The Shoulder
The Shoulder
62
Car accidentsquick-sparrow-703

Got cited after a crash I don't think was my fault — can I fight the ticket without going to trial?

I'm still kind of in shock about all of this so bear with me.

A few weeks ago I was making a left turn at an intersection. I checked both ways, it was clear, and I started my turn. I was nearly through it when a car came barreling over a hill and slammed into the rear driver's side of my car. My car got pushed into a parked vehicle on the side of the road. Three cars involved total because of this one guy.

The responding officer cited ME for an improper turn. Meanwhile the other driver — who I later found out has a history of moving violations — was apparently on his phone and clearly going way over the speed limit. There were skid marks stretching back a ridiculous distance before he even reached me. If he'd been going the posted speed, he either would've stopped in time or I'd have been long clear of the intersection.

My actual injuries are pretty minor, honestly. Some soreness, a bruised shoulder, nothing that needed more than a couple urgent care visits. What I'm losing sleep over is:

1. The citation itself — I've never had so much as a parking ticket in my life. My record is spotless. 2. My insurance rates — I genuinely cannot absorb a big premium hike right now. 3. Points on my license — I drive for work occasionally and my employer checks records.

I've talked to a couple of attorneys and they all seem laser-focused on my injury claim, which I get — but that's not really my priority here. I want to know if there's any realistic way to contest or reduce this citation without it turning into a full-blown trial. Like is there a middle ground? A diversion program? Can I just talk to the prosecutor?

Has anyone dealt with something like this? I feel like I'm being punished for someone else's recklessness.

14replies

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14 replies

  • 6
    brave-elk-934

    I went through almost the exact same thing two years ago — cited after a crash where the other guy ran a light. What saved me was getting a copy of the accident report and pointing out all the details that contradicted the citation. I ended up requesting a hearing and the officer didn't even show up, so it was dismissed. Definitely don't just pay the ticket and walk away.

    • 10
      honest-rider981

      Same boat here. Did anyone mention a deadline to watch out for?

    • 3
      plainspoken-late-shift279

      Following up on this — any update on how it turned out?

  • 17
    cool-tern-292

    So in a lot of states — and I'd check how this works where you are — traffic citations can sometimes be resolved through a pre-trial conference with the prosecutor before anything goes to a formal hearing. You basically show up, explain your side, and sometimes they'll reduce the charge or offer a deferred disposition (which means if you stay clean for a set period, it gets dismissed and no points stick). It's not guaranteed but it's way less dramatic than a trial. Worth calling the court clerk and just asking what options exist for your citation type.

    • 3
      tired-dreamer630

      Seconding this. The same approach worked for me last year.

  • 19
    brave-lynx-993

    Please don't just pay that citation thinking it's the easy way out. That's basically admitting fault on paper, and the other driver's insurance WILL use it against you. Even if your own injuries are minor, that admission can affect how everything else shakes out. Fight it.

    • 10
      steady-dreamer932

      Solid advice. Getting it in writing is the part most people skip.

  • 19
    cool-beaver-412

    From where I used to sit, a citation against you is one of the first things we'd pull when evaluating a claim. It carries a lot of weight even when the full picture tells a different story. The skid marks you're describing, his prior violations, the phone use — all of that can be used to push back on the narrative the citation creates, but someone has to actually present that case. Don't assume the ticket is the final word.

    • 8
      steady-wanderer304

      That lines up with what my adjuster told me too.

  • 8
    clever-bison-083

    Not legal advice, but I'd say the injury piece and the traffic citation are actually more connected than those attorneys are letting on. If liability is genuinely disputed, fighting the citation can support your whole position — and some PI attorneys will refer you to a traffic lawyer or handle it together. It might be worth asking specifically about that when you talk to someone. The citation doesn't have to be a separate battle.

  • 19
    bright-otter-156

    Two things: get the dashcam footage from ANY nearby businesses or traffic cameras before it gets overwritten — that's your best friend here. And get a copy of the full accident report today, not tomorrow. Read every word. If the officer noted the skid marks or any witness statements, that's ammunition.

  • 7
    daring-crane-110

    I just want to gently say — even if your injuries feel minor right now, please keep track of any symptoms over the next few weeks. Soft tissue stuff and whiplash-type soreness can creep up on you. Not saying anything will develop, but document everything just in case. Hope you get the citation sorted, that situation sounds genuinely stressful.

  • 8
    candid-dove-858

    This sounds so frustrating, I'm sorry. You did everything right and now you're the one dealing with the fallout. Definitely don't give up on fighting it — a clean record is worth protecting.

  • 20
    bright-dove-568

    Was there any witness who actually saw the other car's speed or saw him on his phone? And did anyone get a statement from the person whose parked car got hit? Third-party witnesses are huge in these situations — if it's just your word vs. his, the citation sticks more easily.