What are the Top Causes of Reckless Driving Accidents?
Every year, an average of about six million car accidents occur in the United States, and each day 90 people die as a result of car accidents. These statistics are highly alarming, and it is estimated that one-third of these fatalities are the result of accidents caused by reckless driving.
Georgia law defines reckless driving as driving a vehicle with a reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property, which is the criminal law defining the act of reckless driving for the state. A reckless driver convicted under the statute faces a fine of up to a 1,000 dollars and up to 12 months in jail. However, if the accident results in a fatality or a serious injury, both civil and criminal penalties for the driver responsible increase dramatically and include felony charges which carry up to 15 years in prison upon conviction.
The legal definition of reckless driving is intentionally left broad in order to cover a wide range of driving infractions. Reckless driving can include:
- Excessive speeding
- Traveling too fast under road conditions
- Unsafe lane changes
- Failure to obey traffic laws
- Passing on the right
- Tailgating
- Failure to signal
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Failure to stop when required
- Distracted driving
- Driving in a way that endangers other
- Driving aggressively i.e. road rage incidents
- Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or prescription medication
What To Do If You’re Injured By A Reckless Driver
If reckless driving led to an accident and injuries, the first thing you should do is call the authorities and then seek medical treatment. You should also gather information from witnesses who could offer testimony about how the driver was acting prior to the accident. Sometimes these witnesses do not stick around to be placed on the motor vehicle crash report. Additionally, take pictures of any physical evidence on the scene that indicates reckless driving, which can include things like skid marks or property damage.
Dashcam footage and body cam recordings from responding officers, and surveillance footage from nearby businesses can also provide evidence to make your case stronger, and you need the right attorney to help obtain these. If the other party who caused the accident received a reckless driving conviction after being cited by law enforcement, this is a key part of your case and shows that the driver was negligent as a matter of Georgia law.
When pursuing a claim arising out of an accident caused by a reckless driver, insurance companies and juries consider the following factors in determining how much compensation you are entitled to for your injuries under the law:
- Damage to your vehicle
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future lost wages
- Occupational retraining or loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages designed to punish the offender for intentional, reckless, and dangerous driving.
These and other factors are considered when determining how much financially you should be entitled to for your injuries.
Speak with Our Forsyth County Car Accident Lawyers
At Banks, Stubbs, & McFarland LLP, we help our clients hold reckless drivers liable for their injuries. If you were the victim of a car accident caused by a reckless driver, we are the premier law firm in the Forsyth County, Georgia region equipped to take your case. Our Forsyth County car accident attorneys are dedicated to fighting for you, so contact us today for a free consultation or call (770) 887-1209.