Driving Offences and Legal Representation

Legal representation, or at very the least legal advice should be a taken by those who have been charged with driving offences. There are solicitors who deal specifically with motoring offences who will have extensive knowledge of road traffic offences and criminal law.

Driving Offences and the Need for Legal Representation

Different driving offences come with different penalties and fines. Some, such as Drink Driving offences, dangerous driving and driving without insurance are viewed as serious driving offences. Many driving offences will require court appearances and in these cases legal representation should be viewed as a necessity. Solicitors will have years of experience in defending drivers charged with a wide range of driving offences. Solicitors will also be able to use a number of different defences that may help to reduce fines and decrease the length of a driving ban if the defendant is found guilty.

The Price of Legal Representation

Hiring legal representation is not cheap and fees will be charged by the hour. The seniority of the solicitor within a law firm can make a difference to the price. If a defendant is found guilty they will have to pay their own solicitor’s costs plus prosecution costs; this is in addition to any conviction fines. A case that involves the solicitor gathering evidence from witnesses will also usually incur higher costs. The typical cost for a not guilty plea for a driving offence will be around £1500 plus VAT. It is a good idea to receive estimates from law firms as prices can vary between companies.

Obtaining Legal Aid for Driving Offences

In certain situations it may be possible for those charged with driving offences to obtain legal aid. Legal aid will help to cover part or all of the costs when hiring legal representation. Minor driving offences will not usually be covered by legal aid but it can be available for more serious offences. Driving offences where prison sentences could be an outcome may be covered by legal aid. A solicitor will be able to advise whether or not legal aid is available to a defendant.

How to Choose Legal Representation for a Driving Offence

Driving Offences are a common occurrence and most people will know someone who has, at one time or another committed a driving offence. Word of mouth is often one of the best ways of finding good legal representation. Personal recommendations from family and friends will usually be unbiased. There are solicitors that specialise in driving offences and details of these local law firms can be found on the internet. Remember that as with all businesses the saying, ‘you get what you pay for’ is worth considering.

Points to Remember when Choosing Legal Representation

There are a number of considerations to keep in mind when choosing Legal Representation for driving offences. Points to remember should include:

• During the initial solicitor consultation ask various questions; the answers given will give an indication of the solicitor’s experience
• When it comes to legal fees it is worth checking insurance policies as some do cover part or all legal fees
• Obtain quotes from different legal firms to give an indication of price before choosing
• Solicitors who specialise in motoring law should have more experience; always ask if they have dealt with this type of motoring offence
• A duty solicitor may be available and will be free of charge but may not have a wide amount of experience in motoring offences
• Try to obtain local legal representation; a solicitor who has to travel will add to legal costs
• Solicitors cannot be hired on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis for criminal cases including driving offences

Always seek legal representation at the earliest point in order to give solicitors plenty of preparation time. Always undertake research on solicitors and law firms before choosing. There are many internet forums where a law firm’s reputation can be checked out. A simple check on a search engine can bring up information from clients who have not been happy with the service they have been provided with from certain law firms. It will be in the defendant’s best interests to undertake this research rather than simply picking a law firm at random from telephone directory.