotiate with the prosecution for reduced charges or penalties, emphasizing factors like lack of criminal history or prompt efforts to rectify the situation. Building a strong hit-and-run defense in Colorado requires a comprehensive legal approach tailored to the unique circumstances of each case.

An experienced Breckenridge hit-and-run attorney will review your case thoroughly to find the best course of action. 

If you are looking for a hit-and-run accident defense attorney near Breckenridge, look no further than Mark S. Rubenstein. Criminal defense is never a one-size-fits-all proposition. A narrowly tailored defense gives you the best chance to win. With over 25 years of criminal defense experience, Mark S. Rubenstein is a Dillon hit-and-run lawyer you can trust to protect your rights and work toward achieving your desired outcome.

Breckenridge Reckless Driving Lawyer

Reckless driving and careless driving are not two ways to describe the same offense. However, a knowledgeable Dillon reckless driving lawyer will tell you the violations are related. 

Reckless driving

What is considered reckless driving in Colorado? Reckless driving refers to operating a motor vehicle, which includes bicycles, electric bikes, and scooters, in a manner that indicates a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of others and property.

Careless driving

On the other hand, careless driving refers to operating a motor vehicle, bicycle, electric bike, or scooter in a careless and imprudent manner without due regard for the width, grade, curves, corners, and traffic patterns on the road. 

Potential penalties

Reckless driving is not a felony. Rather, it is a Class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. The potential jail time increases with a second and subsequent conviction. Careless driving is also a Class 2 misdemeanor unless someone dies or sustains a bodily injury as the proximate result of careless driving; then, the charge becomes a Class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense.

Class 2 misdemeanor traffic offenses carry a possible jail sentence of between 10 and 90 days and fines ranging from $150 to $300. Class 1 misdemeanor traffic offenses have a minimum of 10 days in jail up to one year. Penalties range from $300 to $1,000, as well. And you should be aware that the Colorado DMV may suspend your license if you are convicted of reckless or careless driving. 

Working with a skilled Breckenridge careless driving attorney like Mark S. Rubenstein can help reduce your chances of a conviction. Based on 25 years of experience, Dillon careless driving lawyer Mark S. Rubenstein will vigorously defend your rights and future. 

White-Collar Crimes

Despite generally not being violent, white-collar crimes can have some of the harshest penalties. White-collar crimes range in complexity and include everything from elaborate embezzlement schemes to simple bribery. There are many types of white-collar crimes with varying degrees of seriousness. Some of the most common white-collar offenses include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Fraud,
• Embezzlement,
• Insider trading,
• Ponzi scheme,
• Bribery, and
• Racketeering.

Generally, financial gain is the driving force behind white-collar offenses. Typically, the seriousness of the offense depends on the monetary value involved in the alleged violation. Interestingly, the consequences for these crimes can be just as steep as some of the most violent crimes.

At Mark S. Rubinstein, P.C., we also defend clients against various other types of offenses, including:

• DUID: Although recreational use of marijuana after age 21 is now legal in Colorado, it is illegal to drive with 5 nanograms of THC or more in your system.
• Assault and battery: We defend clients against first, second, and third-degree assault charges and battery charges.
• Domestic violence: Domestic violence charges may include allegations of threats, harassment, stalking, assault, and child abuse.
• Burglary and theft: Depending on the value of the property you are accused of stealing, theft crimes can be charged as either misdemeanors or felonies.

Legal Help in Breckenridge, Dillon, and Summit County

If you are facing criminal charges in Breckenridge, Dillon, and Summit County, don’t face your situation alone! You will need an experienced Colorado lawyer by your side to protect your rights and fight for the best possible outcome in your case. Contact Mark S. Rubinstein, P.C., for a dedicated legal advocate and the skilled representation you need.

Our Summit County Office in Dillon/Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge was founded in 1859 by a small group of prospectors, after which the Gold Rush brought in droves of settlers. The town became known as “Colorado’s Kingdom” when it was inadvertently left off the U.S. map in the mid-1800s.

Dredge mining with the use of gold dredging boats began in 1898. The boats worked the creeks and riverbeds in the area for more than 20 years, permanently altering the landscape in the process.
Today Breckenridge is a Rocky Mountain ski resort town, where tourists go for the breathtaking scenery, skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing in the winter, and hiking, fishing, and watersports in the summer.

Breckenridge/Dillon/Summit County Office

Breckenridge/Dillon Law Office Map