Having a traffic lawyer by your side is not a waste of money. They can help you avoid the fines and points on your driving license. Also, frequent violations may result in higher insurance rates and other hazardous situations. So, getting a lawyer to have you back is mandatory.
This doesn’t mean the lawyer can save you every time you violate a traffic rule or create a disaster on the road. But they can help you get rid of unethical and unlawful charges against you. Also, they can help reduce the fine and charges.
So, don’t you think hiring a traffic lawyer can help you in many cases?
Who is a Traffic Lawyer?
A traffic lawyer or traffic ticket attorney is a lawyer specializing in the field of traffic violations and other related rules. They know such laws best and handle violations and other claims.
Hiring an experienced traffic lawyer can help you face the court for improper violation charges and fines.
What do Traffic Attorneys Do?
The primary task of a traffic attorney is to protect the client from unlawful fines and charges or minimize the fine as much as possible. In any traffic case, they can help you in many ways. Here’s what they can do for you.
Reducing the Charge
Lawyers can help you by reducing the ticket penalties on your driver’s license. They also focus on reducing the amount of fine. Thus, besides saving some bucks, you can protect your license from negative points that affect it.
A reduced charge may not help you that much as you’d have to pay the legal support fee. However, protecting your driving license from negative points means a lot. Negative points may result in a license suspension. So, such lawyers actually help you protect your license.
Fixing with Alternative Discipline
Your attorney can negotiate an alternative discipline to follow to reduce the charge. For example- if you want to join a traffic school, the court may lower the fine and negative points. Also, joining a traffic school often reduces the accumulated points in the license and lowers the insurance rate.
Thus, many law has some alternative disciplines that harm you less. Your traffic attorney can protect your pocket and license using them.
Helping in Ticket Dismissal
You can get the ticket dismissed in some situations. A traffic lawyer uses the rules regarding this to help you get rid of the traffic ticket and its negative points. You may have to agree to something less damaging to you or comply with some terms for this. But you’ll remain safe from the charges.
Besides these, hiring an attorney for traffic issues can help you in many other ways. So, don’t forget to find a compatible attorney.
Is Hiring an Attorney for Traffic Violation Logical?
Some people think that the traffic violation fine is often less than the fee of an attorney. So, hiring legal support for such cases is not logical.
That’s a good point. But you need to focus on another thing- the accumulated point on your license.
Every time you violate a traffic rule, your driving license receives one or more negative points. With the accumulation of points, your insurance rate increases. After the points reach a certain level, your license becomes canceled or sued. So, violating traffic rules doesn’t only affect your pocket but also your diving license.
Hiring legal support for traffic issues can help you reduce the number of points significantly. Also, they can suggest the court alternative punishments to adding points to your license. Thus, they protect your license and pocket both.
So, hiring an attorney for traffic violations is not illogical. You should get one to safeguard you from numerous issues.
If you can’t afford one, look for someone who offers service at a discounted rate. Also, you can take help from a public defender or court-employed attorney if you think you’re not guilty.
How to Choose a Compatible Traffic Lawyer?
Searching for and finding a compatible traffic attorney helps you get the best out of them. Choosing someone randomly is not how you do it. You must follow a process and compare a few options to pick the best one.
I’m sharing an easy process to find a lawyer. It applies to any kind of lawyer. Understand the process and follow it accordingly to get the most compatible lawyer from around you.
Step 1- Seek Recommendations
Do it as you used to do in normal processes. Seek suggestions from your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Don’t stop when you have 2-3 names. You must collect at least 12-15 names.
You can seek suggestions from search engines too. Search ‘best traffic lawyer near me’ and you’ll find many suggestions.
The bar community in your locality is another place for great suggestions. Check there to reach someone compatible. Don’t forget to ask a lawyer you know who practices in a different field.
When you have around 12-15 names on the list, proceed to the second step.
Step 2- Evaluate Online
In this step, you’ll track their online presence to have an idea of their competency and strength. Most firms or lawyers have social media pages or websites today. Find out them and check those platforms.
You’ll look for the type of cases they work on, efficiency, experience, expertise, etc. Such information will help you have an idea about them.
Also, don’t miss online platforms that rate different services. You’ll find ratings and reviews of legal services on some websites. Detailed reviews from clients will help you to understand them better.
Based on the evaluation, rate and rank them.
Pick the top 4-5 for the next step.
Step 3- Direct Contact
When you have only a few options, it’s time to communicate them directly. Make a call and book a schedule. Most firms or lawyers offer a free or low-fee meeting for the first time. You can use the scope.
At the meeting, discuss your situation and seek suggestions. Besides, ask them about their experience, field of expertise, and similar cases they’ve worked on. Don’t forget to ask about their fee.
While discussing, evaluate their communication skills and approach toward your case. It is important.
Step 4- Select One
After the scheduled meetings with each option, you’ll know who to choose.
While choosing someone, focus on their experience with similar cases, communication skills, approach toward your situation, etc. The fee is a major factor, but don’t prioritize it over others.
