Traffic citations affect many different things. If you receive more than two traffic citations in under three years, it’s likely your insurance rates will go up. Traffic tickets may affect your car accident claim, but it depends on a few things. Some things that may impact your claim include your insurance rate increase, your driving record, and how fast you were going when you were issued the citation.
In the event of an accident, your main priority should be seeking medical attention for any injuries you sustained. However, police or accident reports are usually accompanied by traffic citations issued to you or the at-fault driver. In this blog, we discuss how traffic tickets can have an impact on your car accident claim.
Why Do Traffic Citations Matter?
One of the most common ways for an attorney to prove negligence is if the opposing party admits fault in any way. Even if this party was not at fault for the accident, merely apologizing can implicate them and prove beneficial to your accident claim.
Another way in which an attorney might prove negligence is ticket citation. If the at-fault party was issued a ticket for running a red light at the scene of the accident, an attorney might use that to prove they were negligent. Admission of guilt includes admitting to any traffic violations as well, so if the at-fault party doesn’t apologize but does admit to breaking traffic laws or receiving a citation, an attorney will use that to prove negligence.
It’s important to keep in mind that your standard traffic citation may not be beneficial to supporting your case unless the citation directly contributed to the accident. Most of the time, the citations that matter in these cases are moving violations.
The Top 3 Traffic Citations in Kentucky
Some of the most common citations that could potentially affect your accident claim include:
1. Speeding
Police officers issue tons of speeding tickets every day, mainly because they are often easy to prove and come with hefty fines. However, a speeding ticket may not necessarily mean the driver was driving 20 miles above the posted speed limit. Drivers have a duty to slow down in the event of rain, darkness, or any other hazardous road conditions. If this duty is ignored, an attorney may be able to prove negligence through a speeding ticket.
2. Reckless driving
The law in Kentucky that describes reckless driving is somewhat vague. State law requires a driver to “operate the vehicle in a careful manner, with regard for the safety and convenience of pedestrians and other vehicles upon the highway.” By this definition, many traffic violations could be considered reckless driving. In Kentucky, driving 15 miles per hour over the posted limit will result in a speeding ticket, while driving 30 miles per hour over the limit will get you a ticket for reckless driving.
3. California stops
A rolling right on a red light, also called a California stop, may contribute to an accident in some cases. Drivers typically only look to their left to check for oncoming traffic and often don’t even look to their right until the last second. This can cause the driver to hit a pedestrian because they did not see them at the crosswalk.
Contact a Kentucky Personal Injury Lawyer Today
At McCoy & Sparks, we have extensive experience with personal injury cases. Our experienced legal team understands Kentucky law, liability insurance, and has a track record of success maximizing the recovery of damages for our clients. Our job is to fight for you. We’re here to help you get the compensation you deserve.
Contact McCoy & Sparks, PLLC, your Central Kentucky car accident lawyers at 1-844-4KY-WINS or fill out our online form to set up a free consultation. Our offices are located at 212 W. Stephen Foster Ave. in Bardstown, Kentucky.