What Is Reckless Driving?

It’s

llenge to feel s

fe behind the

heel

hen you she the

ith so m

ny b

d d

ive

s. M

ny d

ive

s out on ou

tion’s

ds opete vehicles negligently. They m

y speed th

ough

ed lights o

ive unde

the influence of

lcohol

nd d

ugs. If you’

e in

cent l

ne, b

d d

ive

s m

y csh into you

. These

ctions m

y seem inexcus

ble to

fety-conscious d

ive

, but they th

t doesn’t me

n th

t they necess

ily meet the leg

l definition of

eckless d

iving. ong>

eckless d

ive

s <

ong>e in

n ext

eme c

tego

ll on thei

n. They m

nifest the

st of the

st d

iving h

bits,

nd thei

ctions su

ss t

dition

l ide

s of negligence.

eckless d

ive

s often c

use extensive d

nd c

ophic inju

ies.

hen

imin

l cou

t convicts them of

ime fo

thei

d beh

vio

, it’s hd to feel soy fo

them, bec

use you kno

they likely dese

ve it.

hen

eckless d

ive

inju

es you, <

ef="https:

inju

yvictims.com

vices

–

ccident-

tto

ney-houston

“>spe

king

ith

lye

> fo conviction should e

se the d

ecove

y p

ocess, but it doesn’t

k out th

t y. It’s

n unf

consequence, but the othe

guy’s

eckless d

iving conviction c

n c

te p

oblems fo

both of you.

imin

l conviction is one su

y to keep

uly b

d d

ive

off the

d—

t le

st tempo

ily. Unfo

tun

tely, it could

lso c

use li

bility covege issues th

t complic

te you

ecove

eckless D
iving: You
ecognize It
hen You See It

hen

ive

eens th

ough

n inte

section

ithout slo

ing do

ms you

nd c

shes into

pole, you p

bly h

ve no doubt in you

mind th

t he’s d

iving

ecklessly. If you’

e se

iously inju

ed du

ing the imp

ct, you don’t ce if the othe

guy

eckless, distcted,

essive, out of cont

ol, o

simply negligent. You just nt him to p

y fo

the d

ges he c

used.

Most studies h

ve concluded th

t men

e mo

e likely th

omen to d

ive

ecklessly.

hen the<

ef=”https://

.iihs.o

g/topics/f

lity-st

tistics

det

gende

" tget="_bl

nk”

el="noopene

efee

“> Insu

nce Institute of High

y S

fety<>

lyzed U.S. Deptment of Tnspo

tion

ccident d

, it concluded th

t men d

ive mo

e miles, pctice mo

isky d

iving beh

vio

nd die in

uto c

shes mo

e f

equently th

omen.

d d

ive

s h

bitu

lly d

ive c

elessly

essively. They often commit

t the N

tion

l Highy Tffic S

fety

dministtion c

lls <

ef=”https://

.nhts

.gov/

isky-d

iving” t

get=”_bl

nk"

el=”noopene

efe

isky d

iving<> beh

vio

s. It’s the

dded element of intention

lity th

t t

nsfo

ive

’s b

ctions into

eckless d

iving

nd c

imin

l beh

vio

hen

l enfo

cement office

cites someone foeckless d

iving, the office

usu

lly h

s evidence th

t the d

ive

eng

ged in one o

e of the follo

ing beh

vio

D
iving unde
the influence of d
ugs olcohol<
li>
Dist

cted d
iving (texting, t
lking, e
ting, putting on m
keup, etc.)
Speeding
D
iving in the ong di
ection
D
iving
gg
essively<
li>
unning ed light<
li>
F
ilu
e to stop
t
stop sign
D

g

cing in the st
eet<
li>
Igno
ing
stopped school bus

These

nd othections viol

te loc

nd st

te moto

vehicle st

tutes.

cou

t might

lso conside

them negligent, but

enfo

cement office

must decide

t the

ccident scene if the

ctions constitute negligence. Despite his studied opinion,

police office

n’t gu

ntee th

cou

ill convict

ive

eckless opetion. L enfo

cement offici

ls genelly covell contingencies by citing

iveith one o

e of the

bove t

ffic viol

tions

lso citing him o

eckless d

iving c

ime.

