Greensboro Reckless Driving Car Accidents

Were you injured in a collision caused by a reckless driver in Greensboro? If so, you might be concerned about how you’ll pay for the medical care you need and how you’ll make up for lost income and other losses. Reckless driving is negligent driving. If a reckless motorist hurt you, you have the right to demand justice and fair compensation.

At Ward Black Law, protecting the rights of injured people in Greensboro is what we do. Contact us today to learn more about how our car accident lawyers can help you hold the at-fault driver accountable for a reckless driving crash.

What Is Considered Reckless Driving in Greensboro?

“Reckless driving” is a broad term that can apply to many serious traffic offenses in Greensboro. Generally speaking, reckless drivers engage in dangerous driving behaviors without considering the risks they pose to their safety and the safety of other road users.

Examples of reckless driving behaviors include:

• Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions
• Lane weaving or making
• Unsafe passing around blind curves or hills
• Tailgating or following too closely
• Cutting too closely in front of other moving vehicles
• Engaging in illegal races on highways or public roads
• Running red lights or stop signs or ignoring other traffic control signals
• Failing to yield the right-of-way to other road users
• Failing to use turn signals before merging, turning, or changing lane
• Driving while distracted, intoxicated, or otherwise impaired
• Driving a vehicle with known mechanical deficiencies

How Reckless Driving Causes Crashes

Reckless drivers significantly increase the risk of devastating traffic collisions by:

• Making dangerous driving errors – Because reckless drivers operate without regard for safety, they frequently make serious driving errors that contribute to accidents. Common driving mistakes committed by reckless drivers include abruptly changing lanes, failing to leave an adequate distance between vehicles, turning at unsafe speeds, and more.
• Ignoring road or traffic hazards – It’s common for reckless drivers to be so distracted or preoccupied that they fail to recognize changes in traffic flow, road debris, or other hazards in the road.
• Failing to follow traffic laws – Reckless drivers often willingly ignore important traffic laws by exceeding posted speed limits, refusing to yield the right-of-way to others, and disobeying traffic signs and signals.
• Losing control of their vehicles – When reckless drivers speed or drive too fast for road conditions, they have less time to react and are more likely to cause loss-of-control accidents. Similarly, reckless drivers who knowingly operate faulty or unsafe vehicles may lose control and crash when critical components fail.

Injuries Caused by Reckless Driving Car Accidents

Many reckless driving accidents occur at high speeds and result in severe injuries. Common careless driving accident injuries include:

Penalties for Reckless Driving in Greensboro

Reckless driving is a criminal offense in North Carolina. These offenses are prosecuted as Class 2 misdemeanors. Drivers who are convicted of reckless driving charges could face penalties such as:

• Up to 30 days in jail for first-time offenders and up to 60 days in jail for offenders with prior criminal convictions
• Up to $1,000 in fines, not including court costs or legal fees
• 4 demerit points against their driving record
• Possible license suspension for drivers who:
  • Were driving more than 15 mph over the speed limit and exceeding 55 mph
  • Were exceeding 80 mph
  • Have one or more prior convictions within the past 12 months

Remember that a citation or conviction for reckless driving has no direct bearing on any insurance claims or personal injury lawsuits filed by accident victims. That is because a reckless driving ticket or charge is a criminal matter, which is entirely separate from insurance claims and injury lawsuits in civil court.

Although it could help your civil case if the other driver is convicted of reckless driving, neither a ticket nor a conviction is any guarantee that your claim will succeed. At the same time, if a driver was acquitted on reckless driving charges or never charged in the first place, it does not necessarily mean you cannot hold them liable in civil court.

Liability in Reckless Driving Accidents

To seek fair compensation after a Greensboro reckless driving accident, you must be able to demonstrate that the other driver was at fault for the wreck and liable for your accident-related losses. You can accomplish this with the help of a dedicated attorney who can gather and preserve helpful evidence for your claim, such as:

• Police accident reports, which typically contain information such as toxicology test results and any citations issued by officers.
• Photos and video footage from the accident scene, which can show skid marks, vehicle damage, and the relative speed and trajectory of each vehicle just before and after the collision
• Statements from eyewitnesses who saw the crash occur, which can provide valuable supporting information to corroborate your claim
• Testimony from expert witnesses, such as medical experts and accident reconstruction specialists who can provide professional evaluations of the causes and effects of the crash

North Carolina Reckless Driving Laws

Under § 20-140 of the North Carolina General Statutes, a reckless driving offense occurs when:

Any driver operates a vehicle on a highway or public road carelessly or in “willful or wanton” disregard for the rights or safety of other road users.
Any driver operates a vehicle on a highway or public road without exercising proper caution and at a speed or in a way that endangers other people or property.

Contact a Greensboro Car Accident Lawyer Today

When you need an experienced Greensboro car accident attorney to help you hold a reckless driver accountable for a crash, look no further than Ward Black Law. Call or text (336) 333-2244 or contact us online today to discuss the details of your situation during a free initial case review.