
Many car accidents involve negligent drivers who fail to use reasonable care under the circumstances. Reckless driving accidents happen when the at-fault driver drives dangerously and without regard for the safety of others. Examples of reckless driving include speeding, road rage, driving while intoxicated, dangerous passing, running red lights, and failure to yield.
Reckless drivers are responsible for some of the most devastating car accident injuries and fatalities. If you or your loved one have been injured in a reckless driving accident in Northern Virginia, you aren’t alone. The personal injury attorneys at Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC are prepared to fight for your right to compensation for all the damages caused by your injuries.
Examples of Reckless Driving
Reckless drivers do not follow traffic safety laws and put others on the road at risk of becoming seriously injured or killed. In Virginia, operating a vehicle with willful disregard for others’ safety is considered reckless driving. Unlike negligence, recklessness involves a conscious decision to disregard safety. Some of the most common examples of reckless driving include the following:
- Racing another vehicle
- Driving over the posted speed limit
- Driving too fast for the conditions, even when driving below the speed limit
- Passing over a solid lane divider on the right
- Passing outside of normal traffic lanes on the right
- Any other type of unsafe lane changes
- Aggressive driving
- Tailgating
- Cutting off another vehicle
- Weaving in and out of traffic quickly
- Slamming on the brakes for no reason
- Failure to obey traffic signals and signs, such as running a red light
- Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Driving while fatigued
- Distracted driving
- Passing on blind curves
- Fleeing from the police in a vehicle
- Passing a stopped school bus with flashing lights
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Driving through road barriers
Injuries Caused By Reckless Driving Accidents
Reckless driving accidents scan cause devastating injuries and fatalities. When drivers engage in dangerous behaviors, they are less likely to be able to react to avoid high-impact collisions with victims. In many cases, the faster a motor vehicle travels, the more severe the injuries caused by the impact. Victims of reckless driving accidents frequently need immediate medical attention and ongoing treatment. They may need one or more surgeries, rehabilitation, and physical therapy. Some of the most common injuries caused by reckless driving accidents include the following:
- Spinal cord injuries resulting in partial or total paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) ranging from moderate to severe
- Bone fractures caused by the force of impact of the collision
- Internal injuries caused by a foreign object or the force of the impact
- Neck injuries, including whiplash and herniated discs
- Facial injuries, including bruises, cuts, and bone fractures
- Soft tissue damage from the seatbelt or impact with the airbag
Proving Liability After a Reckless Driving Accident
In Virginia, reckless driving and aggressive driving are considered misdemeanor criminal offenses. Reckless drivers face criminal charges and penalties such as fines, losing driving privileges, and even jail time. Additionally, victims of reckless drivers can pursue a civil claim for monetary damages against the driver whose recklessness caused their injuries. Proving the other driver was acting dangerously when they caused the accident may entitle you to additional forms of compensation, such as punitive damages.
The Importance of Working with a Skilled Personal Injury Attorney
Working with a personal injury attorney can help you pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. When you work with Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC, we will immediately investigate your case and gather evidence of the other driver’s recklessness.
The type of investigation will depend on the underlying form of reckless driving. For example, if the other driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the police officers investigating the case likely tested the driver’s blood for impairment. Other forms of reckless driving, such as speeding, may be proven through video footage or a police officer’s use of a speed radar gun. When aggressive driving causes an accident, eyewitness accounts or video footage can help prove liability.
Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC has the resources and experience to carefully and thoroughly investigate the car accident that caused your injuries. We regularly work with accident construction experts to determine who is at fault and prove liability.
Compensation Available in Reckless Driving Accident Cases
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Virginia that wasn’t your fault, you have the right to pursue a claim for compensation against the at-fault driver. Victims can pursue economic damages for their easily quantifiable financial damages. Economic damages include the cost of all past, current, and future medical expenses, property damage, and lost income. Non-economic damages include compensation for disability, loss of consortium, and the pain and suffering victims have endured because of their injuries.
Pursuing Punitive Damages in Virginia
Victims of reckless drivers can pursue additional punitive damages for their injuries. However, victims can only recover up to $350,000 for punitive damages in personal injury lawsuits. After considering the egregiousness of the driver’s reckless behavior, the judge or jury will decide on the amount of punitive damages to award the plaintiff. The judge or jury will consider whether the reckless conduct was preventable as well as the degree of damage and impact of the victim’s injuries on their life.
Contact a Reckless Driving Accident Attorney in Virginia
If you or your loved one have been seriously injured in a reckless driving accident in Virginia, you aren’t alone. Seeking legal advice from a reputable firm like Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC can make a significant difference in your case. We have the necessary experience to pursue the maximum damages for our clients, including punitive damages for reckless driving. Don’t hesitate to contact Surovell Isaacs & Levy PLC to schedule a case evaluation with a skilled personal injury attorney in Northern Virginia.