Yes,
eckless D
iving Is
C
ime

eckless opetion is b

d d

iving, but it’s

lso

imin

l offense. To dete

mine if

ive

s committed

ime,

l enfo

cement office

must ex

mine the

ccident scene, listen to the d

ive

s’ ve

sions, inte

vieitnesses,

nd m

judgment c

ll.

ith

ny c

ime, the cou

t m

kes the fin

l decision b

sed on st

te st

tutes

ble evidence. Beloe p

ovide mo

e specific

ding

eckless d

iving in Louisi

, Tex

nd C

lifo

ong>Louisi
n
ong>: Unde
<
h
ef=”http://
.legis.l
.gov/legis/L

.
spx?d=78753" tget="_bl
nk”
el="noopene
no
efee
“>Lousi
n
l

>, the “
eckless Ope

tion of
Vehicle” is
c
imin
l offense.
conviction
equi
es th
t
cou
t find
d
ive
guilty of opeting
vehicle in “
c
imin
lly negligent oeckless m
nne
.” The punishment fo
conviction m
y include
fine up to $200, imp
isonment fo
up to 90 d
ys, o
both.

ong>Tex
s ong>: Unde
<
h
ef=”https://st
tutes.c
pitol.tex
s.gov
Docs/TN/htm/TN.545.htm” t

get=”_bl
nk"
el=”noopene
no
efe

e
">Tex
s l

>, eckless d
ive
is
d
iveho opetes
vehicle “in
illful o
nton dis
egd fo
the s
fety of pe
sons o
p
ope
ty.”
pe
son is subject to eckless opetion chge
hile d
iving on public
o
ds
nd high

ys
nd
lso in
p
iv
te
ccess

y o
pking e
. Punishments include
fine up to $200, confinement fo
up to 30 d
ys, o
both.
ong>C
lifo
ni
ong>: In the <
h
ef="https:
/leginfo.legisl
tu
e.c
.gov
f
ces
codes_displ
ySection.xhtml?lCode=VEH&
mp;sectionNum=23103.” t

get=”_bl
nk"
el=”noopene
no
efe

e
">Golden St
te >, the l defines eckless d
ive

s “
pe
son
ho d
ives
vehicle upon
high

y in
illful o
nton dis
egd fo
the s
fety of pe
sons o
p
ope
ty.” Those convicted of the c
ime c
n f
ce 90 d
ys in j
il
nd fines of $1,000.<
li>

Bec

use of the intention

l component of the c

ime, eckless opetion chge is often difficult to p

osecute. The p

osecution must p

ove the d

ive

’s st

te of mind

t the time of the

ccident,

hich

equi

es p

oducing me

ningful evidence o

getting into the offending d

ive

’s he

d enough to encou

confession.

conviction is

lso subject to

imin

l defense

tto

ney’s

illingness to dispute his client’s guilt.

defense

tto

ney m

lso

ttempt to ple

n eckless d

iving ch

ge to

non-c

imin

l tffic chge.

ecove

ble D
m
ges

hen eckless d

ive

’s insu

decides to settle, the insu

ed’s design

tion

eckless ope

y help f

st-tck you

im o

suit. Insu

nce comp

nies t

y to

void cou

oom scenes th

t might

eve

l thei

insu

ed’s ho

id d

iving beh

vio

in cou

hich m

y le

d to

high-doll

judgment

nd excess li

bility exposu

e. To p

event this, insu

nce comp

nies

ill coope

te to settle out of cou

t. Th

t c

n me

n minim

l li

bility discussions, e

sie

negoti

tions,

nd highe

settlements.

Economic
nd Non-Economic D
m
ges

Inju

y settlements customily include

doll

mount to

eimbu

se you

medic

l bills, thepy costs, lost ges,

nd othe

lcul

ble d

ges incued due to

ccident.

hile these

e often e

sily p

ble b

sed on

eceipts, bills,

nd employe

document

tion, non-economic d

ges p

esent

llenge.

intiff must p

ove p

nd suffe

ing, loss of conso

tium,

nd othe

gue d

ges b

sed on emotion

nd psychologic

l issues expe

ienced

s esult of the

ccident.

Punitive o
Exemply D
m
ges<
h3>
Cou
ts d punitive d
m
ges
hen
defend
nt
cts in
m
nneo
thy of punishment.
hile the st
nd

d of p
oof vies f
om st
te to st
te, the d
nge
ous d
iving beh
vio

equi
ed fo
eckless d
iving conviction helps
pl
intiff p
esent
f
vo

ble c
se.
cou
t convicts
d
ive
of
eckless d
iving bec
use of c
imin
lly negligent beh
vio
oillful
nd

nton dis
egd fo
s
fety. C
imin
l
nd civil c
ses h
ve diffe
ent st
nd

ds of p
oof, but if the evidence suppo
ts
conviction in c
imin
l cou
t, it
ill likely help suppo
t
cl
im fo
punitive o
exempl

y d
m
ges in
civil c
se.

eckless D
ive
M
y
ttempt to S
bot
ge You
Li
bility Cl
im<
h2>
If
cou
t convicts

esponsible p

ty of
eckless d
iving, his o
he
conviction c
n m
ke it mo
e difficult fo
you to
ecove
d
m
ges f
om the li
bility c
ie
. P
oving f
ult to the insu

nce comp
ny is often the simplest pt of the p
ocess. It’s the cove

ge issues th
t m
y complic
te the p
ocess.

