Should I fight an accident ticket?

[FlMom]

I had a car accident today. A woman tried to pass me on the right while I was trying to make a right hand turn. I believe she lied & said I was in the left hand turn lane and that she was in the right hand lane and that I pulled out in front of her. This occurred at an intersection where there is a left hand turn lane and then a right hand lane but also a parking lot where you can scoot around people who are going straight to make a right hand turn (I watched several people do this while waiting for the police). I believe this is what she did not realizing I was going to go right (she didn't see my signal?). I got the ticket because I believe she lied.
I will say that the road is poorly marked there & it runs right into a parking lot. It is difficult to differentiate where the road stops and where the parking lot starts.
FHP gave me the ticket and said I pulled from the left turn lane to make a right turn, this is NOT what happened. I KNOW I was not in the left hand turn lane b/c I knew I had to turn right at the intersection! Incidentally he also made us move our cars from where the accident was before he took our statements. I believe that if he had paid close attention to where my car was positioned he would have seen that there was no way I was in the left hand turn lane

Should I fight this? I was thinking about taping the intersection to show that people use the edge of the parking lot as a right hand turn lane, which is what I think she did. I just don't know if its worth the time & hassle. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[FlMom]

Incidently, the ticket was failure to obey traffic device, he said I crossed over the white line from the left hand turn lane to make a right but I know I didn't.

 

[refusetostop]

First thing you are correct by taking some video footage of the intersection that shows what is typical of that intersection. I would also take some photos of the intersection showing the private drive and how people use it. This will greatly help you in court. While you are in court on the accident the officer may testify as to what he thought took place based on the statements of both drivers and any witnesses. The judge will ask if the officer witnessed the accident or if he responded to the scene. If he just responded to the scene it will help your case because it will come down to your testimony and the testimony of the other driver. If the officer did not witness the accident then he is just using his best judgment at the scene. If the other driver does not show up for court there is no real evidence against you.

If you don't go to court you will have a fine to pay, points on your license for a moving violation, and a increase in insurance rates.

 

[lwpat]

Basically the officer did not witness the accident and cannot testify if you object. If the other party is not there then there will be no testimony and the ticket will have to be dismissed. Of course they will try to badger you into paying but you can win.

Your first date is usually just an arraignment rather than a trial. You may wnat to go ahead and enter a plea of not guilty and get a new court date. Most courts will let you do this by mail. The clerk can tell you the procedure.