Perhaps you were recently caught speeding; or maybe an officer saw you illegally sneaking around a school bus because you happened to be in a big hurry at the time. No matter what the specific reason for your moving violation might be, one thing’s for sure: You’ll probably need the help of an attorney to minimize the charge and come away from the situation with the most favorable outcome possible.
To get the process started, you’ll need to find an attorney who is equipped to deal with the matter at hand. The best way to go about choosing the right person for the job is visit an attorney’s office for an initial consultation. The purpose of the attorney consultation is to provide the lawyer with the facts regarding the charges you’re facing and get an idea as to whether or not he is suited to defend you. Many attorneys like New Jersey’s Elliot Wiesner offer these consultations for free as a courtesy to clients.
In order to ensure that your initial attorney consultation goes smoothly, you’ll need to know exactly how to go about preparing for it. According to Elliot Wiesner, it is crucial that you bring any and all documents that are relevant to the charge at hand with you to the attorney’s office. This includes any notices or reports that you may have gotten from the police department, court papers or hearing date assignments, accident reports where applicable, and the original ticket detailing the moving violation for which you are being charged. Additionally, you should consider the facts of the charge you are facing and bring any other relevant papers or documents along with you. If, for example, part of your charge includes the fact that you left your insurance card at home and were therefore caught driving around without the proper insurance, then you should bring a copy of your insurance information along to the initial meeting. The more information you are able to give the attorney, the better equipped he’ll be to understand the facts and address the situation.
Of course, not all information relating to a moving violation is available in writing or in official document form. Therefore, it is important that you come prepared with as much verbal detail about the incident as possible. You might want to jot down some notes beforehand to ensure that you don’t skip over any crucial details during your initial discussion with the attorney. If you had a witness to the incident, then you might want to run through the scenario with him prior to meeting your attorney as sometimes it takes a second person to remember a detail that might end up becoming a key component of your defense. Remember, this is your chance to tell your side of the story, so you’ll want to tell it as accurately as possible.
Once you’ve shared all the details and documents relating to the charge in question, your attorney should be able to evaluate your circumstances and give you a range of possible outcomes based on his proposed defense. A good attorney will offer up the best possible outcome for the scenario, but he will also do his job by preparing you for the worst. Additionally, during the consultation, your attorney will make you aware of the fees involved in your defense and offer you a chance to decide whether or not you wish to – or can afford to – pursue his services.
Of course, the idea of an attorney consultation can be a little bit nerve-wracking, but try to remember that the person you are going to meet with is actually on your side. You can do your part to help him help you by coming equipped with the proper paperwork, the right facts, and, just as importantly, an open mind.
