When it comes to driving, most of us try to abide by the traffic laws put in place; however, mistakes can still happen. Forgetting your turn signal, speeding, running a red light, and other traffic violations can mean an expensive fine and points on your license. Other more serious traffic violations, such as driving under the influence, can have even greater ramifications on your life. If you are currently dealing with a traffic violation, here are three things that you should keep in mind.
The Potential Impacts of the Violation
The first thing that you should do after a traffic violation is take a close look at any potential impacts it may have on your life. Will your auto insurance rates go up? Could you potentially lose your license? There are a variety of consequences that may occur. The more serious the violation, the more likely it will have a major negative impact on your day-to-day life. Being caught speeding can increase your auto insurance rates anywhere from 11 percent to 15 percent, while reckless driving can increase your rates by 22 percent on average.
An Attorney May Be Able to Help
If you are dealing with a traffic violation, it may be in your best interest to hire a traffic violation attorney. This type of attorney specializes in traffic violations and can help reduce the impacts your violation will have on your life. In some cases, traffic violation attorneys can have speeding tickets dismissed, reduce the amount of points on your license, reduce fines, and even help you avoid jail time. Traffic violation attorneys can be helpful for something as small as a speeding ticket to something as serious as a DUI charge.
The Cost of an Attorney
If you decide to hire an attorney, cost is something that you should consider carefully. An attorney can save you money when it comes to fines and increases in auto insurance. However, the benefit to you can vary widely depending on what happens in court. For minor traffic offenses you can expect to pay between $200 and $500 for the services of an attorney. More complex cases dealing with serious violations will typically cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000.
If you have a traffic violation, there are a few things that you should consider. First, you should think about how this violation may impact your life. If the violation will cost you money or impact your day to day life, hiring a traffic violation attorney can be helpful. The costs of hiring an attorney can vary, but in many cases it can help you avoid fines and even jail time.
