Do we need a traffic attorney regarding a car accident?
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Do we need a traffic attorney regarding a car accident?
My son backed in to another student’s car, bumper to bumper, in his high school parking lot on video. They both got out, looked over the bumpers and agreed that there wasn’t enough damage to call 911. The other student asked for my son’s number, so my son typed it in the other student’s phone but inadvertently
Asked on August 27, 2017 under Accident Law, Colorado
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
You and your wife are both right in a way. First, your wife is correct inasmuch as the facts are the most critical factor of any case; we lawyers may like to think that we are, but most of the time, the facts have more impact than anything we can say or do.
But you are correct in that lawyers, who know the law, the rules of court and evidence, and the local players (judges, prosecutors, etc.) can still make a difference. For example, sometimes evidence is flawed or inadmissible for some reason, and a lawyer will know how to minimize it or possibly exclucde it; they will know other offenses, with lesser penalties, that your son may be able to plead to; they can prevent your son from saying anything that may hurt his case; they will know how to present the facts in the best light.
Can you do a credible job without a lawyer in most traffic cases? Yes. Will a lawyer generally result in a somewhat better outcome? Also yes. In my experience, most attorneys charge $750 - $1,500 for a case like this; the issue is, can you afford and are you willing to pay that for an incremental or fractional gain in the outcome?
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