How best to handle a failure to report ticket?
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How best to handle a failure to report ticket?
My daughter was parking in a restaurant’s parking lot. She realized she was too close to the car next to her so she pulled out to find another spot. While pulling out she scraped the car next to her. She looked and did not see any damage. She parked the car a few spaces away and went into the restaurant. When she left the restaurant and was pulling out to leave 3 police cars surrounded her. She is only 18 and was very scared. The police officer told her she failed to report the scraped damage and gave her the ticket. The owner of the car she scraped was not present. What should we do?
Asked on December 29, 2011 under Accident Law, New Jersey
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If your daughter was cited by police officers for causing damages to another vehicle, she has a court appearance to make. I would place her insurance carrier on notice about what happened as soon as possible.
I would also consult with a criminal defense attorney about the ticket to determine whether she has been cited for an infraction or a misdemeanor. If a misdemeanor, it is suggested that a criminal defense attorney be retained to represent your daughter about the situation that you are wrtiting about. A misdemeanor conviction can result in a fine, jail time, or both plus possible driving suspension and higher insurance premiums.
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