What to Ask a Traffic Attorney?
While choosing an attorney for traffic cases, ask them several questions when you meet face to face for the first time. These questions help you to understand them better.
Is there any way I can avoid the fine and point?
Asking this question will help you have an idea about alternative ways. In some cases, there is an alternative way to eliminate the fine and negative points on the license. If your situation matches any of them, the attorney can suggest alternatives.
Are you going to handle the case?
Sometimes, a representative meets you in the first meeting instead of the legal professional who’ll work on your case. Ask this question to know whether you’re talking to a representative or the person who’ll handle the case. Talk to the attorney directly if possible because they can give you a better idea.
How many cases you’ve handled like mine?
Hiring someone with previous experience with similar cases increases the chance of winning. So, you can ask this question. If they handle several cases similar to yours, ask them a few questions about those cases, like- their approach, the result, etc.
What’s your expertise?
Most of the time, lawyers handle different types of cases. So, lawyers handling traffic cases are not always experts in this specific field. So, ask them about their expertise. If they’re experienced in a different field, ask about their efficiency in traffic cases.
How much is your fee?
The fee is an important issue to discuss in the first meeting. Having a clear idea about it saves you from any confusion that may arise later.
So, spend some time discussing money. Ask about their fees and payment process. Also, ask if they offer any discount. Discuss everything in detail.
Besides these common questions, you may ask questions about the possible outcome of the case, the outline of future steps, etc. Such questions would help you to understand your situation as well as their approach toward it.
How Much Does a Traffic Lawyer Cost?
The overall fee a traffic attorney can ask for varies based on several issues like the type of case, the action of the lawyer, etc. If you have a pretty straightforward case and the lawyer has to represent you in court for a few minutes, the fee will be somewhere between $50-$100.
On the other hand, if it is a complex case and the lawyer has to plan to protect you, the fee can go up to $2000. In case the case goes to trial, you may have to spend around $5000 as the legal professional’s fee.
Typically, they ask for a fixed fee for easy and straightforward cases as they know they don’t have much to do. But when the case is complex, and nobody knows how long it’ll last, they ask for an hourly rate. The typical hourly rate for such lawyers is around $100 to $300. Thus, the accumulated fee can be between $500 and $2000.
This is the basic overview of a traffic attorney’s fee. Several other factors, for instance- their experience or the place you live in, have an impact on it. So, in the first meeting, you must ask about their fee to have the exact idea.
Can I Handle My Traffic Case Alone?
The court doesn’t stop you from handling your traffic case alone. So, hiring an attorney is not a must. You can just hire someone for consultation and then handle the case alone.
If it is your first time in court, this might be a bit complex, but you can manage it.
However, handling the case yourself in complicated situations is not recommended. There are some cases when you should let professionals handle it.
For example, you’re vulnerable in such situations if you have a commercial license. You drive vehicles to earn a living. So, you shouldn’t take the risk of handling it alone. Also, the law is strict against commercial drivers as they drive heavy vehicles. In such a situation, hiring someone professional is mandatory.
Again, if you receive several speeding or violation tickets within a short time, your license is at risk of suspension. If you can beat at least one ticket, you can take yourself to a safer situation. Let a legal professional handle the situation and protect your license in such cases.
What If I Can’t Afford an Attorney?
The cost of hiring an attorney is very high in some cases. So, you may ask what to do if you can’t afford someone. Here’s the answer.
Court-Appointed Attorney
For a few types of traffic cases, the court allows you to have a court-appointed attorney who can help you with legal advice. They can help you with the best possible solution. For this, you don’t have to pay anything.
The issue is- you can get a court-appointed attorney only under a few circumstances. Otherwise, you’d have to hire someone or defend yourself alone.
Discounted Service
On some occasions, some lawyers and law firms offer discounted services. There you’ll receive service at a low price. Look for such offers around you.
Low-cost Attorneys
Some attorneys offer service at a lower cost compared to others. You can try their service. Check your local bar community to find such lawyers. They offer such low-cost services for practice or charity purposes.
Defending Yourself
As the court doesn’t stop you from defending yourself, try this option if you don’t have any other way. It may take a huge effort, but you’ll be benefited in the end.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do traffic attorneys guarantee to defeat points?
Traffic attorneys don’t guarantee saying you won’t get points in your license. However, they try their best to alternate points using a different way. Hiring an efficient traffic attorney reduced the chance of getting points.
Based on your case, it varies. If you commit a serious fault, attorneys don’t guarantee anything. On the other hand, if your fault is very low, some lawyers guarantee defeating points.
Do I have to pay the lawyer if I still have to pay the fine?
It varies based on the legal professional you’ve hired. Some lawyers don’t take any fee if you don’t win the case. Others want fee whatever happens in the case. It depends on the degree of your fault too.
In case of serious faults, you’ll have the pay the attorney no matter what happens. The reason is- they try their best even if it is a complex case.
In the first meeting, consult it properly to avoid any misunderstanding.