Careless Driving

Careless Driving

At Watson Woodhouse we have a team of expert careless driving solicitors available to help you today. If the police wish to discuss an act of dangerous driving with you it’s important to take legal advice and we recommend getting in touch with our specialists immediately. It’s your right to obtain advice and representation and we’re here to guide you through the process knowledgably and empathetically.

Careless driving is the result of operating a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or public place without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for others using the road/place. This offence is punishable by a fine and 3-9 penalty points or discretionary disqualification in serious cases.

Careless Driving Solicitor Costs

Magistrate Court representation for careless driving is offered at a fixed fee plus travel expenses and discussed with you in the first instance. Similarly, we tend to determine a fixed fee for the majority of cases from the offset. This could increase depending on case complexities and is discussed at every step. Fixed costs do not include:

• Obtaining expert reports
• Witness tracing 
• Guilty plea

If pleading guilty, our costs are determined by how straightforward the arguments are to mitigate the sentence applied. An uncomplicated argument is charged at £360 (Including VAT at 20%) with more complex cases at £600 (Including VAT at 20%). Trials lasting up to half a day are charged at £900 (Including VAT at 20%) with full days at £1200 (Including VAT at 20%). We will charge for travel expenses in addition.

Factors which may increase costs include:

• Tracing and interviewing of defence witnesses
• Unusual law aspects
• Expert evidence

Careless Driving Case Stages

Careless driving court cases begin in a number of ways. You may receive a summons or postal requisition with a court date or be charged by police directly to court. Generally, a Single Justice Procedure Notice is received for your completion. A trial is normally listed two to four months after the first appearance at Court or the not guilty plea is indicated by the Single Justice Procedure notice. Timescales will vary between courts.

Upon provision of initial advice, we’ll discuss options, procedures, take your instructions and obtain evidence. We’ll represent you at the first hearing and the Court will then set a trial date. Dealing with all case management, we’ll advise you on evidence, pleas and court liaison. From here we’ll prepare your careless driving case for trial.