One of the worst things about getting pulled over and receiving a traffic ticket is that it can affect your automobile insurance in a bad way. According to Bankrate.com, the worst traffic tickets can raise your insurance premium by as much as an astonishing 93%. Specifically, the generally worst types of traffic tickets raise your rates as follows:

*Driving under the influence: 93%
*Reckless driving: 82% (the Commonwealth of Virginia has deemed texting and driving as reckless driving; will Pennsylvania and New Jersey follow suit?)
*Careless driving: 27%
*Speeding:
**21% if 1 to 15 m.p.h. over the speed limit
**28% if 16 to 30 m.p.h. over the speed limit
**31% if 31 or more m.p.h. over the speed limit
*Running a red light: 19%.

Source: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/insurance/traffic-tickets-costliest-for-car-insurance-1.aspx

Obviously, an increase in any of these amounts will hurt you in the bank account and the wallet. However, not all hope is lost if you get such a ticket. There may be reason for you to legally and factually dispute the ticket. Or, it may well be possible for you to negotiate an agreement with the police officer or prosecutor in which you plead guilty to a more favorable charge, one which is less costly to you from an insurance perspective. In that regard, it would behoove you to consult with and hire an attorney who can help you with this process. We have experience in representing numerous individuals charged with traffic violations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than ten years and helped them avoid costly insurance increases, points and surcharges.

So, if you find yourself on the receiving end of a traffic ticket, don’t look at your insurance card with dread and despair. Contact us so that we can help you eliminate or lessen the damage.