If you are charged with reckless driving, you have an important choice to make. Specifically, how to respond to those charges. Below is an overview of your options after a reckless driving charge.
Choice – Ignoring the Reckless Driving Charge
Some people simply choose to ignore a reckless driving charge. This occurs most frequently when an out-of-state motorist is charged with reckless driving in Virginia. This is not a good choice and it is definitely not recommended. If you ignore the reckless driving charge, you will likely face the full range of consequences and could possibly make the situation worse. Ignoring the reckless driving ticket means you will at least be found guilty of a misdemeanor reckless driving. Depending upon the facts of your case, the judge might then issue a capias warrant since you failed to appear on your assigned court date. A capias warrant is a warrant for your arrest. This means you will likely be arrested by law enforcement.
Choice – Defending Yourself
You can choose to appear in court by yourself for your reckless driving charge. The advantage with this choice is that you do not incur the expense of retaining the services of a defense attorney. You just appear in court and basically cross your fingers hoping for the best. However, the supposed cost savings of not hiring an attorney can come back to haunt you and you could, in fact, wind up paying more. This is because there are an array of fines, penalties and costs associated with a reckless driving conviction. It is also extremely risky to go into court without a game plan and just hoping for the best.
For example, if you are representing yourself, do you have an idea for how the judge will responds to a driving record like yours? Do you know if a driving school or community service is a possibility to get the charges reduced? Are you familiar with the possible defects on a calibration certificate that could get your charge dismissed? Those are just a few of the issues that a skilled Fairfax County reckless driving attorney will review with you.
Another disadvantage of appearing yourself is that you will have to take time off from work and travel to court. Depending upon your work situation and how far away you are located from the court, this could result in an expense and inconvenience.
Choice – Hire a Skilled and Experienced Fairfax County Reckless Driving Defense Attorney
Instead of handling a reckless driving ticket yourself or just crossing your fingers, you can choose to retain the services of an aggressive and respected Fairfax County reckless driving defense lawyer. The only real disadvantage to hiring a lawyer is the cost. However, the many advantages of retaining defense counsel vastly outweigh the relatively minor cost. The major advantage to hiring an experienced reckless driving defense lawyer is that they know how to navigate the legal system to get the best possible result for your case. A knowledgeable reckless driving defense lawyer should know the officer, the judge, the prosecutor, and the clerks. Simply knowing the players involved helps give you an advantage in achieving an optimal outcome for your case.
Which Choice is Best for You?
At the end of the day, you have to make a choice on how to respond to the reckless driving charge. Obviously, of the options described above, it makes the most sense to schedule a free, confidential case review with one of our reckless driving defense attorneys at Dua Law Firm. Our legal team takes pride in representing all clients with compassion to ensure effective legal representation. You can be rest assured that Dua Law Firm will work tirelessly to provide the most effective representation possible. Get in touch with our experienced defense lawyers in Fairfax today. Contact Raj Dua at (703) 382-7300 to schedule a free, confidential case review.