NJ
I got into a minor "bump" back in January when it snowed heavily and the roads were slippery. i spinned into a car on the otherside of the road and i got out to check damage, NONE, i told the guy i was sorry for bumping into him and expected he would get out of car. He did not i figure everything was alright as he did not even show any interest. 2 Days later after i calmly left the scene to go to work, as i was running late, since no action was taken by him to even check his car, i got 3 tickets in the mail 1. CARELESS DRIVING: ENDANGERING 2. LEAVING SCENE and 3. FAILURE TO REPORT....I called local police and they asked for my insurance policy and i didn't give them so they sent me another for NO INSURANCE...I have since go for pleading and showed my INSURANCE card, that is dropped, but Judge stated the fines and adviced i get a lawyer, since this was a serious offence in NJ....i was wondering, since i plead NOT GUILTY, do i really need a lawyer to argue or isn't he going to try and work out a plea bargain to a lesser charge with no points? Can't i do this my self? HELP! I can't really afford to pay a lawyer and pay hefty fines he would ammend for me..does it make sense to get a lawyer for this? Besides i'm thinking of going to law school this is a good way to learn plea bargaining..How do i go about it????
I got into a minor "bump" back in January when it snowed heavily and the roads were slippery. i spinned into a car on the otherside of the road and i got out to check damage, NONE, i told the guy i was sorry for bumping into him and expected he would get out of car. He did not i figure everything was alright as he did not even show any interest. 2 Days later after i calmly left the scene to go to work, as i was running late, since no action was taken by him to even check his car, i got 3 tickets in the mail 1. CARELESS DRIVING: ENDANGERING 2. LEAVING SCENE and 3. FAILURE TO REPORT....I called local police and they asked for my insurance policy and i didn't give them so they sent me another for NO INSURANCE...I have since go for pleading and showed my INSURANCE card, that is dropped, but Judge stated the fines and adviced i get a lawyer, since this was a serious offence in NJ....i was wondering, since i plead NOT GUILTY, do i really need a lawyer to argue or isn't he going to try and work out a plea bargain to a lesser charge with no points? Can't i do this my self? HELP! I can't really afford to pay a lawyer and pay hefty fines he would ammend for me..does it make sense to get a lawyer for this? Besides i'm thinking of going to law school this is a good way to learn plea bargaining..How do i go about it????