Car Accident Ticket Q

CDMay2006

Background:
Dh and i were in a car accident in Seattle this weekend.  We are fine, as was everyone else involved.  Dh was driving with a reasonable distance in front of him, and someone cut him off just as the cars ahead stopped.  We were in the back of 3 other cars all involved in the incident, so dh got a ticket for driving too fast for conditions.  Dh has a clean driving record.

Questions:
1. There is an option to accept fault but explain circumstances at a hearing.  I understand this often reduces the amount of the ticket, but the amount of money the ticket would be reduced by doesn't really justify missing work and driving into Seattle.  Are there any other benefits to this?
2. Does the way we deal with the ticket have any bearing on the insurance side of things?
3. Any other advice?  We are (thankfully) both pretty inexperienced in this arena.

Thank you! 

coribecca

Contest the ticket, go to the hearing, and request a deferral.  So long as he complies with the terms of the deferral, the ticket will be dismissed after a period of time.

If your DH admits fault, it's possible that it could affect your insurance rates.  The accident itself may affect your insurance rates if your insurance company determines that your DH was at fault.  Hopefully, one of the other drivers involved in the accident saw the other car cut off your DH. 

CDMay2006

coribecca:

Contest the ticket, go to the hearing, and request a deferral.  So long as he complies with the terms of the deferral, the ticket will be dismissed after a period of time.

If your DH admits fault, it's possible that it could affect your insurance rates.  The accident itself may affect your insurance rates if your insurance company determines that your DH was at fault.  Hopefully, one of the other drivers involved in the accident saw the other car cut off your DH. 

Thank you!

kaskade

coribecca:

Contest the ticket, go to the hearing, and request a deferral.  So long as he complies with the terms of the deferral, the ticket will be dismissed after a period of time.

If your DH admits fault, it's possible that it could affect your insurance rates.  The accident itself may affect your insurance rates if your insurance company determines that your DH was at fault.  Hopefully, one of the other drivers involved in the accident saw the other car cut off your DH. 

She knows her stuff, this is good advice!

CDMay2006

kaskade:

...

She knows her stuff, this is good advice!

Good to know!  Thanks for responding.

CDMay2006

And i have to add -- K has such a great, joyful smile!  What a cutie!

chloeloveless

A driver safety course later on will not only help reduce your points but also give you a discount on your car insurance for the next 3 years.

kaskade

chloeloveless:

A driver safety course later on will not only help reduce your points but also give you a discount on your car insurance for the next 3 years.

We don't do points in WA, and only a few agencies have Traffic School [although it is catching on up here]