If I was in a recent accident in a company dump truck and was ticketed a few days after for careless driving, should I retain legal services?
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If I was in a recent accident in a company dump truck and was ticketed a few days after for careless driving, should I retain legal services?
The car I hit put their blinker and brakes on right where they turned and I hit them.
Asked on July 3, 2014 under Accident Law, New Jersey
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
It's probably best to retain an attorney who can help you with both issues--the ticket, which is definitely an issue (you want to get it reduced as much as possible, to reduce the points on your license; a lawyer can help you do that) and a potential lawsuit for damages to the car you hit (or injuries to the people in it), if you are sued.
Note that it's not a given that you will be sued: the car's owner may choose to only sue your company, since they presumably have more money then you. (And actually: if the car's owner's insurance takes care of all their costs and there're no personal injuries, they may not bother to sue at all.) But even though you were driving a company truck, since you were driving, you *could* be sued either instead of or in addition to the company; the driver can always be sued. And even if you're not sued by the car's owner, if that person sues your company, your company and/or the company's insurer may sue you to try to recover anything they have to pay out. So if you end up being sued by one party or another, you'll want an attorney; and since you'll need a lawyer for the ticket anyway, you may as well get an attorney who could help you with both matters at need.
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