In a perfect world, every driver would be respectful of others as they follow the rules of the road.
However, you know this will never be the case. Even when you’re doing your part to remain safe, there are others who drive recklessly without considering the potential impact.
Reckless driving is often referred to as dangerous driving or careless driving. Regardless of the language, this is a serious traffic offense with a conviction resulting in penalties such as jail time and a large fine.
Some of the most common types of reckless driving include:
- Racing another vehicle on the road
- Driving 25 miles per hour or more over the speed limit
- Trying to evade a police officer
- Illegal passing
As you can imagine, partaking in one or more of these forms of reckless driving can cause an accident. For example, driving 25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit is dangerous at all times, especially when there are other vehicles on the road.
If you are involved in a crash with a reckless driver, you shouldn’t immediately worry about the cause. Instead, you need to focus on obtaining medical attention as quickly as possible. This typically starts with calling 911.
As you receive treatment, you can be rest assured that police are doing their part in determining what went wrong.
Once you have an idea of your long-term medical prognosis, you can then focus on the events surrounding the accident. This will lead you to understand whether or not you are in position to seek compensation from the negligent party.
Source: FindLaw, “Reckless Driving,” accessed Feb. 16, 2018
