Did you know that 1 out of every 5 Americans have faced the burden of a traffic ticket at least once in their life? Getting a traffic ticket can be quite a hassle. However, this does not mean that you have to rush to a traffic violation lawyer, right? Well, not exactly.

As drivers, we are just used to paying tickets without questioning them. Our goal is to not mess up our driving record, right? We want a smooth record with minimal fines and low insurance premiums.

Traffic violation lawyers are an absolute godsend when you are looking for legal professionals well-versed in the intricacies of traffic court. They will help you come up with defenses that might not occur to you. Let’s just face it, they are lawyers at the end of the day. They will help you out in the trickiest circumstances where the solutions are not that apparent to you. 

Granted, traffic violations are not your typical federal crime for which you get a life sentence. However, just because we happen to take these violations lightly does not mean they are not severe. They are not as grave as a criminal charge but hold significant consequences nonetheless. If you wish to challenge a ticket or a violation that you feel is unfair, a traffic ticket defense lawyer can be a game changer for you. If you have multiple accusations, your lawyer can definitely save you from hefty fines and even prison time.

These legal professionals are well-versed in the intricacies of traffic court, and they might uncover defenses that aren’t immediately apparent. Many drivers simply pay their tickets without realizing there are ways to avoid accumulating points on their driving record, which can lead to fines and higher insurance premiums.

In this article, we will be talking about what a traffic violation lawyer does, their qualifications, and how they are a valuable resource. 

Qualifications Of A Traffic Violation Lawyer

Before we talk about the detailed role of these lawyers and how they can assist you, let us find out more. So, there are specific qualifications that an individual has to have in order to be a traffic violation lawyer.

Legal Education

The first step is obviously legal education. Like all attorneys, these lawyers should also have a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school. Their degree need not be from a law school specifically in the US. However, their legal education should give them a strong foundation of the laws of the US. This will allow them to appear for licensing exams in the USA. 

 Licensing

A traffic violation attorney will have to get a license to practice law. For that, they will have to appear for the exams conducted by the Bar Association of the USA. Only after they qualify in the bar exam in the state where they want to practice will they truly become a lawyer.

This examination will ideally contain questions on state-specific laws. Since we are talking about the qualifications of a traffic violations attorney, we should mention that there will be questions on traffic violations, too. 

Specialization

It is compulsory for all lawyers to receive legal training. However, when you are choosing a traffic violation lawyer, you can look for one who has a specialization in traffic laws. This means that they are adept at dealing with traffic laws, motor vehicle laws, and even road safety legislation/state laws.  choose to specialize in traffic-related cases. A lawyer with a specialization brings in-depth knowledge of traffic laws with them. 

Experience

Before you hire a lawyer, ensure that they have experience in dealing with cases similar to yours. They have a deep understanding of how traffic affects you on a daily basis. Thus, hiring an experienced attorney will always be a plus. 

Top Things To Look For In Your Traffic Violation Attorney

Now that we have covered the basics let us look for things that you should look for in your traffic violations lawyer before you hire them.

Look For A Lawyer With Negotiation Skills

You must be thinking, “he’s a lawyer, he has to be a good negotiator.” You are right. However, skills vary from one person to another. One lawyer may be better at negotiating or more willing to do so than the others. 

So, make sure to gauge their negotiation skills before you hire them. Traffic cases see an all-time high chance of success through negotiations alone. When you hire a good negotiator, you are looking at reduced fines, charges, or even dismissals. I mean, who wouldn’t want that right?

Look For One With Courtroom Experience

Not all negotiations can lead to a resolution that frees you of all liability. You might have to go to court to get a satisfactory resolution. Thus, you will only want to hire a lawyer who has substantial experience in court matters. Only experience can guarantee that they have in-depth knowledge of courtroom procedures, evidence presentation, and arguments based on the merits of your case.

Lastly, please ensure that the lawyer you end up hiring has detailed knowledge of state and federal traffic regulations. Since they can change over time, all good attorneys make it a point to stay updated by constantly going through the latest additions or changes.  

What Is The Role Of Traffic Violation Lawyers?

Traffic violation lawyers are well-versed in dealing with traffic-related legal issues. These are some of their most common roles.

Case Evaluation

When you first visit a traffic violation attorney, they will thoroughly evaluate your case. Details can vary from one case to another. Therefore, they will carefully evaluate the details and all violations and come up with an approach that best fits you. 

Legal Advice

After they are done with their assessment, traffic lawyers will start with legal advice. This includes explaining the consequences of your case to you. They will tell you the options legally available to you, along with what they suggest you do. 

