Paid $500 for a traffic lawyer vs. just paying the ticket myself

Got a speeding ticket last month doing 45 in a 30 zone near downtown Austin. I figured a lawyer could get it reduced so I paid $500 flat fee to one who guaranteed results. He got it dropped to a nonmoving violation but now I'm wondering if I could have just paid the $200 ticket and moved on. What's your experience with paying lawyers vs. eating the fine?

2 comments

2 Comments

pats2310d ago

Bruh $500 for a ticket lawyer in Austin? That's wild to me. I paid $300 for one when I got caught doing 85 in a 65 on I-35 and thought that was steep. But if he got it down to nonmoving then your insurance probably didn't take a hit right? My buddy just paid his $250 ticket outright and his premium went up like $40 a month for two years. So that $200 ticket really cost him way more in the long run. You probably came out ahead even if it stung upfront.

sama8010d ago

So did your insurance actually not go up? @pats23 is right about the math but I think you gotta check your renewal first. My buddy paid $400 for a lawyer in San Antonio, got it reduced to a parking ticket, and his premium still jumped because the company saw the original offense on his record somehow. Not all dropped violations stay hidden from insurers I guess. You might have saved money if yours stayed off the radar, but I'd wait a full billing cycle before calling it a win. Did your lawyer specifically promise no insurance impact or just say "nonmoving violation"?