A traffic attorney costs $50 to $500 for simple cases and $900 to $5,000 for complicated cases that go to trial. Most traffic ticket cases are fairly simple and are unlikely to go beyond a short court appearance.

Traffic lawyers are more familiar with local laws than the average person and can help you:

• Get a ticket dismissed
• Prevent points from being added to your record
• Prevent having your license taken from you
• Keep your insurance costs from raising

Yes, a traffic attorney can go to court in your place and represent you. This saves you the time and stress of appearing in court, as well as preventing you from taking time off of work. Some traffic attorneys charge a small flat fee if they only need to appear in court for a short time.

You may need a traffic attorney to help if you were given a ticket for any of the following reasons:

• Speeding.
• Running a stop sign
• Running a red light
• Driving recklessly
• Participating in a street race
• Being involved in a hit and run
• Driving without a license or with a suspended license

A traffic attorney can dispute the ticket and help you keep your license, sometimes getting off with a warning instead of paying heavy fines. Hiring a lawyer can also help you get compensation if you've been injured in an accident.

Attorneys gather all relevant information regarding your case and present it to a judge. Oftentimes, your attorney will negotiate a deal with the prosecutor and compromise if necessary. One way they keep points off your license is by changing a ticket to a non-moving violation, which would not show up on a driving record. Another way is to find a small detail that's missing or off, which would make the ticket invalid.

While many states have online portals that allow citizens to pay traffic tickets without going to court, you will need to go to court if you're disputing the ticket. If you pay for the ticket, you're admitting guilt and allowing the violation to show up on your record, which may or may not be in your best interest. If you hire an attorney, they will appear in court for you.

If you do not pay your ticket or show up for court, the judge can find you guilty, suspend your license, or even issue a warrant for your arrest. Failure to appear in court instead of requesting a new court date is more serious than the initial traffic violation.

First search our list of traffic attorneys, then:

• Compare three or more free estimates.
• Browse reviews and previous cases on Thervo and Google.
• Choose a licensed, experienced law firm.
• Choose an attorney who puts you at ease and seems interested in helping you.
• Verify their credentials.
• Get an estimate in writing before casework begins.
• Follow a payment schedule instead of making up front payments.

After asking questions and verifying credentials, hire the best attorney in your area.

When searching for an attorney near you, consider asking the following questions:

• How long have you been with this firm?
• How long ago did you pass the bar?
• Are you able to take my case right now?
• How many traffic cases like mine have you won?
• How likely is it for my ticket to be dismissed?
• How long will it take to resolve my ticket?
• Do you charge hourly, or do you have a flat rate fee?
• Will you give me an estimate for my case?