If you’ve gotten a bit carried away behind the wheel, and the Missouri authorities stopped you and gave you a speeding ticket, it may not seem like that of a big deal. You may decide to simply pay it and move on with your life. But, if you stop and think about it for a moment, you may begin toying around with the idea of fighting that ticket, especially if you believe that the circumstances warrant it.
Still, you may not be inclined to do so, thinking that it is too much of a hassle for such a minor inconvenience. In the simplest words possible, while you know that you could fight it, you may not be sure about whether you should fight it. Is it really worth it? Well, that’s what we are here to find out right now.
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So, Is This Worth Fighting in Missouri?
In addition to getting a fine for speeding, you may also experience a premium increase on your insurance policy after such a transgression. Furthermore, there are the long-term consequences that can arise from a tarnished driving reputation. Not to mention that Missouri uses a system point to track those driving infractions, meaning that, if you accumulate a lot of those points, your license may be suspended, or completely revoked.
The above, thus, clearly shows why fighting a ticket that you believe can successfully be fought is a good idea. In short, you will avoid adding unnecessary points, and thus risking tarnishing your driving reputation and even losing your license. Furthermore, contesting the ticket will also reduce the chance of getting your insurance premium increased, which is another important thing to keep in mind when trying to decide if fighting is actually worth it.
Are you sure that you weren’t speeding, but you got the ticket anyway? If that is the case, then you should undeniably fight it. After all, some external factors, such as the malfunction of the radar gun, officers misidentifying vehicles, or other procedural errors could have led to you falling on the sword without actually having done anything wrong. And, it goes without saying that you don’t want to pay for someone else’s mistakes.
Say you are a professional driver, and you rely on your good driving record. You wouldn’t want anything to tarnish your reputation, would you? Well, in that case, fighting a speeding ticket is absolutely worth it, because you will avoid facing consequences that could jeopardize your entire career.
Finally, the process of fighting may seem like a big upfront cost, because you’ll have to hire lawyers, but here’s the thing. Contesting the ticket will actually save you money in the long run, because you won’t have to worry about the insurance premium increases, nor pay the fine, nor any potential license reinstatement fees. So, to sum up, fighting a speeding ticket in Missouri is definitely worth it, especially if you’re sure that the circumstances and the evidence are on your side.
How to Fight It?
Now that you’ve understood the advantages of fighting the ticket, the next thing you want to know is how to actually do it. With no legal knowledge whatsoever, going to municipal court by yourself can be scary, and it could lead to you doing more harm than good, and definitely not coming out as the winner. Well, that is why it is never a good idea to try and fight the case alone. Quite on the contrary, what you should do is hire professionals and thus let them handle all the hard work on your behalf.
An experienced traffic lawyer will know how to navigate the entire legal system, as well as how to identify any weaknesses in the case against you, and thus ultimately negotiate favorable outcomes and get you out of the tricky situation. So, even if you’re not sure whether you can fight the ticket, you should definitely consult professionals, and let them be the judge of that. In any case, the bottom line is that you need to hire a lawyer when you find yourself in a situation like these, because they will know how to handle everything successfully, and they will fight for your rights.
How to Choose the Right Lawyer?
It should by now be clear to everyone that fighting the ticket alone is not a smart move, and that hiring lawyers, instead, is the best thing to do here. Well, while you may know that already, there is a chance that you are slightly confused about how to actually find and choose the right traffic lawyer to represent you in this particular case. So, that is what we are going to be discussing next, as I will share tips that should lead you towards more easily selecting the perfect lawyer for you in Missouri.
- Check for Specialization
Okay, you know that you can find these professionals through a few simple browser searches, and you also know that you can get some recommendations from other people. The question, however, is not how to find these experts, but how to choose the right one for you. Therefore, you can use those two steps to make a list of potential lawyers, but then you’ll have to proceed towards researching them all in more details.
For one thing, you should check if the professionals you’re considering actually specialize in traffic cases. Because not all lawyers handle the same types of cases. So, search for those professionals who specialize in this area of the law, and who already have substantial experience with fighting Missouri speeding tickets.
- Check Track Record
Speaking of experience, you will have to check their track records as well. After all, you don’t simply want a lawyer who has had his fair share of cases like these. Instead, you want a lawyer who has won his fair share of cases like these. A good track record proves that they know what they are doing, and that they will know how to fight your speeding ticket successfully, a process that is also discussed on this page.
- Inspect Reputation
Naturally, you will have to inspect the reputation of the professionals you’re considering. This is because you want to hire a Missouri lawyer that is known as being highly reliable and trustworthy. So, take your time to read some reviews written by previous clients, or to talk to some of them directly if that’s a possibility, aiming at determining the reputation of the professionals you’re considering, and at ultimately choosing a highly reputable one.
- Talk Fees
It goes without saying that you will have to discuss the fees before going any further. This will allow you to compare them and figure out which professionals are being reasonable, and which ones may simply be too expensive. Of course, don’t decide based on the fees alone, but don’t ignore them either.
- Evaluate Communication Skills
In the end, you will want to be able to communicate freely and openly with the lawyer that will be representing you in court. This is why evaluating the overall quality of communication is a must. So, have a few interviews before making your final decision. Then, compare all the info you’ve found and hire the lawyer you believe would be best for fighting your speeding ticket.
