Being accused of reckless driving may have you ready to hire a traffic citation lawyer to present your side of a case. Prior to consulting with a reckless driving attorney, though, it's a good idea to learn some of the more common defenses drivers may use. This will ensure that you make the most of your time while talking with them, so let's take a look at three of the better ways cases may be defended against.
The Best Defense: It Wasn't You
While the police have a limited right in American law to pull over folks in cars that look like ones that were involved in reported reckless driving, they also have a responsibility to ensure they nab the right motorist. If you know for a fact that it wasn't you that was doing the things the cops say happened, the best approach is to obtain as much video as possible. Fortunately, defendants have the right to demand people to produce things like dash and body cam videos. Traffic camera footage is also discoverable.
It's a good idea to install a dashcam in your car. You may want to have your traffic violation lawyer go on social media to request any footage from cameras other cars had. If you can show that a car that looked like yours was in the vicinity at the time, you'll be much closer to proving it wasn't you.
Obscured Signs or Signals
You have a duty to observe traffic control devices, such as speed limit signs and traffic lights. The government, however, has a responsibility to ensure that all traffic control devices are readily visible to motorists. Overgrown vegetation is one of the most common causes of trouble, but things like parked construction equipment can obstruct a driver's view, too. Try to identify the signs that were in the zone at the time you were stopped to present your speeding ticket lawyer with the most extensive view of the scene that is possible.
Urgency
A classic example of legal urgency is when a driver is helping someone get to the hospital to deliver a baby. Generally, the cops are good about these sorts of things, but they may see things differently if they feel the urgency of your situation wasn't what you presented it as, such as a minor burn. A medical report will help your traffic citation lawyer present an urgency argument.
For more information, contact a law firm like Tolbert & Tolbert, LLP.
The world is a crazy place, and you never know when you will be faced with an uphill legal battle. I didn't used to feel like I was at a high risk for being sued, but after dealing with various business concerns, I could tell that I needed to procure an attorney. I was faced with a few problems such as managing my employees and dealing with a pending lawsuit, and I didn't know what to do or how to go about managing various issues. Fortunately, my lawyer understood what we needed to do to work things out, and we managed things appropriately. On this website, find out how to identify your rights and take care of business.