Virginia Takes Speeding Very Seriously

While speeding tickets are among the most common types of traffic tickets distributed, many other traffic offenses warrant for a ticket. Some of these offenses include parking on a red curb, running a red light, driving too slow, and reckless driving. If you are given a traffic ticket for a traffic violation, there will be a fine printed directly on the ticket as well as a court date if you need to appear in court, this is not always the case. There will also be a date on which the fine is due, and if you fail to pay your fine on time you could face additional charges and a warrant may be put out for your arrest.

The state of Virginia takes speeding very seriously. The standard traffic ticket is $6 for every mile over the speed limit, $7 for every mile over the speed limit in a school or work zone, and $8 for every mile over the speed limit in a residential area. On top of that, there is a $200 fine as well just for receiving the ticket. The state of Virginia also adds on a $62 fee for every traffic conviction.

If you are pulled over for going 20 mph over the posted speed limit, or over 80 mph in any given area, you will be charged with reckless driving and the fines will skyrocket. You could be charged with up to a $2500 fine, and you could even face jail time. A reckless driving charge is a class one misdemeanor.

Not only will you be fined for speeding, but you will also be ticketed for driving too slow. You can be fined $30 on top of the $200 ticket charge and $62 traffic conviction charge. Driving slow causes a lot of issues such as creating unneeded traffic and backups on the road, as well as accidents.

Virginia Driving Record Points

In addition to fines and penalties for receiving a traffic ticket, the state of Virginia uses a driving record point system. Depending on your case, you could receive 3-6 points on your driving record, and they will remain on your record for two years. This will make your insurance premium increase significantly and if the points accumulate you can have your license suspended or revoked.

If you choose a local Richmond traffic attorney could be assigned to your case, and they could get your points reduced or removed altogether. They can also negotiate your traffic ticket and the fines and penalties associated with them. Keeping your driving record clean is vital for many reasons, and a traffic attorney may be able to do that for you.

Understanding Personal Injury Regarding Truck Accidents

There are few types of highway accidents that yield horrific results like a truck accident. When tractor-trailer rigs go out of control or cause accidents due to human error the results can be fatalities and extensive property damage as well as disrupting traffic, often resulting in hazards on the roadway. Big-rig trucks carry a variety of products that can be very dangerous when trucks roll over or jack-knife causing the tank to rupture. These accidents commonly leave multiple injured parties in their wake following the fact, and reconstructing the accident can be difficult.

There could easily be multiple negligent respondent parties involved in litigation who are attempting to defer responsibility to the other defendants. Both the driver and the shipping company could be held responsible for an accident, and sometimes product liability claims arise too when vehicle part malfunction causes an accident that appears unexplained. Sometimes even the local or state governments can be liable as well when road conditions are such that the court finds that the state has failed in maintaining the highway. What this means is the cases get complicated in many instances, and having an experienced truck accident attorney is vital to being compensated properly for all injuries and property damage to vehicles.

Damages resulting from a truck accident commonly include compensatory recovery for pecuniary expenses along with lost resources and property. Financial recovery for medical bills and lost wages are initial claims. A settlement for non-economic pain-and-suffering as a result of the injuries suffered in the crash is the final step. Punitive damages can also be available in very serious cases such as wrongful death claims that include gross negligence by any respondent party, which is often the result of a truck accident.

Punitive damages must be awarded by a jury, so retaining an attorney who is willing to take a truck accident injury claim to a complete trial can be very important for being made financially whole following a wreck involving a commercial vehicle. Even the potential of a punitive damage award can be solid leverage for an experienced a truck accident attorney who understands how to use this possibility in negotiating a significantly higher settlement than offered.

Truck accident cases are often strongly defended when the respondent insurance company is focused on protecting the company bottom line instead of providing effective compensation according to the law. It is always essential to have an aggressive truck accident attorney in Vancouver who is diligent in ensuring that all of your legal rights to financial recovery are respected, including minimizing any claim of personal comparative negligence in the accident.