If you have recently received a speeding ticket, you might be wondering what you should do next. You might not be sure of whether or not your speeding ticket is something that you should be concerned about, and you probably want to do what you can to lessen its impact on your life. Typically, taking these four steps can help a driver like you handle a speeding ticket in the best way possible.
1. Take Note of Your Court Date
You might not think that you will forget your court date, but you should take steps to help you show up on the assigned day. The penalties that you might face for failing to appear in court could be more serious than you think, so save a reminder in your smartphone, or mark the court date down on your desk calendar.
If your traffic ticket states that your appearance is not required in court, this does not mean that you can ignore your ticket. If you don’t handle your ticket by the date listed on your citation, you could face legal issues. Plus, if you don’t appear in court, you will not be able to defend yourself.
For more serious speeding tickets, drivers are sometimes required to appear in court. If you forget about your court date and fail to show up, a warrant could be issued for your arrest. This can put you in a much more serious legal situation than you are in right now.
2. Hire a Traffic Ticket Attorney
Some drivers make the mistake of trying to handle a speeding ticket on their own. This is usually not a good idea. Experienced traffic attorneys can often help with having their clients’ speeding tickets reduced or dismissed. This can help you avoid expensive fees and fines, can prevent you from losing your driver’s license, and can help you avoid car insurance increases.
When hiring an attorney, look for someone who has related experience. Luckily, there are a lot of experienced and competent traffic ticket attorneys out there who regularly assist drivers like you.
3. Follow Your Attorney’s Instructions
Depending on the situation, your attorney might encourage you to take certain steps so that you will be prepared for your court date. For example, your lawyer might recommend that you take a driving class. Having proof of completion of this class could make it easier for the attorney to negotiate a deal with the district attorney and have your speeding ticket reduced.
Of course, the advice that your attorney will give will depend on your specific situation. Just make sure that you follow the instructions that your attorney gives you so that they can help you as much as possible with your speeding ticket or other traffic violation.
4. Contact Your Insurance Company
If your attorney is able to have your speeding ticket dismissed, then you should not have to worry about any issues with your car insurance. However, if you are convicted of a speeding ticket, you have to worry about your car insurance rates going up.
How much they will go up will depend on your previous driving record, the speeding ticket that you were convicted of, and the policies that your insurance company follows. In some cases, contacting your insurance company can help.
For example, if your attorney advised you to attend driving school in order to have your speeding ticket reduced, you might have received a certificate for completing the course. In some cases, insurance companies will offer a small discount if you provide them with proof that you have completed this type of class.
Alternatively, you can look into other discounts or policy changes that can help you make up for the increase in insurance costs. For example, raising your deductible or reducing your coverage can help you lower your premiums. Then, you won’t have to worry about your speeding ticket-related insurance increases impacting your household budget as much.
If you have recently been charged with a speeding ticket, hire an attorney. Contact us at Daniels, Long & Pinsel, LLC, to find out how we can help.
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