Car accidents, speeding tickets, and illegal parking can impact your finances and career prospects. An estimated 70 percent of employers conduct background checks on potential hires, according to Forbes.
If you work as a cab or truck driver, you could face difficulties if you’re involved in an accident. Find out more about background checks as they pertain to car accidents.
What Does a Background Check Consist Of?
Background checks, which can include criminal, credit, bankruptcy, educational, and driving history checks, cover different lengths of time in a candidate’s personal history. Generally, these checks include seven years of criminal and court records, but they can sometimes go back further depending on compliance laws. Car accidents and other traffic violations show up as a criminal citation or when your employer checks your driving record.
In today’s blog, we will discuss how a traffic violation can impact your future.
Can a Traffic Violation Narrow My Job Prospects?
Car accidents and other traffic violations can impact your job search, but only to a certain extent. Whether an accident or citation will affect your chances depends on the type of job and violation. If the position doesn’t involve driving, then you may have a better chance of landing the job. However, if your traffic violation is a criminal offense, it might prevent you from getting it. Bear in mind that unpaid fines for civil violations can also show up as a criminal citation.
Keep these factors in mind when you’re doing a job search:
- How severe was the violation? Receiving a speeding ticket for driving five miles over the speed limit isn’t as damaging as receiving one for driving ten miles over.
- How long ago was the violation? Since most violations disappear off your record after seven years, the longer ago it was, the better your chances are at attaining the job.
- Have you gotten multiple violations in a short time frame? Being a perpetual offender can be a red flag for most employers.
- Have you paid your violation fines? Ignoring civil penalties can lead to a violation, leading to a criminal offense. By failing to pay, you might also lose your driver’s license.
- What are the traffic violation policies of the company you’re applying to? Every company has different policies on traffic violations. Understanding them ahead of time will help you determine if your prior offenses may be a problem.
What Can I Do to Land a Job?
You may be worried about past car accidents and other road infractions impacting your job opportunities. Here are some ways you can improve your chances of getting a job:
- Drive safely: Being a careful driver can prevent you from getting into another accident and from committing other violations.
- Pay your fines: Unless you’re going to contest the ticket, be sure to pay it as soon as possible.
- Be prepared to explain the violation: Tell your potential employer that you’ve learned your lesson, and you’re now a safer driver.
Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks Can Help
If you were involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, then it shouldn’t show up on your record. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks can hold the negligent driver accountable so that your driving record doesn’t suffer. You may also be eligible for compensation. We have offices in both Salt Lake County and Utah County. Schedule your free case evaluation.