Intention
l
ct Exclusions

hen eckless d

ive

cshes into you

, the c

imin

l ch

ges often t

ke cente

ge. If you don’t m

ke it cle

t youccident

lso involved negligence issues, the d

ive

’s c

imes c

ffect you

potenti

l fo

ecove

uto policies usu

lly exclude bodily inju

nd p

ope

ty d

hen c

used intention

lly.

hile the d

ges

eckless d

ive

uses e often

ccident

l, the initi

ting f

cto

e sometimes intention

hen

son is d

iving unde

the influence, speeding, d

cing, o

committing some othe

nge

ous

ct,

ccident is e

son

ble, if not

n expected, outcome. Th

t expect

tion is one of the f

cto

s th

t m

kes

eckless d

iving

ime

ell

n intention

ct.

Insu

nce comp

nies ite li

bility policies

ith exclusions th

t b

the h

zds th

t they neve

nted to cove

in the fi

st pl

ce. Some pe

son

uto policies exclude covege fo

specific

lly desc

ibed d

nge

ous

ctivities, such

cing, stunts, o

othe

exhibitions,

hethe

nned o

info

uto policies

lso exclude d

ges o

inju

ies c

used by

n intention

ct.

hen you p

esent

bility cl

im, it’s impo

nt to do

npl

y the intention

cts

nd focus on the negligence

lleg

tions. Othe

ise, the li

bility insunce comp

ny might deny you

im.

Cove

ge fo
Punitive o
Exempl

y D
m
ges

If you p

ove th

ive

cted

illfully o

ntonly o

imin

lly negligent o

eckless m

nne

, you m

y meet the st

ds fo

punitive d

d. Punitive d

e often difficult to collect

hen the insunce comp

ny denies cove

ge o

the

esponsible p

ty h

s limited fin

nci

esou

ces. Some st

tes conside

inst public policy fon insu

ssume

esponsibility fo

ying

d me

nt to punish

ble pty. Unde

in situ

tions in Louisi

, it’s not

inst public policy fon insu

to p

y punitive o

exemply d

ges. The insunce comp

ny still h

s the

ight to deny p

yment if the policy l

ngu

ge excludes such. In othe

inst

nces,

bility insu

y t

ke the position th

t punitive d

ges simply

en’t cove

ed by

uto policy. ecent

uling on the issue c

me befo

e the Tex

s Cou

t of

ppe

ls in the c

se, <

ef="https:

/schol

.google.com/schol

se?c

se=6166902460708473548&

mp;q=Fme

s+Tex

s+County+Mutu

l+Insu

nce+Comp

ny+v.+Zunig

mp;hl=en&

mp;

s_sdt=6,36&

mp;

s_vis=1" tget="_bl

nk”

el="noopene

efee

“>F

s Tex

s County Mutu

l Insunce Comp

ny v. Jennife

Zunig

>. The b

ckg

ound

nd issues

e complic

ted, but the impo

nt pt is th

t the cou

t dete

mined th

t punitive d

ges e neithe

bodily inju

y no

ope

ty d

ge,

nd the

efo

e not cove

ed by

uto policy.

Lo
Li
bility Cove

ge Limits

eckless d

ive

’s insu

ees to p

y you

im, you might find out th

t his o

policy limits

e too lo

to cove

you

ges. The <

ef="https:

-fs.nhts

.dot.gov/People/PeopleD

ive

spx" tget="_bl

nk”

el="noopene

efee

“>US DOT F

S D

bles<> p

ovide

simple tion

le fo

this covege issue. Lo

policy limits

e often one of the consequences

hen

ive

consistently b

d d

iving histo

y. M

ny d

ive

s involved in f

ccidents h

ve p

evious convictions fo

moto

vehicle cshes, speeding, DUI, license suspensions,

evoc

tions.

dition

l comp

nies

on’t insu

ive

hen they h

d d

iving histo

ith multiple cit

tions

nd convictions. If they do, they ch

ge highe

emiums

dd on

ge th

t m

kes the p

emiums even highe

. High-

isk d

ive

s c

ely

ffo

d tdition

l insu

nce policies.

cco

dingly, such d

ive

k to meet st

te fin

nci

esponsibility

equi

ements by pu

sing lo

-cost policies

ith st

te minimum li

bility limits.

