When it comes to traffic laws, people who drive on a regular daily basis have an unfortunate tendency to get themselves into trouble. Of course, some violations such as DWI charges carry harsher penalties than others. Still, in almost any given situation involving significant fines and repercussions, a person who’s caught breaking the law can benefit from hiring an attorney to represent him on the matter at hand. However, some people tend to avoid reaching out to an attorney for one major reason — money. Many are awfully quick to assume that they cannot afford to pay for an attorney, and instead attempt to tackle their ticket troubles on their own. Little do such people know that the act of foregoing an attorney can cost them far more in various penalties and overall aggravation.
New Jersey attorney Elliot Wiesner feels that if more people knew the facts about paying for an attorney, then more people would come to realize that getting legal help is not only affordable, but a wise decision overall. He therefore shares the following information about attorney fees in order to educate people who might be put off by the notion of forking over the big bucks in exchange for some legal backup:
An initial attorney consultation should be free
Many people shy away from reaching out to an attorney because they assume that they’re going to be charged a small fortune simply by walking through the door. The reality is that many attorneys offer free consultations in order to allow potential clients to share the details of the incident that got them into trouble and get an idea as to how much money the legal services in question are likely to cost. In fact, many of Wiesner’s clients are pleasantly surprised to learn that attorney representation is far more affordable than they initially would’ve thought it to be. Thanks to the now widely-adopted concept of free consultations, potential clients truly have nothing to lose by making contact with an attorney and hearing what he has to say.
Many attorneys take credit cards
Plenty of attorneys out there are willing to accept payments via credit or debit cards. This can make the process of paying for legal services a lot easier on clients who might be overwhelmed at the notion of shelling out a lump sum.
Attorney fees are more than fair
According to the law, attorneys in New Jersey are not allowed to charge a sliding scale fee based on their successes in defending clients against moving violations. In such situations, an attorney will simply charge a client a flat fee or an hourly fee that will not go up or down regardless of the eventual outcome of the ticket or trial. This fact should offer clients peace of mind, as it eliminates the potential for hidden charges to suddenly pop up down the line.
The next time you’re faced with a traffic infringement, don’t just assume that you won’t be able to afford an attorney. Take the time to get the facts about what your defense is going to cost so that you can accurately weigh your options and come to a wise decision. In many cases, what you might pay for in attorney fees, you’ll save in reduced punishment, anxiety, and long-term ramifications.
