To choose the best reckless driving attorney, you should first ask for referrals from people you know as well as other lawyers, review the attorney's credentials, and interview him or her to see if you can work together. It is also important to ensure that your attorney's rates are affordable and that you will be able to afford the legal representation that you have selected. Other considerations may include the existence of any secondary charges that you are facing, such as a DUI, drug offense, or an accusation of other types of misconduct. If you are facing such charges in addition to that of reckless driving, you may wish to work with someone who also has expertise in defending clients from similar charges.
If you are charged with reckless driving, choosing the right reckless driving attorney can prevent you from having to pay heavy fines, losing your driver's license, or even going to jail. You should begin your search by contacting people you know and asking them if they know of a good reckless driving attorney. Although advertising in newspapers, on the Internet, and on television can be helpful in connecting you with an attorney, you should not rely on advertising in making your decision. A person may claim to be a good reckless driving attorney, but without investigating his credentials or record of success you have no way of knowing this for certain. If you have a lawyer, you should ask him for a referral, and you may also wish to ask friends and colleagues if they can recommend someone.
When you get the names of some attorneys, make an appointment to speak with each one. In many cases, an attorney will give you a free consultation so that he can review your case and answer your questions. Prior to attending a consultation, you may wish to check with the bar association or similar organization in your area to find out if the attorneys you are investigating have any sort of negative disciplinary record. Ask each reckless driving attorney about his success rate and what he believes he can do for you as far as getting charges dismissed or reduced and what he thinks your chances of prevailing are if you have to go to trial. If you feel that his answers are honest and realistic and that he and his staff treat you with respect, you may wish to consider hiring him to represent you in your case.
One major consideration for many people who have been charged with a crime is the issue of costs. In criminal cases if you cannot afford an attorney, many jurisdictions may provide you with one at no charge. The quality of this legal representation can be uneven, so many people prefer to hire their own. Be sure to discuss costs with any attorneys you speak with before agreeing to work with them so that you don't risk losing representation during your case.
