Receiving a traffic ticket in New York can result in many unpleasant or even devastating consequences. It is becoming more common for New York drivers to seek the help of an experienced traffic ticket attorney to maximize their chances of avoiding damage to their driving records, increased insurance costs and even suspensions. When facing such consequences, do not be too hasty in choosing a traffic attorney. There are several qualifications you should look for before shelling out your hard-earned money for legal assistance with your traffic ticket.
It may seem obvious, but before hiring an attorney, make sure you are dealing with a genuine New York traffic lawyer or law firm. When searching for attorneys on the Internet, beware of the signs of scams or substandard services. The most obvious red flags are when a site gives a 100% guarantee to beat your ticket or fails to include a physical office address on their home page. A reputable attorney would not make such unrealistic promises or “work out of his car”.
Also, it is best to avoid services that offer to find you a lawyer. Such services are likely to charge the attorney who, in turn, could pass that charge onto you. Plus, would you like to be the one who chooses your traffic lawyer (rather than some lead generation site)? When searching online you should always verify that your lawyer is a legitimate New York traffic attorney and has top ratings on Avvo.com, an independent lawyer rating site. Finally, you should also check Yelp and Google places to find more reviews about your prospective traffic ticket lawyer.
Once you know your lawyer is legitimate and has a good reputation, the next step is to learn about the attorney’s experience. It is best to hire a lawyer that has experience at the court where your case will be tried. If possible, try to learn how successful they have been with traffic tickets similar to yours in the past. Getting their “track record” will ensure that they have appeared in this court before as well as give you a good indication of what you can expect. Also, check to see if your prospective attorney handles a lot of traffic tickets, or is this just a small percent of his or her practice.
Last, but not least, when choosing an attorney, consider the cost. An honest attorney will usually tell you if your ticket is serious enough to warrant hiring a lawyer or not, potentially saving you a lot of money in unneeded legal fees. If you find that the ticket is too severe to handle on your own, it is possible to find a good attorney for a reasonable fee. Try and find one that charges a flat fee (rather than end up being surprised by some exorbitant hourly bill). Of course, you may not want to hire the least expensive lawyer as you may get what you pay for.
For more information about New York traffic laws, or to speak to a traffic attorney about our legal services, please contact us.