How best to fight a ticket regarding a car accident?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How best to fight a ticket regarding a car accident?
I got into a car accident and need some help to see if I can fight a ticket. I was driving down the highway at 45 miles per hour when there was an ambulance broken down about 150 feet ahead in the left turning lane (only emergency flashers were on; yellow lights). 2 cars ahead of me someone tried to turn and brakes in the passing lane (lane I was in) and caused the car in front of me to brake (heavy braking because the driver did not see the ambulance). I instantly tried braking and ended up hitting the car in front of me going around 10 mph.
Asked on October 28, 2011 under Accident Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You're in a tough place. Generally, to fight a ticket for something like this (hitting another car), you have to show that you did nothing wrong--you were driving safely and appropriately (for the conditions), and the accident was due to circumstances beyond your own control. However, there is a strong presumption that the driver who rear-ends another is in fact at fault. The notion is that he either was following too close for conditions and couldn't stop in time, or that he wasn't paying attention and didn't brake quickly enough. It is likely you will not be able to get out of the ticket, though if you have a clean record otherwise and at least some circumstances in your favor, there's a chance you can get it reduced to a lesser offense. Your best bet is to retain experienced local counsel: a lawyer who handles tickets in this court, and who knows the prosecutor(s), judge(s), etc. He'll be best able to negotiate the ticket down (or to fight it, if there are strong facts in your favor).
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.