While a traffic ticket does not affect your personal injury case, it can open up new situations that could have an effect on your claim or indirectly affect the outcome. This article will explain how traffic tickets can affect your personal injury claim.
Traffic court records everything said
- Any statement made in court could be considered an “admission” that can be used in a different case, such as a personal injury lawsuit. Any evidence that is provided by one party in a traffic case hearing could be used against the other in a civil suit.
- Even statements not meant to be admitted of guilt can be taken as such by a judge in civil litigation. Even if you don’t believe that you caused the accident or have apologized for it, the opposing party could argue that your apology is the same as an admission of guilt in a car accident.
- It is important to be careful how you speak during a traffic hearing. If you plan on filing a personal injury case regarding the accident, you will need legal representation or advice.
An experienced car accident lawyer can help you to formulate the right words that will satisfy your legal obligations during citation hearings and protect your future rights when you file a personal injury case.
If you don’t get a traffic ticket but another party is, you could be subpoenaed for testimony in the traffic hearing. Subpoenaed means that you will be legally required to testify before the court. Your statements in traffic hearings as a witness are also recorded, even though you are not the defendant. If you plan to file a personal injuries claim, it is a good idea to consult with an attorney if you have any questions.
Sometimes, a prosecutor might offer a plea bargain. For example, in cases involving multiple citations, they might agree to drop some of the charges in return for you pleading guilty on another.
This offer is attractive as it reduces traffic citation penalties. However, a plea of ‘Guilty” could be used to contest any personal injuries claim you may have filed in connection to the accident. Do not plead guilty to a prosecutor, or any law enforcement officer, before the terms of the agreement are finalized. Before accepting or rejecting a plea deal from a prosecutor, consult an attorney.
Summarized from an article by The Dominguez Firm.
