how much is an attorney for traffic court

Fees start as low as $60-$150 to have a lawyer spend a few minutes appearing as your representative in traffic court (so you don't have to attend) but, depending on location and circumstances, if can run $200-$500 for limited and fairly straightforward legal services for a simple speeding ticket or other traffic offense. In these cases, most attorneys charge a flat fee rather an hourly rate, and many lawyers accept traffic citation work by mail.

Full Answer

How much does a traffic lawyer cost?

Traffic lawyer cost for speeding charges, however, will go up to as high as $1,000-$2,000 or more to fight a case of speeding and can run up to $5,000 and up for a more intricate traffic case that goes to court.

What fees are there to fight for your ticket?

The following fees are to be prepared if you fight for your ticket rights: 1. Lawyer Fees – service and representation fees . 2. Court Fees –the court charges you to process your ticket. You are to pay the court after your ticket is resolved an agreement has been reached. 3.

What is the most common traffic violation?

Actually, you have to know what case you’re in to know how much the cost will be. The most common traffic violation is speeding , while others are more on running reckless driving and driving without a license, hit and run accidents and DUI.

What does it mean if you have a traffic violation on your record?

A traffic violation on your record could also mean that your auto insurance rates can go up 30-50 percent for the following years.

What does a lawyer do?

1. They analyze and give you advice. Your lawyer will listen to what happened and take in of your situation and analyze and counsel you on numerous different courses of action. They don’t just hit and run over you. They are there to work for you.

How does plea bargaining help?

A lawyer’s plea bargaining can greatly help in reducing the penalty you might have to pay in terms of jail or fines. 3. The lawyer is you in court. If you tackle charges like driving-under-influence or just speeding, your lawyer can go to the courthouse and attend the hearing for you.

Is it worth getting a traffic ticket?

Most people, however, have gotten one or more in their driving days. It may be worth it to hire a traffic lawyer to fight your ticket. Many people complain that they “earn” those tickets when they don’t actually deserve them.

How does an attorney determine what they will charge?

The most significant variable in the cost of hiring a traffic attorney is how much time it will take them to fix your issue. You are, in a sense, paying an hourly fee for the time an attorney spends on your case.

How about a ballpark figure?

Keeping in mind all the variables above, a general starting price for hiring a traffic lawyer for a simple speeding ticket is around $100. Any complications will add a moderate amount to the fee. But wait, you might say, what about those ads I see talking about fixing speeding tickets for well under $100? Give them a call.

How much does a speeding ticket lawyer cost?

Fees start as low as $60-$150 to have a lawyer spend a few minutes appearing as your representative in traffic court (so you don't have to attend) but, depending on location and circumstances, if can run $200-$500 for limited and fairly straightforward legal services for a simple speeding ticket or other traffic offense.

What does a speeding attorney do?

An attorney will negotiate for you, attempting to get the charges dismissed on technicalities or reduced to minimize the impact on your driving record and auto insurance rates.

What happens when an attorney's retainer is gone?

When the retainer is gone, you will be billed for an additional payment. Some attorneys specialize in speeding and other traffic law violations, sometimes handling hundreds of cases daily [ 2] , according to Bankrate.com.

What are the most common traffic violations?

The most common traffic violation is speeding , but others include running a red light; making an illegal U-turn; driving without a license, registration and/or insurance; hit and run; reckless driving; seat belt or child restraint violations; and others. FindLaw.com describes common traffic violations [ 1] .

What happens if you go over the speed limit?

Laws vary considerably, but in some states if you were driving more than 9-15 mph over the posted limit simply admitting you were speeding and paying the fine might result in a temporary suspension of your driver license. FindLaw.com provides an overview of traffic laws by state [ 3] and discusses deciding whether to fight a traffic ticket [ 4] .

How long does it take for a ticket to go up in insurance?

This can cause your auto insurance rates to go up 30-50 percent for the next two to three years.

Can AAA members get reimbursement for traffic tickets?

Members of the AAA (American Automobile Association) who are found not guilty of violating motor vehicle laws may be eligible for reimbursement of a portion of their legal fees. Contact AAA Members Services [ 6] for details. Shopping for a traffic ticket attorney:

What is a traffic ticket lawyer?

