Getting issued a traffic ticket can be an extremely taxing experience, both mentally and monetarily. When faced with a vehicle and traffic violation, one should seek out proper guidance from an attorney who regularly deals in this area of law. One would be surprised as to how many lawyers out there do not know the ins and outs of traffic law. It may not be one of the more glamorous areas of law, but when representing a client with a traffic infraction, the attorney should not just "phone it in" as a no brainer. There are several things to take into account before accepting a proper plea on a client's behalf.
No matter how small the violation, it is always in one's best interest to be proactive in getting their ticket handled swiftly and properly. Here are some helpful tips to consider when vetting an attorney to handle your traffic infraction:
1. Location. Make sure the attorney you choose has some familiarity with the area in which you received a ticket. Small Town and Village courts have a lot of idiosyncrasies that local attorneys are likely to know about and can better be of service to you. Also, the less travel time an attorney has to make to court, the less likely he/she is to charge.
2. Communication. Make sure that when you contact a traffic attorney, he/she is up front with you and conveys his/her advice in an articulate fashion. Most attorneys will offer a free initial phone consultation. Based off this consultation, size up what the attorney has to offer and if you establish a good rapport, this is a positive indication as to how the attorney-client relationship is likely to go.
3. Price. Be mindful that there are some attorneys out there who advertise a very low flat fee, but once you hire them, they change their tune and inflate the price to reflect your “special” or “unique” circumstances. The old saying holds true in that “You get what you pay for.” Don’t be so quick to hire an attorney solely on price, as more often than not, the lowest priced attorney is not necessarily the most competent attorney.
4. Referrals. Do an online search when hiring a traffic attorney. If someone refers an attorney by name, check them out for yourself, either by doing a google or bing search or by going directly to their website. In this day and age, most attorneys have their own website. If they don’t, that may tell you something right of the bat. By going to an attorney’s website prior to speaking with them, you will get a chance to go into the conversation already knowing something about them and when speaking to them, you can see if the information they give you “jibes” with the information that is on their site. You would be amazed as to how many attorneys don’t know that they even HAVE a website, let alone know what content about them and their services is on it.
5. Experience. Make sure that the attorney you hire to represent you in your traffic matter has actually handled cases like yours in the past. Many attorneys dabble in all sorts of areas of law and if traffic is not one they handle on a regular basis, they are not in a good position to advocate in your best interest. The attorney you choose does not have to have a legacy dating back to the 1800’s. Nor do they require “over 50 years combined experience.” More times than not, an attorney who has handled his/her fair share of vehicle and traffic cases will suffice. Just make sure that this area of law is one in which they consistently and continuously take on. You certainly don’t want to hire an attorney who has tons of experience in traffic law, but has been out of the loop for a good number of years. Like mentioned above, all City, Village, and Town courts operate a bit different and have their own way of doing things. By hiring a lawyer who is “in the know” will ultimately be of best interest to your legal needs.
For more information or if anyone has any questions or comments, feel free to visit us at
www.carbonelawyer.com
Carbone & Carbone LLP, Martin A. Carbone, Esq., Attorney at Law
