Attorneys

SUMMARY: Laws and Attorneys

You may need to hire an attorney or research a particular law after receiving a traffic ticket, being charged for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), buying a lemon vehicle, or sustaining injuries in a car accident.

On this page, you'll find resources and direct links to information about attorneys, traffic tickets, driver and vehicle-related laws, and more.

Hire an Attorney

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to appear in court, hiring an attorney specializing in your type of case could be a smart move.

Traffic Ticket Attorneys

If you were recently charged with a traffic violation, you may want to consider hiring a traffic ticket attorney to represent you in court. Depending on the nature of your offense, a lawyer may be able to help you:

  • Reduce your fines.
  • Dismiss the charges.
  • Prevent points from going on your driving record.
  • Avoid an increase in your car insurance.

To learn more about how to fight your traffic ticket in court, visit our Fighting Traffic Tickets page.

Personal Injury Attorneys

If you are injured in a car accident, you may want to think about hiring a personal injury attorney.

A personal injury attorney can:

  • Explain your rights and entitlements.
  • Represent you in court.
  • Help you obtain financial compensation for your injury.

To learn more about how a lawyer can help you and to find one today, visit our Personal Injury Attorneys page. You'll also find tips to help you choose an attorney.

DUI & DWI Attorneys

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI)—also called driving while intoxicated (DWI)—could lead to some very serious penalties, such as heavy fines, a driver's license suspension, and even jail time.

If you're charged with a DUI, an attorney can help by representing you in court and:

  • Getting your charges reduced.
  • Explaining your charges to you.
  • Explaining your state's DUI law.
  • Explaining how to satisfy your sentence (e.g. completing an alcohol and drug awareness course).

To learn more hiring a lawyer to represent you, please visit our DUI Attorneys page and select your state.

Lemon Law Attorneys

Getting stuck with a lemon vehicle can be stressful. Fortunately, you may be entitled to a refund or replacement vehicle depending on your situation and your state's lemon law.

If either the dealership or manufacturer is unwilling to negotiate a settlement, you may need the help of a lemon law attorney.

Driver and Vehicle Laws

Before you get on road in your state, make sure you're aware of all the traffic and vehicle laws you must follow.

Suspended Driver's Licenses

Depending on your state, your driver's license may be suspended for a number of reasons, including:

  • Committing a DUI/DWI.
  • Accumulating too many points on your driving record.
  • Failing to pay court fees.

Some states offer restricted licenses to allow you to drive to and from work/school even while your license is suspended.

To learn more about suspended licenses, how to reinstate your driver's license, and how to apply for a restricted license, read our Suspended License or CDL Suspensions (for commercial drivers) pages.

Traffic Tickets & DMV Point System

Traffic laws vary from state to state and penalties for violating these laws can vary depending on the county where you were ticketed.

Visit our Traffic Tickets page to learn more about:

  • How to pay your traffic ticket.
  • Fighting your traffic ticket.
  • What to do if you've lost your traffic citation.

Depending on your state, you may also find details about unpaid parking tickets, speeding tickets, red light tickets, or driving without insurance.

If you've recently been convicted of a traffic violation, your state may have added points to your driving record. For specific details about how your state handles driving record points, please see our DMV Point System page.

Safety Laws & Child Safety Seats

Motor vehicle safety is an important issue that affects every driver on the road. Some safety laws that you may need to follow include:

  • Wearing a helmet while riding motorcycle.
  • Wearing a seat belt in a car.
  • Seating your child in an approved child safety seat.

To learn about the safety laws in your state, including cell phone laws, please visit our Safety Laws page.

You can also refer to our sections on How to Buy a Child Safety Seat or How to Install a Child Safety Seat.

DUI Laws

Depending on your DUI charge and age, you could face severe fines and penalties, including:

  • A license suspension.
  • Court fees.
  • Mandatory completion of DUI classes.
  • Community service.
  • Installing an ignition interlock device in your vehicle.
  • Filing an SR-22.

All states except Utah,  consider a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08% (may be lower for less experienced or younger drivers) as a DUI. DUI laws vary, so be aware of your state's regulations.

For information about DUI laws in your state, please read our DUI & DWI page.

Lemon Law

Each state has a lemon law to protect you from vehicles with continued mechanical issues. Most lemon laws only apply to new vehicles, but some states also cover used vehicles.

To learn more about your state's lemon law and if your vehicle qualifies, visit our Lemon Law page and choose your state.

Insurance Requirements

Most states require that you carry minimum insurance coverage in order to legally operate your vehicle.

It is common for states to require liability insurance for:

  • Injury/death to one person.
  • Injury/death of multiple people.
  • Damage to property.

Insurance requirements vary from state to state. Visit our Car Insurance page to learn what coverage you must have in your state.

DMV Resources & Publications

Below you'll find a list of useful resources and publications related to the DMV.

Driver's Handbook

Before you can get a learner's permit or driver's license, you must learn the rules of the road and traffic laws in your state. Each DMV agency offers its own driver's handbook. The written test (also known as a “knowledge exam") is based on material from the driver's manual.

Visit our Driver's Handbook page and select your state for more details.

Motorcycle Handbook

If you're in the process of applying for a motorcycle license, please visit our Motorcycle Handbook page to learn more about the requirements in your state.

It outlines details about rules of the road, traffic laws and road signs, motorcycle safety, gear, and more.

Vehicle Code

Every state offers a Vehicle Code, which includes all of the laws and regulations concerning vehicles. Topics include:

  • Rules of the road.
  • Safety regulations.
  • Vehicle registration and titling.
  • Driver's licenses.
  • Car insurance.
  • Bicycle laws and rules.

Please visit our Vehicle Code page for specific details.

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