If you’ve been pulled over and charged with a traffic ticket in your area, chances are high that you will want to hire an experienced traffic ticket lawyer to help. After all, dealing with the court system on your own can be frustrating and, at times, overwhelming. This is why it is necessary to find a traffic ticket lawyer who is familiar with the laws in your area. If you don’t, you will find yourself being at a disadvantage and possibly even face jail time or hefty fines.
Unfortunately, not all traffic ticket lawyers are equally knowledgeable. Cases may be won or lost based on the judgment of the lawyer handling your case. As such, it should be important for you to consider seven different things about your potential attorney after meeting with him or her for an initial consultation.
- Reduce the Charge or Have It Dismissed:
One of the first things to consider is whether the penalty can be reduced or dismissed. Armed with your traffic ticket lawyer’s experience, he or she will be able to negotiate with the prosecution on your behalf as well as gather the information that may help exonerate you. The best thing you can do is share what happened leading up to your case. This way, your lawyer will have a better picture of what occurred and why you were ticketed.
- Avoid Points and Suspensions:
Getting a ticket can result in points against your driver’s license. The number of points you get will depend on the type of offense you’re charged with. As such, you don’t want to deal with getting these points on your record if it is not entirely necessary. Therefore, you should make sure that your traffic lawyer can help prevent them from being added to your license by either pleading down or getting the charge dismissed altogether.
- Handle Court Appearances:
You don’t have to be in court on your traffic ticket date. In fact, if you have hired a traffic lawyer, he or she will be the one who does all the work. In some areas, hiring an attorney can even get you out of a court appearance altogether. As such, it is important to find a traffic lawyer who can go to court on your behalf and avoid the need for you to attend.
- Avoid Higher Insurance Premiums:
If you get points on your license, your insurance company may raise your premiums. The best way to avoid this is to make sure the charge against you gets dismissed so that you don’t receive the points. Remember, raising insurance rates can affect you beyond just your pocketbook and may have an impact on your job or career in general. If you do have a traffic ticket lawyer helping with the case, he or she will be able to help prevent these points from being added to your driver’s license.
- Getting a Reduction in Jail Time:
If you have a traffic ticket lawyer on your side, they can help you to get out of jail time. In some instances, they may even be able to negotiate with the prosecution. As such, if jail is not something that you want to go through, having someone on your side who can negotiate for reduced charges and/or sentences will be beneficial for you.
- Avoid Getting a Traffic Ticket in the First Place:
Traffic tickets are extremely common, and getting one is almost inevitable if you’re driving on the roads. However, it is important to make sure that you do not incur one if at all possible. If you are going through an attorney, they can help to negotiate with the prosecution so that they do not issue a citation against you. As such, by hiring traffic ticket lawyers, you can avoid them altogether and save yourself a lot of time in court and on your insurance rates too.
- Avoid Felony Charges:
Traffic ticket defense lawyers can help to avoid felony charges against you. If the charge is a misdemeanor, a lawyer can get it reduced to a lesser offense and will probably not be able to negotiate for less jail time if they are not eligible for that option. However, if the charge is a misdemeanor or infraction, chances are high that it will be reduced or dismissed, and you won’t even need to go to court at all.
Conclusion:
Traffic tickets are a common occurrence on the roads, but having the right traffic ticket lawyer to help you through this can help to reduce your stress and make the process as seamless as possible. Therefore, when hiring a traffic ticket lawyer, make sure he or she has extensive experience and is familiar with your area’s laws. Doing so will ensure that you have the best representation possible. The best way to know what to expect during the traffic ticket process is to make sure you are aware of all your legal options. Doing so will ensure that you have fair representation throughout the process and that you avoid unnecessary time in court.
