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How do you defend yourself in court for careless driving?
I got a careless driving charge and I need to defend myself in traffic court this week. How do you get careless driving off your record?
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
When defending yourself in traffic court, whether it’s against a careless driving charge or another violation, there are a few things that you can do:
- Dress to impress. Looking the part will make you a more compelling candidate. Arrive on time, wear professional clothing, and address all members of the court with respect.
- Bring your license, registration, insurance information, and the citation that you received. If you can, bring a copy of your state driving record with you, as well.
- Gather as much evidence as you can before heading to the courtroom. Collect the officer’s name and badge number, photos of any relevant signs or damage, pictures of your car, and the time and date of the infraction.
- Find a witness if possible. Remember, your job is to create reasonable doubt as to your guilt, so a witness can provide that doubt for you.
- When you question witnesses, don’t assume anything. Instead, speak as if you are a third party to the case.
- Watch out for witnesses who use personal opinions as evidence, and challenge them. Personal opinions are not facts and therefore do not hold up the same way in court.
Remember, you can always
hire a lawyer
to help you get out of a careless driving charge. If you’re able to afford this expense, hiring someone with traffic court experience is your best chance of getting the charges dismissed.Finding affordable car insurance after a careless driving charge can be hard, but
Jerry
is here to help. Jerry is an insurance comparison app that shops for low prices with over 50 different insurance companies for free. You will get quotes in seconds, and if you ever have any questions, agents are just a text away. The average Jerry user saves $887 a year on car insurance.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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