Yes, you can sue the other party for damages even if you received a ticket from a police officer. A ticket is not an admission of fault, although you may certainly feel at fault. After all, car accidents are traumatic experiences; it’s jarring to be in a crash and then have an officer give you a ticket.
You won’t lose your ability to sue after getting the ticket itself, but you will lose that ability if you say or do the wrong thing. If you go to traffic court and plead guilty, the chances of being able to file a lawsuit and recover any money are slim.
You’ll be able to file a lawsuit and recover the maximum amount of compensation with the help of an experienced car accident lawyer in Chicago. For over three decades, Langdon & Emison has helped thousands of clients obtain the money they need after being in a car accident.
To avoid compromising your legal rights and ability to sue, keep the following things in mind:
Police officers make mistakes.
A ticket is never the only evidence required to prove liability. This is because police officers may not have all the facts. They arrived at the scene after the crash happened, so they didn’t witness the accident firsthand. Yours may be one of these commonly issued tickets:
Even though officers make mistakes, it’s very important that you keep this in mind: if a police officer issues a citation, you need to accept it. You can try to argue your case, but it’s not worth tacking on other penalties. Based on your driving record, a car accident lawyer in Chicago will be able to dismiss your ticket, so you should follow the officer’s instructions and call an attorney as soon as possible.
Don’t plead guilty to the ticket.
A statement of guilt (“I’m sorry” or “I shouldn’t have done that”) or a guilty plea in traffic court may be used against you as an admission of guilt. Pleading guilty will make it nearly impossible for you to sue the other driver for compensation. There may still be a chance that you can sue and recover money, but admitting guilt and going back later to refute looks suspicious and almost always results in the person not receiving anything.
If you go ahead and pay the fine or plead guilty, those facts will be used against you in court. Speak with a lawyer before going to court. An attorney at Langdon & Emison will evaluate and walk you through your legal options and make sure there’s nothing that could compromise your case.
Other Evidence
Remember that a citation or ticket is not the only type of evidence needed to prove fault. Other examples of evidence include:
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Witness testimony
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Photographs of damage and injuries
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Physical signs of the accident, such as skid marks
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Video footage from nearby businesses
Car Accident Lawyer in Chicago
At Langdon & Emison, we treat clients like people, not just other cases. It’s our mission to represent clients to the best of our ability. That means helping them understand the best options for recovering the money they need to pay for injuries and damages.
If you were in a Chicago car accident and received a ticket from a police officer, understand that you still have legal options. A ticket is not the end of the line for you; you can still pursue legal action against the other driver.
For the most dependable and vigorous representation in your car accident case, contact Langdon & Emison today. We’ve helped thousands of clients get the money they need to move past the accident. Call (312) 872-3389 for more information and to schedule your free case consultation.