Q: Will I go to jail for my first traffic offense causing car damage and being uninsured?

A: Assuming the citation was issued in Illinois, almost certainly not. That is probably the case in Wisconsin but I do not practice in Wisconsin so I cannot tell you. That said, you must immediately make arrangements with the other driver or his insurance carrier to make payments on the debt or file for bankruptcy protection to prevent your license from being suspended.

A: I'm truly sorry you’re facing such a painful and traumatic situation. What you’ve experienced—being forced to share property with someone who sexually assaulted you—is not just emotionally distressing, it can reopen deep wounds. In New Jersey, you may be able to pursue a civil lawsuit for intentional infliction of emotional distress if you can show that your family member acted outrageously or with reckless disregard for how this would affect you, knowing your history with this individual.

To begin, start documenting everything—your history with the offender, any medical or psychological records showing how this is affecting you now, and details about the will and property arrangement. You can file a civil complaint in the appropriate county court, stating how the inclusion of this person in the will has caused emotional harm. While you can draft and file the paperwork yourself, it’s often helpful to have support, especially in emotionally complex cases like this one.

For pro bono legal help, consider contacting organizations like Legal Services of New Jersey, the New Jersey State Bar Association, or local legal aid offices near Newark. They may be able to connect you with attorneys who handle civil litigation or trauma-related cases. You’ve already shown a great deal of courage by speaking up, and you deserve support and protection as you move forward. You are not alone in this.