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Examples Of Reckless Driving Manners

24 June 2021

Dianne Ellis

When drivers exhibit reckless behavior behind the wheel, they are putting everyone on the road at risk. When an accident occurs, law enforcement will take into account a number of factors when determining whether a driver was indeed driving dangerously. There are a few things that constitute reckless driving, which may lead to criminal charges for the driver.

Excessive Speed

Speeding is incredibly dangerous, and if caught, you are likely to receive a citation. Excessive speeding may be considered negligent. When you drive 15 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit, it is generally considered negligent. One reason for this is that it endangers others on the road.

When a personal injury claim is brought against a driver who has been driving at excessive speeds and an accident resulted from it, this driver may be considered reckless, dangerous, and negligent. Other examples of reckless driving in the form of speeding are driving at excessive speeds in residential areas and school zones.

More often than not, speeding is not a felony on its own. Instead, speeding becomes a felony when serious or fatal injuries result from an accident involving reckless driving and speeding.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving is a particular form of reckless driving behavior that tends to result in incredibly devastating auto accidents. Although drivers need to be familiar with a certain level of defensive driving skills when behind the wheel, it is possible for aggressive driving to cause collisions or run other automobiles off of the roadway. In most states, aggressive driving is not allowed and may be considered careless and negligent.

Passing Dangerously

Although it is allowed in most states to pass other vehicles on the road, passing should only be permitted when it is safe to do so and when the law permits. For example, passing around a curve or on a hill is generally considered reckless due to the fact that the driver is unable to see oncoming traffic. As a general rule, unsafe passing is not specifically defined as reckless; however, it can be a risky driving behavior that is cited in a personal injury claim.

There are many consequences for those who are caught driving recklessly. For starters, they may be facing a criminal conviction. Reckless driving is typically considered a misdemeanor, but it can be considered a felony in some states and depending on the extent of the details of the incident. In addition, they may be facing a civil lawsuit if they were involved in an accident that caused bodily harm to someone else. If you have been cited with reckless driving and are now facing a criminal charge, contact a criminal attorney to discuss the details of your situation.

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