Even if your driving has not led to injury or death, you may still can be charged with offences that are termed as dangerous in nature. Driving at a dangerous speed can also get you in a lot of trouble in Australia. A charge can even be laid on drivers whose speeding did not impose a threat to another user of the road.
Factors That Are Considered
A charge of dangerous driving is contingent on a number of factors that may include the time of the event, whether pedestrians or cars were out at the time, and what roads intersected the road that was being travelled. Other factors include whether or not the driver was drinking and other relevant details including the condition of the tyres and brakes and the overall condition of the vehicle itself. If the driver was going at a high rate of speed and was driving on defective tyres, the ultimate penalties can be severe.
Disqualifications
That is why you need to speak to traffic offence lawyers or criminal lawyers in Melbourne who handle these types of cases. If you are found guilty of a charge of dangerous driving, you can face a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Not only that, but the court will order a period of disqualification for at least a year for a first-time offender or a minimum of three years for a subsequent offence (an offence committed within a five-year period from the initial offence).
Look at the Lawyer’s Reputation
So, as you can see, the court does not take dangerous driving to be a minor offence. You need the services of a lawyer to ensure your rights and make sure that you receive the best possible defence. When you are selecting a lawyer, look at his or her reputation for defending these types of cases. He or she should demonstrate an excellent success rate. That means that the lawyer should be able to help you in keeping your license from being revoked.
Work with an Empathetic Advocate
So, work with a lawyer who understands the importance of keeping your driver’s licence. Not being able to drive can impact how you get to your job as well as your overall family life. By looking at each case individually, a good traffic offence lawyer can assist clients so that any loss of driving privileges is minimal. Naturally, the circumstances must be considered for each specific case.
Call a Lawyer for a Consultation
In order to make the best use of time, some traffic offence attorneys only concentrate on those cases in which the litigants have been charged and have either been summoned to appear in court or previously bailed. When a lawyer can focus on the case at hand, it will make it easier for him or her to protect a client’s driving privileges.
If you have been charged with a dangerous driving offence, then you cannot wait to start working on your defence. The sooner you take the matter in hand, the better. Therefore, call a lawyer today for a consultation.