Q: I was cited in Tennessee for OPERATOR TO USE REASONABLE CARE. I was given the option to plea guilty or no contest.
I was changing lanes and didn't realize the car in front of me came to a complete stop. I ended up rear-ending her. Both cars totaled. Neither one of us was injured. I am given the option to pay fine online. Should I plea no contest or guilty? I am also supposed to check waive right to a trial and waive my right to an attorney. What should I do?
A: Either plea means you are guilty of the Rule of the Road Violation. That means negligence per se when you are sued for causing damages to the car you hit. If you have insurance, call them and ask for advice. If you try it, you will lose anyway. It will be alot better if your insurance company pays off the victim/possible plaintiff and get a release. Take the release and copy of the insurance check to Court to show Restitution has already been made. If no insurance, and you cannot pay the victim in full, at some time in the future DOS will suspend your TNDL.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
