When a driver involved in an accident ends up with not just a wrecked car but a traffic ticket, the effects can be far more serious than just a few hundred dollars. Read on to find out what this complicating factor might mean to your personal injury case.

When Citations Affect Liability

When a traffic citation is issued in connection with an accident, it's almost always connected to liability. Liability means fault, and many accidents involve a driver that violates a traffic law and consequently causes a wreck. Many times, the responding officer determines how the accident occurred and issues citations right on the scene. The accident or police report will usually contain information about citations or even arrests in conjunction with the accident. Regardless of which driver is ticketed, they will likely be the driver determined to be at-fault for the accident.

When it comes to driver liability, nothing is more important in a personal injury case. Drivers who are at fault are not going to be paid money damages for things like medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. They may get their own insurer to cover some of those damages, but they are not likely to be paid more than that. It should also be mentioned that traffic violations in connection to accidents tend to be more costly as well. If you have been cited for a violation but you feel that the other driver was really the one at fault, it's more important than ever that you speak to a personal injury attorney and that you fight that ticket in court.

When the Other Driver Was Cited

On the other hand, having the other driver cited means you might be offered a larger and faster settlement for your damages. Follow up with your personal injury attorney to find out about any citations that might have been issued later on after an investigation by law enforcement was completed. For example, if the other driver that hit you was also arrested at the scene for driving under the influence, you won't have any trouble proving that the intoxicated driver caused the accident. In addition, you might be entitled to punitive damages if you take your case to court rather than settling it. Judges sometimes use their powers to punish drivers who drive drunk, text, evade law enforcement, etc. It's not just the criminal courts but the civil courts that can hand down punishments, and you might benefit from additional money damages being awarded.

Speak to a personal injury attorney for help when a ticket is part of your accident case.