Do you have a traffic ticket that you are going to fight in court? If you’re planning to fight your ticket by praying that the cop doesn’t show up, you may as well just plead guilty and serve your time. The ol’ “ticket getting dismissed because the cop didn’t show” trick almost never works anymore.
Maybe your legal woes are as simple as a cell phone ticket or a red light camera ticket. Or perhaps you have a more complicated legal predicament like a hit and run offense or a felony traffic violation. Either way, having a lawyer fight for your cause could get your ticket dismissed, help avoid costly fines, a license suspension, increased insurance costs, and even jail time. Hiring a traffic attorney improves your outcome in three ways:
- Traffic violation lawyers can provide guidance. Your lawyer can analyze the details of your situation and provide guidance for each of your options. If this is the only legal assistance you need, it can be accomplished with a simple conference call at a minimal fee.
- Traffic violation lawyers can negotiate for you. With more serious traffic issues, your attorney can use his expertise to get you a better deal than you would accomplish on your own.
- Traffic violation lawyers can advocate for you. Your attorney can serve as your mouthpiece, and leverage his knowledge and experience to fight on your behalf in court, giving you an argument that you don’t have the legal knowledge to make on your own.
Choosing a Traffic Violation Lawyer
Having a good lawyer will significantly improve the chances of a good outcome for your case. Follow these steps to make sure you find the best lawyer for your situation:
- Take Your Time. Don’t be afraid to interview a few lawyers before choosing one you have the most confidence in.
- Look for Experience. Many traffic violation lawyers work with a specific type of traffic issue. Looking for a lawyer with a proven track record with your particular traffic issue will improve your odds.
- Focus on Local Lawyers. A local traffic lawyer will be familiar with the court you will be working through, may be able to leverage relationships he has with the judge and prosecutors to your benefit, and will be able the navigate the system smoothly to get you the best outcome.
- Ask About Fees. A minor traffic issue shouldn’t require much of a lawyers time or cost much. Depending on the specifics of your case, you might be able to just pay a small amount to get council, and then decide if you want to pay more for representation. Find out the fees before you choose your lawyer.
Have you ever used a traffic violation attorney? What was the outcome of your case? Do you have any tips for people looking for one? Please leave us a comment with your input.