Reckless Driving Accidents

Getting into an accident is a frustrating and terrifying experience, and it can be even more upsetting when you know that the accident was caused by someone acting recklessly or with wanton disregard for the safety of the others around them. The rules of the road are designed in order to keep everyone traveling on the roads safe, whether it is people driving or riding in other cars, pedestrians and cyclists, people on motorcycles, or anyone else using the roads in the proper manner.

If you have been in an accident with a reckless driver and suffered injuries from the crash, contact us as soon as possible to learn about how we can help you build a personal injury case, handle negotiations with the other driver’s insurance company, and ultimately work for you to help you get the money that you need and deserve for your injuries that you have suffered because of someone else’s irresponsible decisions. Read more below, and contact us now to start working towards the outcome that fits your circumstance.

What Is Reckless Driving?

At its essence, reckless driving is a manner of driving where the person shows a complete lack of regard for the safety of everyone around them on the road. This could be a person’s decision to drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, drive above the speed limit, race on public roads, or speeding through a traffic light or stop sign.

Each accident is different, and the causes of each crash are different, meaning that it is important to go through the details of the crash with the police, your attorney, and to gather eyewitness accounts of the situation to support your claims. In some cases, it may be very clear that the other driver was acting recklessly, by things like rubber marks on the road where they skidded from high speed or lost control around a corner. In other cases, there may be surveillance footage. It is important that we gather as much of this evidence as possible at the start of our work together.

Can You Go To Jail For Reckless Driving?

There is no specific yes/no answer to this question, but there are many different instances where someone could be arrested for reckless driving. If they are found do be driving under the influence (DUI), were driving at very high speeds, or any other number of situations where the officers on the scene determine that an arrestable offense has taken place, then the person may be arrested for their actions.

It is important that you speak up about what you have witnessed when the police arrive. It is unlikely that the other driver will volunteer too much information when they are being questioned, especially if they know that their driving caused the accident. It is important that you inform the officers of everything that you can remember as soon as possible, because the longer that you wait, the more of your memory will become obscured, and your recollection of what happened may become unclear.

Working With a Personal Injury Attorney After a Reckless Driving Accident

Once you have addressed the immediate issues, it is never too soon to start working with a personal injury attorney to begin building your case. You will need to contact the other driver’s insurance company fairly soon after the accident, and it is important that you keep in mind the fact that the agent is NOT working on your behalf. Insurance companies work very hard to limit the amount of money that they issue to victims in order to protect their own financial interests, whether or not that comes at your own expense down the road.

We will calculate the amount that you are truly owed, and will work through a series of negotiations with the insurance company in order to get you that in a settlement. If we are unable to reach an agreement during this process, then the next step will be to file a lawsuit in the California courts and begin fighting for the full amount you need. This option takes more time and effort, which is why oftentimes we will attempt to reach a settlement agreement before choosing a civil case. However, if the circumstances are compelling enough then we will choose the most appropriate approach to get you what you need to move forward with your life.