Reckless Driving Lawyers

What Is Reckless Driving?

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Reckless driving is the driving of a vehicle at a speed or in a manner that shows an utter disregard for the safety of persons or property. In other words, a reckless driver knows that he is driving dangerously but chooses to do so despite the risk. Depending on what state you live in, reckless driving is either a misdemeanor criminal offense or a misdemeanor traffic offense.

Depending on what state you live in, reckless driving is either a misdemeanor criminal offense or a misdemeanor traffic offense. Some states call the violation of reckless driving as “careless driving.”

What Are the Factors Reckless Driving?

Courts weigh in a number of factors to determine whether the driver was driving in a reckless manner. This includes:

• The time of day and whether the drivers driving was safe
• Weather conditions
• The presence of other people
• The driver’s act was beyond mere negligence

Common Types of Reckless Driving

Although state laws vary in defining reckless driving, some common examples of reckless driving include:

• Speeding excessively of over 25 miles over the posted speed limit
• Tailgating
• Illegal passing (for example, passing on a curve or using the opposing traffic lane to pass)
• Weaving through traffic
• Ignoring traffic signs and signals
• Driving a vehicle known to have faulty brakes or other dangerous flaws
• Racing other cars
• Escaping from a police officer after a traffic stop

Consequences of Reckless Driving

Depending on whether a state considers reckless driving to be a misdemeanor criminal offense or a misdemeanor traffic offense, penalties for reckless driving can be fairly severe. Some of the possible consequences include:

• The reckless driving charge will go on your driving record
• You will have a criminal record
• You may be put on probation
• Your driving privileges may be suspended
• You may have to pay fines of up to $2,500 depending on your state's laws
• You may face jail time of up to one year

The severity of your penalties will depend primarily on your state's laws and your prior driving history.

Do I Need a Lawyer for Reckless Driving Charges?

If your state classifies reckless driving as a criminal offense, you should hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Even if your state classifies reckless driving as a driving offense, you can still benefit from the aid of a lawyer. A criminal defense attorney can represent you in court, negotiate a plea bargain, or seek to lower your fines or jail time.

Kourosh Akhbari

, LegalMatch Legal Writer

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Last Modified: 06-21-2018 03:06 AM PDT

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