Will a Traffic Ticket for an Accident Suspend my Illinois License?
Being issued a moving violation ticket after a car accident can feel like you’re being hit while you’re down. To make matters worse, these tickets don’t just come with a modest fine – they often cause the driver to lose their license. This can drastically affect your daily life and make it more difficult to get to work, take your children to school, or even pick up groceries.
So, is there any way to avoid having your license suspended for a car accident if you’re given a ticket? Let’s get into what causes license suspension and what you can do to prevent it from happening to you.
What Criteria Determines License Suspension?
In Illinois, your license can become suspended if you receive two or more convictions for moving violations within a 12 month period. If you’re under the age of 21, the time frame is 24 months. When you’re involved in an accident, you will usually be issued a citation for a moving violation, such as “Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid An Accident” or “Failure to Yield.” If you have prior convictions for moving violations, a subsequent conviction within 12 months will suspend your driver's license.
How to Keep Your License
A person’s driving record will determine what if any effect a ticket for an accident will have on their license. If you have a less-than-stellar driving record, it is very likely that your license will be suspended. If you do not have a bad driving record, you likely do not need to worry about your license being suspended, but you should always talk to an Illinois traffic violation attorney to be sure. Many times we set these types of cases for trial and win if the judge believes the other driver was at fault. If the other driver does not appear, the case will usually be dismissed.
Sometimes we can negotiate for the ticket to be amended so that it does not suspend the person's license even if it results in a conviction and the person has prior convictions in their driving history.
Generally, defendants are eligible for court supervision. This means that if they don’t violate certain terms, their moving violation will not be a permanent conviction on their record. A person can only receive 2 supervisions for a moving violation within a 12 month period. A subsequent offense will result in a conviction. If you have been given a traffic ticket in Illinois for a moving violation, your Chicago traffic Ticketattorney can negotiate with the prosecutor to determine if you are eligible for court supervision.
Facing License Suspension After Car Accident in Chicago?
It’s important to consider all your choices and their repercussions when attempting to keep your license. Pleading guilty to a moving violation as a result of an accident may expose you to civil liability. It can insinuate that you were not driving safely and should be held responsible for accident-related damages. Pleading guilty will also ensure that the moving violation will be on your record, unless you are granted court supervision.
Before making any decisions about your moving violation, contact Bernard Law. Our experienced criminal defense team will take a look at your case and explain all your options. We’ll help you fight to keep your license and ensure you’re treated fairly. Call (312) 772-4113 or submit your information and we’ll be in touch.