If you have been charged with a traffic violation or infraction, you may be concerned about the potential consequences both now and in the future. From fines and jail time, to the possibility of losing your driver’s license, traffic convictions can have an impact on your insurance, as well as your ability to work. For this reason, many people choose to have a traffic defense attorney present their case to improve their chances of securing reduced penalties, or having their case dismissed.
What To Ask A Traffic Defense Attorney Before Hiring
Before you select an attorney to work with, be sure to ask some important questions to ensure you are choosing the right firm for your specific case.
What Are Your Credentials And Experience?
Any attorney should readily provide their experience and credentials, including their education, the areas of law on which they primarily focus and case examples they have worked with in the past. Ideally, you should work with an attorney that has considerable experience in traffic defense specifically.
Furthermore, it will be a benefit to work with a traffic defense attorney who has succeeded in cases most similar to yours. During the process of asking these questions, you may want to confirm if this attorney will be presenting your case or if it will be passed to an associate.
It is not a cause for concern to have multiple staff involved in your case; in larger firms it is common for attorneys to rely on the assistance of associates and paralegals to prepare and possibly present your case.
What Is Your Rate Of Success?
The success of a traffic defense attorney often comes from a variety of combined factors, including how long they have worked in the area, how well they know the people involved, such as the local officers and judges and how many individuals with similar cases they have represented in the past which are similar to your case.
A history of success in having charges reduced or dropped entirely indicates that your attorney understands both the court and the legal process and may be a valuable asset to you. If your attorney has previously worked with cases that are similar in detail to yours, you know that the attorney has experience in the types of arguments that should be made and how to respond to counterpoints effectively.
What Are The Options And Strategies For This Case?
Each case is unique, and an attorney with experience in traffic defense will outline what strategies or options are available to you based on your specific case and the details that you provide. An experienced attorney will explain realistic outcomes and inform you of the recommended course of action.
How Is The Cost Determined?
The financial aspect of retaining an attorney may be the most common concern when choosing representation. A trustworthy firm will offer their pricing structure up front although each firm may approach the method differently, with some charging an hourly fee and others working from a fixed price structure, depending on the type of case.
This means that you will likely need to describe your charging event with as much detail as possible in order to receive an accurate evaluation. A reliable firm will provide an estimate to help you understand your obligations before you make an agreement.
How Will Communication Occur?
For purposes of collecting evidence and keeping you informed, your attorney will need a clear avenue of communication with you. Asking an attorney how they prefer to communicate can help you be prepared for the process by allowing you to know whether you should be checking emails, keeping your phone on and making sure voicemail is available.
Attorneys perform much of their work independently; therefore, as the client, you may have very little to do. However, being reachable and feeling confident that your attorney will keep you informed is an important part of the selection process. This also sets expectations about how often you can expect communication from your legal professional.
Remember, you may feel the need to check in every day, but the time taken to provide such frequent updates may distract from working on your case. Keeping expectations reasonable is most efficient for everyone involved.
Trust A Traffic Defense Attorney To Represent You
If you are facing potential penalties after being charged with a traffic violation, an attorney can be a powerful resource in the effort to minimize your penalties, or even have them eliminated entirely. The experienced team at The Law Offices of Kermit A. Monge would be happy to help you explore your options and answer any questions that you may have. Contact our offices to schedule a consultation to discuss your case and plan your next steps.