Reckless driving is a traffic offense that puts everyone’s lives in danger. Reckless drivers can potentially face criminal charges, as well as a civil lawsuit if they harm innocent victims in a car accident. Victim or reckless drivers may be able to recover their medical bills, lost wages, and other damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
If you or a loved one were injured in a rollover accident and someone else was at fault, contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers. Our car accident lawyers in Alexandria represent victims in all types of collisions, including rollovers.
Our firm’s rollover accident lawyers may be able to identify your case’s liable party and pursue them for compensation on your behalf. We’ll handle your case from start to finish and there’s no fee until we win.
The Difference Between Negligence and Reckless Driving
The main difference between negligence and recklessness is the intent of the other driver. An Alexandria personal injury lawyer from our team will investigate the crash and determine the cause.
Driver Negligence
A driver who acts negligently should have known the risk involved in their action or behavior. However, they may not be fully aware of the danger of their actions, or they made an error in judgment in a particular driving situation. For instance, a person may not look both ways before driving into a busy intersection.
Negligence occurs when someone who should have failed to practice care when operating a vehicle fails to do so. However, failure to exercise caution is not necessarily the same as being reckless.
Reckless Driving
According to RS 14:99, reckless driving is the reckless operation of a vehicle in a way that criminally negligent or reckless. Thus, the distinction between reckless driving and negligence is the driver’s intent or state of mind. In most cases, a driver was intentionally or willfully reckless regardless of the risk of injury to others.
From a legal standpoint, reckless driving is considered a misdemeanor offense that can result in fines, jail time, or suspension of a driver’s license. A person who is fully aware of their dangerous actions but commits them nonetheless is driving recklessly.
Laborde Earles injury was great for me they took care of me very fast and professional. If for any reason I need legal help they will be who I use.
ClientCommon Types of Reckless Driving
There are numerous ways in which a driver can create a dangerous situation. Some of the reckless driving cases that we take on in Louisiana include:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Disregarding traffic signals
- Passing in no-passing zones
- Weaving through traffic
- Street racing
Also, aggressive driving is another type of reckless driving that can lead to a catastrophic car accident. An aggressive driver is one who may try to overtake or fail to yield to another driver. A common form of aggressive driving is road rage, where an angry person reacts to another driver in a way that puts others at risk. Angry drivers sometimes intentionally strike others from behind. In this case, you can get legal help from an Alexandria rear-end accident lawyer.
Reckless drivers should pay for their actions when their recklessness leads to an injury. If you were injured in an accident and an irresponsible driver is to blame, then contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (318) 777-7777.
I thank God for Digger & David. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t have been for them.
Rick Smith | ClientWe Help Victims in Reckless Driving Accidents
When you are injured as a result of reckless driving, it can be challenging to coordinate settlement negotiations or a personal injury lawsuit. Fortunately, you are not alone. An Alexandria reckless driving lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers may be able to handle all aspects of your case when we represent you. This may include:
- Providing consultation throughout the legal process
- Investigating your accident to uncover the facts of the case
- Obtaining evidence that the other party was driving recklessly
- Calculating the value of your claim based on your damages
- Handling all communications, deadlines, and paperwork on your behalf
- Negotiating a settlement that reflects your losses
- Taking your case to trial, if necessary
Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers is prepared to defend your rights at every stage of the legal process when we represent you.
The reassurance from Digger and his staff gave me that renewed hope that it’s going to be okay down the road.
ClientHow to Prove a Reckless Driving Claim
It is important to note that you do necessarily need to prove that the driver in your accident was driving recklessly to recover compensation. In many personal injury cases, proving that they caused your accident through an act of negligence—which can be something as simple as violating a traffic law—can establish liability. If there is evidence of negligence, your civil lawsuit may succeed regardless of whether the driver faces criminal charges for reckless driving.
Still, you may need evidence of the other driver’s negligent actions to recover compensation in this type of cause. When you work with an Alexandria reckless driving lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers, we can investigate your accident and obtain evidence of liability, such as:
Eyewitness Testimony
One of the most compelling forms of evidence may be from that of eyewitnesses who saw the other driver or the accident. Eyewitnesses in your car or the other driver’s car may testify that the other driver was acting recklessly and that their actions caused the crash.
Photos or Video Footage
We can review any available video footage to get a clearer picture of how the accident played out.
Expert Witnesses
We can reach out to expert witnesses who may be able to corroborate your story by reconstructing the accident. Expert witnesses may include private investigators, automotive professionals, or medical professionals.
Medical Documents
Medical reports are valuable in demonstrating the correlation between the driver’s actions and your injuries. Make sure that you obtain and keep all medical documents, including reports, invoices, and receipts.
They treated us like no other people would. Whenever we needed something they were there for us. I put my trust in them and I don’t regret it.
ClientCall Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers Today
Civil Code §3492 imposes a general one-year statute of limitations on all personal injury cases in Louisiana, including injuries from reckless driving. This means that you have one year from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. Missing the deadline could make you ineligible to file a claim.
So, do not delay. Contact Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today to find out how an Alexandria reckless driving lawyer from our firm may be able to represent you.
A free, no-obligation consultation with a member of our team is available when you call (318) 777-7777.
