Reckless Driving
What is Reckless Driving?
Georgia is a “fault” state, which means the at-fault driver in a car accident must pay for all damages. Of course, being at fault doesn’t always mean you’ve broken the law. Sometimes the driver just made a bad choice in the moment. But they might have to pay a lot more if they broke traffic laws or drove dangerously. And reckless driving is about the most dangerous thing you can do on the road.
Reckless Driving Basics
In Georgia, it is a misdemeanor to drive recklessly. State law says it’s a “reckless disregard of persons or property.” Even though reckless driving is a traffic violation, it can land you in jail for up to a year and cost you a lot of money. In fact, many people compare it to a DUI or leaving the scene of an accident.
Many accidents can be caused by reckless driving. If you were hurt because someone was driving too fast or carelessly, you could get help from:
- Car Accident Lawyers
- Truck Accident Lawyers
- Bicycle Accident Lawyers
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
- Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
What Counts as Reckless Driving?
The laws about “reckless disregard” are not very clear. In many ways, the law against reckless driving is meant to cover any dangerous driving behavior. As a result, it can be used for everything from drag racing to quickly switching lanes.
Here are some things that can be considered dangerous driving:
- Driving too fast for the conditions
- Excessive speeding
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Blowing through stop signs, yield signs, or traffic lights
- Passing illegally on the shoulder
- Aggressive tailgating
Even if a driver doesn’t have enough alcohol in their system to be charged with DUI, they can still be charged with reckless driving. In fact, people who were initially charged with drunk driving often agree to plead guilty to reckless driving instead.
What Happens if a Reckless Driver Hits Me?
Your case gets much stronger. This holds true if either:
- The driver is found guilty of reckless driving, which is a crime.
- The driver wasn’t charged with or convicted of reckless driving, but it was clear that they were driving recklessly.
This helps your case because it shows that they were at fault and that you were the accident victim. This means that their insurance has to pay for all of your costs and damages.If the driver is found guilty of driving recklessly, you could also get punitive damages, which means they have to pay you more money to make up for what they did.
Can I Still Win an Accident Claim if the Other Driver Wasn't Driving Recklessly?
Yes. Only a small number of claims for car accidents are caused by reckless driving. If the other driver was negligent, you may be able to win your claim and receive compensation even if they didn’t break any laws.
Contact the Auto Accident Lawyers at The Brown Firm
If you have been injured due to a reckless driver, the experienced personal injury attorneys at The Brown Firm offer free consultations to accident victims in Georgia and South Carolina. Call 800-529-1441 to speak with our personal injury team today!
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Schedule your free consultation by calling (800) 529-1441 or completing our simple online form.