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No one wants to be pulled over and issued a traffic ticket, but it happens to thousands every day. You don’t have to panic if you are pulled over and issued a traffic ticket, but you should take action to have your fine reduced or dropped.
After receiving a speeding ticket in New York, you should first contact a lawyer who will make you aware of your options and help you throughout your case.
For nearly 20 years, Feifer & Greenberg has represented clients throughout New York who want to fight their traffic tickets. We are very familiar with the charges you may be facing and the potential effect that those charges have on your driving status. Whether you are an ordinary driver or a CDL holder, TLC driver, or a person with a bad record, we’ve seen every situation and level of offense.
If you have been issued a ticket, an easy place to start is with a free consultation with a firm like ours. Every situation is not the same and a lawyer is not always necessary, but you can rest assured that you will receive the best legal advice for your situation at Feifer & Greenberg.
Keep reading to learn some of the most important questions to ask a lawyer about a speeding ticket, then contact Feifer & Greenberg for your free case consultation.
1. WHAT AM I FACING WHEN I GET A TRAFFIC TICKET? WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL PENALTIES?
The answer to this question is: It depends. The penalties for your case will be based on the specific details and the reason for being stopped. If you committed a serious traffic offense, your penalties will be greater than those of someone who received a simple speeding ticket.
If you were looking at a $5 fine and no points or impact on your driver’s license, you’d probably just pay it. If it was 8 points, $1000, possible license suspension and even imprisonment, that might be a different story.
Most cases fall in the middle of these extremes, but it’s important to understand exactly what you are trying to avoid by contesting the ticket.
Consider the following as you decide whether or not to hire a lawyer and contest your ticket:
- Points (up to four) off your driving record if you already have points and protection against any points you may receive from a pending ticket issued before you take the class.
- Show the judge/prosecutor your effort to improve prior to an upcoming case.
- Minimum 10% reduction in the base rate of your liability and collision insurance premiums each year for three years regardless of your driving record.
- Refreshing your driving knowledge and reviewing the driving laws can only help.
When you take the time to consider these aspects of your potential case, you will likely have an easier time deciding whether ot not it’s in your best interest to hire an attorney and contest your ticket.
2. HOW MUCH DO YOUR SERVICES COST?
This is one of the most pressing questions to ask a lawyer about a speeding ticket. Although every situation is different, it shouldn’t cost thousands of dollars to hire a traffic ticket lawyer in New York.
That being said, of course you can expect some fee. You can ask if it is a flat fee for the entire case or some kind of hourly fee or one based on the number of necessary trips to court.
Ask if the fee must be paid upfront or prior to the conclusion of the case. While most will require payment upfront, some lawyers will make exceptions in certain cases if a client needs to break a payment up into two or three installments.
Ultimately, you’ll want to weigh this cost against the potential penalties you are facing.
3. WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE IF I HIRE YOUR FIRM?
It’s important that you understand the timeline and protocol of your case as it moves forward.
Some logistical questions you can ask include:
- Points (up to four) off your driving record if you already have points and protection against any points you may receive from a pending ticket issued before you take the class.
- Show the judge/prosecutor your effort to improve prior to an upcoming case.
- Minimum 10% reduction in the base rate of your liability and collision insurance premiums each year for three years regardless of your driving record.
- Refreshing your driving knowledge and reviewing the driving laws can only help.
Of course, a successful consultation should see these questions answered, as a consultation is crucial in knowing what is expected of you and of your attorney. Ultimately, good representation not only includes good results in court but also clear communication and a simple, stress-free procedure without unpleasant surprises or other unexpected issues.
4. WHAT OUTCOME CAN I EXPECT?
While it’s important to understand what to expect from the process, it’s also important for an attorney to provide realistic expectations regarding the final outcome of your case. The “goal” of every case might be a dismissal or agreement to not add points on your license.
But expectations aren’t enough — it’s not fair to just state this “goal” without a discussion of the likelihood of this success. Even if the answer depends on multiple factors, an attorney should discuss these factors and what can be done to maximize the chances of success.
It is not fair to the client if an attorney implies that a result is certain or simple to achieve when in fact the opposite is true. It might not always be easy to tell which attorney is being honest in assessing your case, but you need to do your best to determine who sounds sincere and knowledgeable regarding situations similar to yours.
That’s why one of the best questions to ask a lawyer about a traffic ticket involves their realistic, attainable expectations.
5. DO I NEED TO BE IN COURT? SHOULD I BE THERE?
GOT A TRAFFIC TICKET? CALL OUR ATTORNEYS AT 888-842-5384
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