Reckless driving can encompass many different behaviors on the road, including driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and road rage. Some forms of reckless driving amount to criminal behavior and lead to the driver facing criminal charges. Additionally, when reckless driving causes innocent victims to become injured, the victims can pursue a legal claim against the driver whose recklessness caused their injuries.
Advocating for Victims of Reckless Driving in Arkansas
Have you or your loved one been seriously injured in a reckless driving accident? If so, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. Attorney Tim Reed Has helped many victims of reckless driving hold the reckless driver accountable and move forward with their lives by obtaining the compensation they need and deserve. Don’t hesitate to contact the Reed Firm today to schedule an initial consultation and learn more about how we can advocate for your rights.
What Constitutes Reckless Driving?
Reckless driving involves a driver operating a motor vehicle that completely disregards other people’s or property’s safety. Recklessly driving a vehicle is more severe than negligently driving a vehicle. Negligence involves the failure to use reasonable care. Recklessness involves a more willful disregard for people’s safety. Reckless driving can also result in criminal charges in Arkansas. Still, regardless of whether the driver who caused your injuries has been charged with a crime, you still have the right to pursue a civil claim against the driver.
Types of Reckless Driving That Can Cause Car Accidents
When a driver engages in reckless behavior, he or she is more likely to cause a devastating accident. Reckless driving often involves high speeds and a lack of judgment and ability to control the vehicle, making it more likely that severe injuries will occur.
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a common form of reckless driving and criminal activity. When a driver is impaired by drugs or alcohol, the driver’s reaction time is slower, and the driver may be more likely to engage in dangerous behavior like swerving in and out of a lane, turning the wrong way down the street, or failing to stop at a stop sign. Any amount of impairment can result in injuries to innocent people. If you have become injured in a drunk driving accident that wasn’t your fault, it’s essential that you reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can begin gathering evidence which may include a chemical test for intoxication to prove that you are entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Aggressive Driving, Including Road Rage
Road rage and aggressive driving continue to cause devastating car accidents in Arkansas. Road rage happens when a driver drives in an overly aggressive way. In many cases, drivers who engage in road rage are angry at other drivers, but not in all cases. Some common examples of road rage that can lead to devastating injuries include the following:
- Excessive speeding
- Tailgating too closely to the vehicle in front of them
- Weaving quickly and dangerously In and out of traffic, such as changing lanes and improper passing
- Yelling obscenities or threats at other passengers or motorists
- Braking or accelerating inappropriately or abruptly
- Intentionally hitting another motorist, pedestrian, or bicyclist
- Brandishing a weapon toward another driver, such as a knife or gun
- Intentionally colliding with another pedestrian, motorcyclist, or bicyclist
- Causing motorists to run off the roadway
- Chasing another driver at high speeds or in a dangerous or reckless manner
- Causing an accident intentionally and leaving the vehicle to start a physical altercation
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is usually considered a form of negligence, but it can rise to the level of recklessness. When a driver willfully disregards the safety of others on the road, they are engaging in reckless behavior. For example, suppose a driver is watching a movie on his or her phone while driving on the freeway. Due to the hazardous nature of watching videos while driving, this behavior will likely rise to recklessness. Texting while driving, staring out the window, and being distracted by GPS, cell phones, or other passengers can constitute reckless driving. It only takes five seconds for a distracted driver to check a text message and drive the length of a football field, resulting in a collision.
Failure to Obey Traffic Rules
Many traffic laws are intended to prevent people from engaging in reckless behavior and decrease the number of car accidents. When a driver fails to obey an established local or state driving law or regulation, doing so can be an example of negligence per se and make it easier for plaintiffs to recover the compensation they need and deserve.
Recovering Compensation After a Reckless Driving Accident
There are two main ways to recover compensation after being injured in a reckless driving accident. First, victims can pursue a claim from the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. Insurance agents may try to offer you a far too-low settlement. Working with an attorney can help you level the playing field because your attorney can negotiate aggressively with the insurance adjuster for a fair settlement amount. You can also pursue a claim in civil court against the party or parties whose recklessness resulted in the car accident that caused your injuries. You only have a limited amount of time to file a claim, so the sooner you speak to an attorney, the better.
Contact a Skilled Reckless Driving Attorney
If you have been the victim of a reckless driving accident in Arkansas, it’s crucial that you understand your legal rights and options. You may have the right to pursue a claim with the reckless driver’s auto insurance policy or a lawsuit in civil court against the driver who caused your injuries. Attorney Tim Reed can help you negotiate with the insurance company or develop a strong personal injury case. He will work with medical and financial experts to carefully value your claim to recover compensation for medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the Reed Firm to schedule your free case evaluation.