Negotiation

It is the duty of your traffic violation attorney to engage in negotiations with the opposing counsel or the prosecution. They can negotiate and mediate to reduce the fines and charges or even ask for a deal instead (for example, time in traffic school).

Representation in Court

As we have discussed above, not all cases lead to peaceful resolutions. Some may lead to the case going to trial or even an appeal. In these cases, it is the duty of your lawyer to represent you in court. They will present the merits of your case before the judge, conduct cross-examinations, and argue for your case. 

Defense Strategies

Traffic violation lawyers develop defense cases on behalf of their clients. Since the merits of the case can vary from one to another, the defenses may differ too. In this process, they will question the validity and the authenticity of the evidence against you. Since it is a case of a traffic violation, they might question whether or not the traffic lights were working properly and the like.  

Help In Dismissing Charges

Did you know that your traffic violation lawyer can help with reduced charges? If the circumstances are in your favor, they may even help you get a dismissal altogether. They carefully evaluate the evidence, police reports, and other documentation. 

Identifying Loopholes

Next, they identify weaknesses or potential violations that exist on your part.  They will very minutely go through procedural errors, if any.  Some accusations may even be direct constitutional violations. In some cases, the state authorities might have insufficient evidence against you.  So, these are the times when your lawyer will be coming to your rescue. 

Help In Reaching Favorable Settlements

If you have hired a traffic violation lawyer, you must understand that it is their duty to negotiate for a favorable settlement. These settlements are called plea agreements. 

This means that the clients agree to plead guilty to the charges brought about against them in exchange for reduced fine amounts or shorter prison sentences. It is the duty of the lawyer to try and reduce the impact of the violation on the rights and privileges of the client. 

Your Lawyer Always Owes You An Explanation

It is your lawyer’s responsibility to explain your legal rights and options to you. You can also ask them to explain the sections of state and federal laws that apply to you. If you are worried about the potential consequences of your charges, it is your attorney who will explain things to you in detail. 

Also, please note that when you are exercising your right to remain silent, you can have your attorney answer all questions for you. Basically, your traffic violation attorney will explain the charges, consequences, and even the court order to you. 

It Is Their Job To Gather Evidence  

Traffic violation advocates work to collect evidence that supports your arguments. They will contact the relevant authorities to get the required evidence which can be in the form of video footage, witness statements, accident reports, or any other documentation. Strong evidence will pose a harder challenge to the opposing party. It will make it easier to get the case in your favor. 

These Lawyers Handle The Paperwork

A traffic violation follows multiple procedures. It can either be court filings, paperwork, or other steps in the legal process. Your traffic violation attorney will take care of it all for you. 

They can file legal motions, draft petitions, and even come up with apt responses to the claims made by other parties. It is also their job to file documents with the court of appropriate jurisdiction as and when the law requires them in a timely manner. 

They Are The DMV Lawyers

These are the lawyers who also represent clients in court hearings related to the Department of Motor Vehicles. A number of issues might come up in these proceedings, including license revocations and suspensions. If the DMV deems fit, a person who stands in violation of traffic laws may also lose their driving privileges. A traffic violation attorney may help such a client and try to stop them from facing such drastic consequences. 

Help In Appealing Decisions

Traffic violation lawyers help clients in filing for appeals in case they are not satisfied with the judgments. They can help clients understand if they deserve better from the circumstances and merits of their case. 

It is also the responsibility of the lawyer to explain to the client if their rights can be better protected. The appellate process can sometimes seem complicated. Your traffic violations attorney will walk you through it. They will draft a better case and present it to a higher court for review.

Your traffic violation lawyer will keep you updated on the case’s progress. They will tell you about the new developments, new courses of action, what to do, and what not to do. 

Types of Traffic Violations For Which You Can Approach A Traffic Violation Lawyer

Now let us talk about the kind of traffic violations that a traffic violation lawyer can help you out with. Go through them, and you’ll find out that most of these are some of the violations that we encounter on a regular basis. This list below talks about multiple offenses and their respective punishments. 

• Speeding Tickets
• Reckless Driving
• Running Red Lights or Stop Signs
• DUIs
• Driving Without a Valid License
• Driving Without Insurance
• Hit and Run
• Traffic Violations Resulting in Accidents

Final Word

Overall, it is well within the responsibilities of a traffic violations lawyer to assess the impact of traffic violations and to minimize it. They will negotiate with associated parties and prosecutors to come up with alternatives. It is their full responsibility to protect the client’s driving record. 

Read Also:

• If I Get Fired Can I Get Unemployment Benefit?
• 4 Items To Review In Your Employment Contract
• A Comprehensive Guide To Legal And General Life Insurance