This is a guest post from fellow New York attorney Michael Block. Visit his website at michaelblocklawyer.com.
Car accidents can involve personal injury and or property damage. Calls from insurance companies, lawyers, hospital bills and costly car repairs make dealing with the aftermath of an accident unbearable. To make matters worse, traffic tickets issued after an accident can seriously impact the cost of your insurance and determine which of the drivers is liable.
When a police officer is called to the scene, he will try to determine the facts surrounding the accident, and if possible, determine who caused the accident. You may give your side of the story, but chose your words carefully. Saying things like “I’m sorry” or “it was my fault” could damage you. You also have the option to say nothing and only comply with handing the officer your license, registration and insurance. Regardless of what you say or don’t say, the officer may still give you a ticket. The types of tickets issued after accidents may include:
| Type of Ticket | Points |
|---|---|
| Red Light Ticket | 3 points |
| Following too closely (tailgating) | 4 points |
| Reckless Driving | 5 points |
| Failure to Yield to Right of Way | 3 points |
| Stop Sign | 3 points |
| Improper Passing or Changing Lane Unsafely | 3 points |
| Driving in Wrong Direction or Left of Center | 3 points |
| Leaving Scene of Property Damage Incident | 3 points |
| Child Safety Restraint Violation | 3 points |
| Improper Cell Phone Use | 5 points |
| Use of Portable Electronic Device (Texting) | 5 points |
| Disobey Traffic Control Device | 5 points |
| Speeding | 3 – 11 points |
Though there is a great deal of hassle associated with getting your car back on the road and sorting through the things that your insurance does and does not cover, a traffic ticket has serious ramifications which could negatively affect your license. An experienced criminal defense attorney could lower the points against your license or get rid of the charges altogether. Call (212) 227-9008 or email MichaelBlock.law@gmail.com immediately for more information on how we could represent you.