Reckless driving is a moving violation in which a driver displays a disregard for the rules of the road, and our San Diego car accident lawyers know that reckless drivers are a major cause of car accidents.  In essence, reckless drivers put themselves and others at risk.  As such, reckless driving offenders are punished by fines, jail time, and/or driver's license suspension or revocation.

Reckless Driving Often Involves More Than One Traffic Violation

Disregard for the safety of people or property is a common element in reckless driving car accidents.  Reckless driving acts include, but are not limited to, the following: These traffic offenses alone don't constitute reckless driving, but a combination of traffic violations or aggravating circumstances can support a reckless driving charge.

Excessive Speeding Alone Can Be Reckless Driving

While speeding alone isn't usually considered reckless driving, an extremely high rate of speed might lead an officer to charge someone with reckless driving.  When other mitigating factors are involved, speeding might lead to a reckless driving charge.  These factors, along with speed, include:
  • Presence of pedestrian traffic
  • Time of day
  • Traffic conditions
  • Visibility
  • Width and surface of the roadway.

Alcohol and Drugs Also Lead to Reckless Driving

Everyone that gets behind the wheel knowing that they are drunk or impaired are by definition reckless drivers, in that drunk or drugged drivers put the lives of everyone on the road at risk.  According to the courts, however, reckless driving and DUI (or DWI) offenses are separate crimes, and drivers may sometimes be charged with both crimes.

Teenagers Often Engage in Reckless Driving

When parents are out of sight, teenage drivers -- who are just starting to get a feel for the road -- engage in reckless driving behavior to impress their friends and test their limits.  Teens want to be “cool” and part of the group, and they test their limits.  Many times, their ambitions get in the way of sound judgment. Our car accident lawyers have handled terrible cases where teen drivers died because of reckless driving or drunk driving accidents that were easily preventable.  In fact, most car accidents can be prevented by following these simple tips:
  • Always wear a seatbelt
  • Avoid distractions caused by passengers, cell phones, food, or loud music
  • Don’t speed
  • Obey all traffic signs
  • And try not to drive when tired.
Not every automobile accident can be prevented, but you can control whether or not you cause a serious car crash.

Call Our Attorneys Now If You’ve Been Injured by a Reckless Driver

If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by a reckless driver then call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer to find out if we can help you. For almost two decades, our San Diego law office has worked primarily on automobile accident injury claims.  Let our experience be your guide.  Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis -- which means you owe nothing until we recover money on your behalf -- and we look forward to providing good advice so that you can make smart decisions about your case.