In particular, a traffic ticket attorney specializes in laws related to driving; such lawyers defend traffic court cases varying from routine moving violations (such as running a traffic light) to more serious situations (such as driving under the influence ). Regardless of the violation circumstances, a seasoned lawyer works to reduce your traffic ...

What can a seasoned lawyer do to reduce traffic ticket penalties?

Regardless of the violation circumstances, a seasoned lawyer works to reduce your traffic ticket penalties, negotiate alternative penalties, and/or dismiss the ticket altogether.

What does it mean to reduce a ticket?

Generally, reducing ticket penalties means getting the judge to reduce or dismiss your fines and/or driver's license points .

What does an attorney do?

Attorneys specialize in particular areas of the law— meaning they are well-versed in legal language and can use that knowledge and experience to identify flaws in the case brought against you (or at least lessen your penalties ).

What is a public defender?

Public defenders, or court-appointed attorneys, are lawyers who help people who can't afford private legal defense.

Can a traffic ticket lawyer help with a speeding ticket?

From a speeding violation to forgetting to use your turn signal, even the most routine traffic stop can add up quickly; thus, sometimes, hiring a traffic ticket lawyer can make a difference—especially regarding reduced fines, keeping points off your driver's license, and avoiding increased insurance rates .

Does traffic school help with a ticket?

Not only can traffic school help you get a ticket dismissed, but it can also remove driver's license points (or prevent points from accumulating, depending on your state's laws) and even lower your car insurance rates .

Why Hire an Attorney?

Across the country, countless drivers are stopped every day by local enforcement as a result of traffic violations. Depending on the type of infraction committed, traffic violations can be minor or severe. The more severe violations should be gaged by an attorney.

An Example Case

Recently, I received our first email from an unhappy client since opening Garguile DUI & Traffic Lawyers over two years ago. The client did not believe a traffic lawyer was worth it. They were upset with the result of their case.

How to bring down traffic lawyer cost?

You can bring the traffic lawyer cost down by not spending time on the case (having a new lawyer handle the case in court, letting a secretary deal with the client) BUT YOU CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY .

How many years of experience in traffic court?

has at least 5 years of personal experience in traffic court. knows all of the regular judges AND the substitute judges. knows how to value a case, and what to expect for every case and every unique situation. personal attention to each case. do you have direct access to the attorney who is handling your case.

What are the factors that determine the quality of representation in traffic court?

The primary determining factors for quality representation in traffic court are WHO is going to court, HOW long have they been specializing in traffic court, DO they have an excellent reputation with the court, and DO you have personal communication with the actual attorney who is handling your case in court? Traffic lawyer cost is going to be related directly to WHO is handling your case in court, and how long they intend to spend on your case.

Why do criminal cases cost more?

Criminal cases are often more time intensive than traffic cases. More serious or more time intensive cases will factor into the fee as will the location of the criminal charges. In criminal cases, the cost for a good criminal defense attorney will often depend on the number of charges, whether the charges are misdemeanors or felonies, and whether or not the case is expected to plead out or go to trial. Contested trials always cost more because they take more time. In addition, jury trials always cost more because they take more time.

What does it mean when a lawyer quotes a low fee in Virginia?

If you call a law firm, and they quote a really low fee, it just means they aren’t going to put time into your case. EVERY lawyer bills for their time. So you have a right to question high fees as well as low fees.

What does it mean when a lawyer's quote is low?

Every lawyer bills for their time. So if you see a quote that is really low, it means they are not actually putting any time into your case. Conversely, if you see a that is too high, it is possible the attorney is acting like a general contractor and then paying someone else to handle your case in court.

How much is a speeding ticket in Virginia?

In Virginia, there is a HUGE difference between reckless driving by speed (criminal misdemeanor, carries up to a year in jail even for 11 mph over) versus a simple speeding ticket (maximum fine of $250, no potential jail or license suspension by the judge). There is a HUGE difference between a single vehicle accident, and an accident where someone died.