Had a minor accident on an interstate where a bus locked up his brakes, causing an SUV to quickly move from the right lane into my lane cutting me off and requiring me to make an evasive maneuver by moving about a foot into the left lane which resulted in another SUV sideswiping my driver's side. No injuries to anyone and about $3,500 of cosmetic damage to my car and less to hers. NJ State Police arrived and questioned me and the other driver. Trooper asked if I was in her lane, I responded "no" but I did have to move a little to the left to avoid the SUV that cut me off. He shrugged his shpoulders and commented, "well, you could not help it...no body's fault" He told me it was OK to leave, gave me a slip of paper to tell me how to get a copy of the report and told me to request a copy by mail. I left.
Two days later, I received a ticket in the mail with "Unsafe lane change 39.4.88b. This is a required appearance in traffic court. I was advised to (1) go to court and explain my side and take my chances (2) file a cross compalint asking the NJSP to issue a ticket to the other person and hope the judge finds equal fault. Get a lawyer to represent me for a cost of $800 who cannot guarantee any favorable decision. My lawyer friends tell me I have as good a chance on my own as with a lawyer in this type of case. Oh, by the way... the other person involved in the accident is a NJ State Trooper's wife. Am I screwed or is there hope?
Two days later, I received a ticket in the mail with "Unsafe lane change 39.4.88b. This is a required appearance in traffic court. I was advised to (1) go to court and explain my side and take my chances (2) file a cross compalint asking the NJSP to issue a ticket to the other person and hope the judge finds equal fault. Get a lawyer to represent me for a cost of $800 who cannot guarantee any favorable decision. My lawyer friends tell me I have as good a chance on my own as with a lawyer in this type of case. Oh, by the way... the other person involved in the accident is a NJ State Trooper's wife. Am I screwed or is there hope?