So, my friend rear ended someone. At fault. No injuries. Ticket.

If it matters, an ambulance freaked out the driver in the front, who slammed her brakes (stupid), my friend was not able to stop in time.

Should she bother getting a lawyer? Go to court? Or just pay it and wait till her insurance spikes?

She was driving a friend car, so her insurance did not pay anyone anything.

4/13/2010 10:26:31 AM

What does her driving record look like otherwise? I am assuming the ticket was for following too close. If her record is clean otherwise, a lawyer might be able to get the ticket dropped.

I'm not sure if you can use a PJC for a following too close ticket, but if so then that's an option as well, and can be done without a lawyer.

4/13/2010 10:29:48 AM

typically, if there is an accident, you will not get the ticket dropped, whether you have a lawyer or not.

v Some places will do that if it's been paid for. It may depend on the county.

[Edited on April 13, 2010 at 10:40 AM. Reason : ]

4/13/2010 10:38:05 AM

This happened to me when I was 16. I hydroplaned, rear ended a guy, and got a ticket. They said if I brought in proof that insurance paid to fix the other vehicle the ticket would be dropped, which it was.

4/13/2010 10:38:22 AM

Quote :

"She was driving a friend car, so her insurance did not pay anyone anything."

So, basically, BOTH of their insurance rates are going to go up. Hers for the ticket, and her friend's for having to pay to fix the damage on the other car. Man, that blows.

4/13/2010 10:44:56 AM

^^ i was also in almost this exact situation. ticket was dropped when i brought in proof that my insurance took care of the other car. handled it myself without a lawyer.

4/13/2010 10:47:34 AM

Last accident I was in, I just proved in court that I had made satisfactory arrangements to pay (insurance was still working on it) and they dropped mine.

4/13/2010 11:56:01 AM

Quote :

"I am assuming the ticket was for following too close"

The automatic at-fault for rear-end collisions always bothered me to an extent but now that give tickets??

Their could have been more than "reasonable" following distance but if some bitch in a porsche with big ass honkin brakes decides to do 60-0 in 120 ft; I do not care if you had a 4 second gap (2 as the normal rule of thumb). By the time you process they are braking to oh-shit they are making a hard fucking stop; your average sedan is going to be in trouble.

4/13/2010 2:04:51 PM

I got a failure to yield when I was 16. It caused an accident. I was at fault etc etc. I did the little defensive driving class and got it dropped to improper equipment. Tell her to go to the DA's office before hiring a lawyer, and see if they will cut her a similar deal.

4/13/2010 5:23:24 PM

Quote :

"This happened to me when I was 16. I hydroplaned, rear ended a guy, and got a ticket. They said if I brought in proof that insurance paid to fix the other vehicle the ticket would be dropped, which it was."

Yep, same for me in my accident. This was in Wake County a couple years ago.

4/15/2010 12:32:55 AM

^ Same here.

4/15/2010 1:50:19 AM

wow this is kind of freaky this happened to almost all of us in the exact same way, ambulance driver freaks out person in front of you in the rain and you hydroplane into them

its been my only accident and it happened when i was about 17

4/15/2010 9:43:50 AM

It is up to the judge, but with proof of fixing the other car they can let you go, or use your pjc.

Quote :

"So, basically, BOTH of their insurance rates are going to go up. Hers for the ticket, and her friend's for having to pay to fix the damage on the other car. Man, that blows."

The driver is legally obligated to cover all the losses incurred by the cars owner. Pay the deductible, pay the insurance increase, pay for lost vehicle value, and prey they are a good enough friend to let it end there (since they are legally entitled to sue on their insurance companies behalf for everything).

4/17/2010 10:36:10 AM