What is the Average Cost for a Traffic Lawyer? Guide to Traffic Lawyer Cost

Virginia traffic lawyer's charge fees that vary greatly. See what goes into an attorney fee quote so you know what to expect.

average cost of traffic lawyer

Many potential clients want to know the traffic lawyer cost, “what is your fee?” The average cost of a traffic lawyer in Virginia will depend on a number of different factors.

Are you dealing with a specialized traffic firm, or a law firm that does traffic work on the side? How much experience does the firm have in traffic law? Does the law firm send associate attorneys (new lawyers) to the court, or does the partner whose name is on the firm letterhead actually go to court? What is the Virginia traffic charge?

In Virginia, there is a HUGE difference between reckless driving by speed (criminal misdemeanor, carries up to a year in jail even for 11 mph over) versus a simple speeding ticket (maximum fine of $250, no potential jail or license suspension by the judge). There is a HUGE difference between a single vehicle accident, and an accident where someone died.

Any conversation about traffic lawyer cost will naturally revolve around the expected time a particular case may take. Every Virginia lawyer will bill you for their time.

If you call a law firm, and they quote a really low fee, it just means they aren’t going to put time into your case. EVERY lawyer bills for their time. So you have a right to question high fees as well as low fees. Someone who bills TOO HIGH , is probably acting as a contractor and is paying someone else to do the case in court. Someone who charges fees that are TOO LOW , is almost certainly not putting any time or effort into your case.

Most non-complicated traffic cases (speeding, reckless driving) take between 2-5 hours from start to finish. DUI cases and high speed reckless driving, or accident cases take longer, so you should expect the traffic lawyer cost will be higher for these cases.

If you want a high quality traffic lawyer to represent you in court, they are going to spend enough time on your case that your case demands. That may vary based on:

The bottom line is that traffic lawyer cost should be directly tied to the expected amount of time that your attorney expects to spend on your case. You can bring the traffic lawyer cost down by not spending time on the case (having a new lawyer handle the case in court, letting a secretary deal with the client) BUT YOU CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT SACRIFICING QUALITY .

What level of service and experience are you getting? This can be boiled down into one word: quality. Hallmarks of a quality traffic lawyer in Virginia:

The primary determining factors for quality representation in traffic court are WHO is going to court, HOW long have they been specializing in traffic court, DO they have an excellent reputation with the court, and DO you have personal communication with the actual attorney who is handling your case in court? Traffic lawyer cost is going to be related directly to WHO is handling your case in court, and how long they intend to spend on your case.

Leavitt & Martin consists 100 percent in Daniel Leavitt & Corey Martin.  We maintain a 100 percent 5 star rating by former clients across all review platforms. We personally handle our cases in court, and we strive to provide the best representation, service, and quality. We know how to prepare each case for court, and we make sure our clients have the information necessary to get the best outcome possible.

The average cost of a traffic lawyer should be tied to the expected time that that lawyer spends handling the case from start to finish. Most non complex traffic matters will take 2-5 hours in court. You can find out the average billable hour rate among lawyers in a geographical area and get an idea of an expected range. Complex cases, and more serious cases, take more time to handle from start to finish and you should expect to pay a higher fee if you want quality representation. Factors that add complexity to a case:

Attorney rates vary based on location. Lawyers in Northern Virginia tend to bill more than lawyers in the Richmond area. It makes sense. The cost of living in Northern Virginia, and the cost to operate a law practice is higher in Northern Virginia than in Richmond.

Every lawyer bills for their time. So if you see a quote that is really low, it means they are not actually putting any time into your case. Conversely, if you see a that is too high, it is possible the attorney is acting like a general contractor and then paying someone else to handle your case in court. Some lawyers charge higher fees but then pay other lawyers to go to court.

Make sure that your attorney promises to handle your case in court, and is not passing your case off to someone else. Some attorneys use clever marketing language like “trusted team of traffic lawyers” and such. You need to be careful that whoever you hire promises to personally handle your case in court.

Criminal cases are often more time intensive than traffic cases. More serious or more time intensive cases will factor into the fee as will the location of the criminal charges. In criminal cases, the cost for a good criminal defense attorney will often depend on the number of charges, whether the charges are misdemeanors or felonies, and whether or not the case is expected to plead out or go to trial. Contested trials always cost more because they take more time. In addition, jury trials always cost more because they take more time.

Once you’ve decided to hire an attorney, you might still have a few questions. Primarily, how much does it cost for a criminal defense lawyer? The cost of hiring a traffic and criminal defense attorney varies depending on several factors. However, a good lawyer with plenty of experience and a solid track record will usually cost a bit more upfront. In the long run, though, you’ll likely save thousands of dollars.

When determining how much to charge a potential client, many criminal defense attorneys consider a series of factors, including:

Based on an analysis of these factors, an attorney will be able to estimate how much time will be spent in preparing the case.

Depending on the complexity of a case, preparation could require some or all of the following activities:

A person charged with a single misdemeanor can expect to pay an attorney much less than someone who has multiple felonies pending. Felonies carry greater penalties, require more preparation, and often demand repeat court appearances. However, most cases fall somewhere between these two categories. Misdemeanor DUI charges often go hand in hand with other minor traffic violations. For this reason, someone with a DUI charge can expect to pay more than someone charged with a single misdemeanor traffic violation. Still, their fees will not be as high as those of someone accused of a violent felony.

Finally, it may be tempting to hire an attorney based on cost alone. This isn’t always the best idea. Remember, you get what you pay for. That goes for legal service as well.

Arrested for or charged with a criminal offense? Please contact Leavitt & Martin today. Call (804) 873-4004 or contact us online. Our office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. However, we understand that our clients lead a busy life and so make ourselves available 24 hours a day to answer your questions or concerns. We’re also more than happy to arrange a consultation during the evening or on a weekend.

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