Questions regarding car accident / traffic violation in VA with Geico insurance.?

Question

Hello,

I have two questions regarding car accident / traffic violation.

Recently, one of my family members recently got into a car accident. She failed to yield at the stop sign and hit another person's car. Thankfully no one got hurt and the damages to the cars were minimal. My family member got a ticket from the police officer for a failure to yield at the stop sign. She was given a choice to go to the court or pay a fine of 95 bucks. She has Geico insurance and this happened in VA.

1) Is it even beneficial to go to the court if she is going to plead guilty anyways?

2) Also, is there an option like driving school, etc to lower her "penalty" points so her insurance premium will be lowered?

Thank you all for your time.

Answer 1

Hey that's more than one question! But okay.



The answers are maybe and it's up to the prosecutor or judge. That's why the option of going to court is available, in fact. Before anyone signs the back of that ticket, there are some things you (or your family member, or whoever) need to know.



First, the insurance company will still consider this a responsible (at-fault) accident no matter what. Even if the judge rules not guilty of the charge, it's still an at-fault accident on the insurance record. Convictions and responsibility in an accident are two different things.



Second, it's highly unlikely that any judge will rule not guilty in a case like this. Your family member did in fact fail to yield right of way at a stop sign, and the accident proves it. The best anyone can hope for is a plea deal with the prosecutor (they have that authority) with a reduced penalty. Those happen all the time, and they usually involve a smaller fine or / and fewer naughty-naughty points or / and maybe the option of driving school in exchange for either or both of the above.



If you're going to negotiate the charge in court, it's best to hire a traffic defender. Those people are usually ex-cops / paralegals, and they know how the traffic court system works. They rarely go all the way to trial and get their clients off completely, but they're really good at making plea deals with the prosecution.



In short, you spend a few hundred here to avoid paying a few hundred there.

Answer 2

Pay the 95 bucks and consider yourself lucky and for sure don't waste the courts time or it will be worse.

Answer 3

No there is no benefit to go to court if she will plead guilty anyway.



A school course to lower her "points" will not necessarily prevent an increase in her insurance premium (If her premium will go up in the first place).

Answer 4

https://www.dmv.com/va/virginia/traffic-school



Right now your family member will be hit with (2) dings, which is being at fault for an accident and getting a ticket in this accident. In both cases, the accident and ticket stays on your record for (3 to 5 years) depending on the insurance company, in other words, in the next 3 to 5 years pay (more) due to an at fault accident (plus) the ticket.



Now at this point, the only (hope) is to get the (points) off from this ticket, thus only have an at fault accident. You always pay the fine, but if you take the classes (may) take off the points from the license, thus only (1) hit for the at fault accident.



Going to court or just paying, I don’t know, but if I were to choose, then go to court and state, will be taking the driving course (just in case). I suggest the family member signs up (prior) to court.



Good luck.

Answer 5

Also, is there an option like driving school, etc to lower her "penalty" points so her insurance premium will be lowered?



Only going to court and asking a judge will get you the answer to that.

Answer 6

There is no way her insurance premium will be lowered, or even stay the same. Ignoring STOP signs is frowned upon by insurance companies.



Find out the cheapest option regarding paying the $95.

Very often if you chose to go to court fines are doubled and you get landed with court costs as well, not to mention the loss of a days pay.



Courts also look down on running STOP signs and mitigation tends to fall on deaf ears. Pay up take your insurance hit and move on; remembering to stop at STOP signs in the future.

Answer 7

Check with the court as to options. In Texas you have to go to court to get the driving school option.