Careless Driving Solicitors - Specialist Lawyers for Careless Driving Offences

The highly experienced motoring offence solicitors here at Draycott Browne will provide you with professional legal advice, for your careless driving (CD10) driving offence, to help you stay in control of your driving licence. Our lawyers pride themselves on their dedicated and meticulous approach, as well as being approachable and pleasant to deal with.

We understand that this can be a stressful time, which is why it is vital to seek expert advice to ensure the optimal outcome is reached. We offer 24-hour police station representation to ensure that you receive the assistance you require.

To access our expert team, do not hesitate to give us a call on the number seen at the top of this page or fill in the enquiry form on this page.

How can Draycott Browne solicitors help?

Draycott Browne has successfully defended careless driving cases since 1998. We understand that being charged with careless driving can be stressful, particularly at the prospect of potentially losing your licence which could impact your everyday life.

Our determined legal advisors are here to help build the best defence for you. With our extensive knowledge around careless driving laws, we are clear on the steps that need to be taken.

We are here to best help you so call us to discuss your case today.

What is careless driving?

Careless driving is essentially driving below what would be expected of a competent and safe driver. According to the Road Traffic Act 1988 Section 3, careless driving is defined as, “..driv(ing) a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road or other public place without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or public place..”.

Typical examples of this are:

 

• Driving too fast
• Causing an accident
• Driving too close to other vehicles
• Failing to stop at traffic lights

It’s worth remembering, however, that the phrase 'careless driving' is objective and can change depending on the circumstances of the case. So, it is essential to enlist the help of motoring offence solicitors who specialise in these types of cases for representation and legal advice.

Your lawyer can give you a good chance of reducing the severity of any penalties you are given, whether penalty points or a fine.

Possible penalties for careless driving

The penalties for careless driving depend on the circumstances of your case. If the circumstances are more severe, it will most likely be taken to court. Possible penalties for careless driving include:

 

• Fixed penalty: This is when the police conclude that the careless driving was low-level and did not lead to a collision or any injury to a member of the public. If you accept the fixed penalty, this will lead to points on your licence and a fine. However, you can plead not guilty which will lead to a summons to a Magistrates court.
• Fixed penalty with an offer of an improvement course: This is similar to a fixed penalty, however you can choose whether to accept the fixed penalty or complete an educational course. If you do not attend the course and do not accept the fixed penalty, the case will be taken to court.
• Court summons: If your offence was extremely careless, you may receive a summons. You can plead guilty and pay a fine or plead not guilty and the case will be heard in a Magistrates court.

The maximum penalties for careless driving include three to nine penalty points, an unlimited fine and a discretionary disqualification.

If any of the following feature in the reason for a careless driving charge, you can expect to be given a higher penalty:

 

• Drink driving or drug driving
• Tiredness
• Carrying a heavy load
• Lots of pedestrians nearby
• Travelling at excessive speed

Possible defences to careless driving charges

To ensure your highest chance of success, you need to gain specialist advice quickly.Our team is on hand to offer you the best service to ensure that we provide high-level representation when you need it most.

We will talk you through the process, including any penalties that you could receive. We will explain what defence options may be available to you and what potential legal problems may come up. We are here to help you, and will ensure that you understand what to expect and what your options are.

Understandably, careless driving circumstances differ between individuals, so our expertise will be tailored to you.

One argument which could be made is that an external incident caused your driving to be seen as careless but you showed competency in other ways. Some reasons for this may be:

 

• The sunlight reduced your ability to see clearly
•  An emergency occurred
• A medical event occurred
• A mechanical fault occurred in the vehicle

Financial help

Being arrested for careless driving can be unpredictable and you may not be able to finance legal fees. This is why we offer a free service at the point of delivery in the police station once you have been arrested.

Contact our Careless Driving Solicitors

Our established and devoted team are here to serve you in this challenging time, having helped many people accused of careless driving in the past. We have a resolved willingness to fight your corner to ensure that the best outcome can be reached, which has a limited impact on your livelihood.

Our Driving Offence specialists are a part of a nationally recognised team of Criminal Solicitors in Manchester. Our company is reputable within the legal profession and highly regarded for delivering results. Our aim is to minimise your stress through providing easy-to-understand explanations and putting our all into your case. Our Motoring Offence Solicitors are highly knowledgeable in Careless Driving Offences, which will provide you with quality advice during the process.

We take great pride in our dedication and professionalism and are committed to providing the best possible result for our clients. We are one of the principal criminal law firms in the country, having an attention to detail and tenacity that sets us apart.

With the potential of losing your licence, you need expert advice which Draycott Browne solicitors can offer. Do not hesitate to get in touch today to gain our legal representation.