Most traffic tickets are not worth hiring a lawyer over. However, if you receive a ticket for something more serious, like speeding more than 20 miles over the limit, driving while intoxicated, or hitting someone and causing serious injury, even if you’re insured, it may be worth looking into hiring a lawyer. A good lawyer can often get these charges dropped, which is much easier and less expensive than a criminal conviction on your record.
Many lawyers advertise themselves as “traffic ticket lawyers,” and they’re not all created equal. If a lawyer tells you that she can win you a trial if you hire her to represent you, be wary. Almost all traffic tickets have to be pleaded guilty if you don’t plead guilty and hope to win at trial, your case will be dismissed, and the officer might even file charges against you for missing your court date.
Should I Hire A Lawyer To Help Me Fight My Traffic Ticket?
Hiring a traffic ticket lawyer to help you fight your traffic ticket can be a difficult decision to make. If you have never been in trouble before or have never hired a lawyer before, you might wonder if it is necessary. However, if you receive a traffic ticket (or any other criminal charge) and can afford to hire a lawyer to represent you, it can be worth considering.
A lawyer can be helpful in a variety of ways. First, if you are charged with a moving traffic violation, a lawyer can often get the charges dropped. A lawyer will also be able to tell you how likely your case is to win if it goes to trial. A good traffic ticket lawyer will know exactly what the prosecutor has to prove in order for him or her to win at trial and will be able to advise you of your options in terms of plea deals or if your best option is going to court for trial.
When Do You Need A Lawyer For A Traffic Ticket?
A traffic ticket, especially a minor one, can be a very expensive mistake to make. However, it can be worth hiring a lawyer if you receive a ticket that carries with it serious financial consequences or if you receive a speeding ticket from an officer who is known to routinely issue speeding tickets. If you are convicted of your traffic violation and then end up having to pay high court costs for going to trial, as well as paying a stiff fine for your conviction, it can be worth hiring a lawyer to get your case resolved.
If you have never been in trouble with the law before, it can be hard to determine if you need a lawyer. However, if your traffic ticket is for something dangerous or risky, like driving while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol, causing someone serious injury while driving drunk, speeding 20 miles over the speed limit or more, or failing to stop at a stop sign, it is important to know that you can be charged with a crime.
How Can A Lawyer Help Me With My Traffic Ticket?
1. A lawyer can offer legal advice:Â
A lawyer can help you with all aspects of your driving situation. For example, a traffic ticket lawyer can tell you exactly where you were at the time of the accident because he or she will know exactly what your GPS device said. A good traffic ticket lawyer will also know exactly how to get your traffic violation dismissed if it is not his or her job. A lawyer can also help you to know if you are eligible for a program that will dismiss your traffic violation. Even if you cannot avoid being convicted of a traffic violation, a good traffic ticket lawyer can ensure that the conviction does not show up on your criminal record and has no effect on your driving privileges or insurance rates.
2. A lawyer can represent a driver in traffic court:
If you are charged with a traffic violation, the prosecutor and judge are not required to give you any special treatment. In fact, they have far more power over you than if you had hired a lawyer. A lawyer can help ensure that the prosecutor and judge are abiding by all laws in court. At the same time, a good traffic ticket lawyer will know how to get you the best possible deal under the circumstances.
3. A lawyer can help get a traffic citation dismissed:
Many prosecutors will offer a driver who pleads guilty to a traffic violation the option of signing a document that says he or she is not guilty. This document can be hard to find without legal assistance, and it is very important that you do so if you plan on going to trial. The paperwork can help prevent most people from having to hire a lawyer because they believe they have a chance of winning at trial and then having their traffic citation dismissed.
4. A lawyer can negotiate on a driver’s behalf:
In traffic court, a judge will generally order you to take the officer’s course. While the course is mandatory and you are not allowed any choice in this matter, a lawyer can help ensure that you comply with these orders. The lawyer can also help negotiate with the judge to have your fine reduced or an additional charge dropped. You should always ask a lawyer to contact the prosecutor and officer before you plead guilty or sign the paperwork on your own because they can often work out a deal with the prosecutor that will help you in the long run.
Conclusion:
A lawyer can help you fight your traffic ticket. This is especially true if you are facing a moving violation charge, which carries serious penalties for being convicted of a moving violation. If you have never been in trouble with the law before, or if you want to make sure that your driving privileges are not affected by your traffic ticket, it is important to know that hiring an attorney is always an option and should always be considered. However, even if you have never had a traffic ticket or other criminal charge, it may be worth hiring a lawyer to help you resolve your case.