In Louisi
n
,
d
ive
must h
ve <
h
ef="https:
/
.ldi.l
.gov/docs/def
ult-sou
ce/documents/public
ff
i
s
consume
public
tions/consume
's-guide-to-
uto-insu

nce-2016.pdf?sfv
sn=c0907c52_47" tget="_bl
nk”
el="noopene
no
efee
“>15/30/25 > limits: $15,000 in bodily inju
y cove

ge pe
pe
son
nd $30,000 peccident,
nd $25,000 in p
ope
ty d
m
ge li
bility covege.<
li>
In Tex
s, the limits e<
h
ef="https:
/
.tdi.tex
s.gov/pubs/consume

cb020.html” t

get=”_bl
nk"
el=”noopene
no
efe

e
"> 30
60/25 >.
d
ive
must h
ve
$30,000 pe
pe
son bodily inju
y limit
nd $60,000 pe

ccident,
nd $25,000 in p
ope
ty d
m
ge li
bility cove

ge.
<
h
ef=”https://
.geico.com
info
m
tion/st
tes
c

” t

get=”_bl
nk"
el=”noopene
no
efe

e
">C
lifo
ni
>
equi
es $15,000 pe
pe
son, $30,000 peccident,
nd $5,000 fo
p
ope
ty d
m
ge.<
li>

h
t H
ppens
hen

eckless D
ive
H
s No Insunce?<
h2>
ll st
tes, except Ne
H
mpshi
e,
equi
e licensed d
ive
s
nd vehicle o
ne
s to m
int
in li
bility insunce. Despite st
ingent st
te fin
nci
l
esponsibility st
tutes
nd stiff pen
lties fo
non-compli
nce, some people still d
ive
ithout insunce. This dyn
mic often h
ppens
hen
d
ive
is uninsuble th
ough t

dition
l ch
nnels. Sometimes
d
ive
o
vehicle o
ne
c
n’t
ffo
d covege due to
spotty d
iving histo
y o

p
evious
ccident.

If you’
e inju
ed by
n uninsu
ed o
unde
insu
ed
eckless d
ive
, you still h
ve
ecove
y options. if you h
ve Uninsu
ed Moto
ist (UM) o
Unde
insu
ed Moto
ist (UIM) cove

ge, you
insunce c
ie
p
ys the d
m
ges you
ould h
ve
ecove
ed f
om the
eckless d
ive
’s insu

nce c
ie
. UIM p
ys the diffe
ence in d
m
ges
hen esponsible pty h
s insu

nce but not enough to cove
you
inju
y cl
im.

UM cove

ge comes into pl
y in the follo
ing ci
cumst
nces:

You

e inju
ed by
d
iveho h
s no li
bility insunce
t the time of the
ccident.<
li>

The d
ive
o
o
ne
h
s
policy, but the insunce comp
ny declines cove

ge.

The d
ive
c
uses d
m
ges due to
di
ect cont
ct
ccident, le
ves the scene,
nd
em
ins unidentifi
ble.

hen you submit
UM o
UIM cl
im, it’s impo
t
nt to
emembe
th
t you
insu

nce c
ie
is
ssuming the
ole of the li
bility c
ie
. You
policy might exclude d
m
ges c
used by intention
l
cts.

You
Insu

nce C
ie
Might Igno
e the Conflict of Inte
ests

hen you h

ve UM o

UIM covege, you

insu

nce c

iessumes the

ole of the

esponsible d

ive

’s li

bility insu

nce comp

ny. Theo

etic

lly, you

insu

nce comp

esents both you

nd the othe

ive

. This ngement often p

esents

conflict of inte

ests.

You

comp

ny’s cl

im deptment investig

tes the

ccident to dete

mine li

bility. It

ill ev

te you

inju

nd negoti

settlement b

sed on the d

ges you’

e leg

lly entitled to collect f

ble d

ive

. Issues

ith you

inju

y ev

tion, punitive d

ge insu

bility,

nd otheelev

nt conce

ns m

est

ict cove

ge o

ges.

s you

insunce comp

ny must fill both the insu

eoles fo

both you

nd the li

ble d

ive

dministe

ing you

im est

blishes

potenti

l conflict of inte

ests. You

policy dict

tes you

ctions

equi

es you

complete coope

tion. You must p

oduce medic

eco

ds, docto

’s

epo

ts, st

tements,

nd documents on dem

nd. If you

e de

ling

ith

nothe

insu

nce comp

ny, they couldn’t compel you to coopete until you

dy o

leg

lly

equi

ed to do so.

Unde
insu
ed Moto
ist o
Unde
insu
ed Moto
ists Cove

ges

e Option
l<
h3>
Uninsu
ed Moto
ists
nd Unde
insu
ed Moto
ist cove

ges

en’t m
nd
to
y in Tex
s o
C
lifo
ni
. You
insunce comp
ny must offe
the covege option
hen you pu
ch
se you
policy, but it’s you
decision
hethe
o
not you pu
ch
se oeject the covege. In Louisi
n
,
n insu

nce c
ie
must p
ovide UM
nd UIM cove

ge in
mounts equ
l to you
li
bility limits. If you don’t

nt the cove

ges, you must
eject them in iting. You m
y
lso obt
in lo
e
UM
nd UIM limits th
ough

itten
equest.

Do You Need
L

ye
? Yes!<
h2>
<
h
ef=”https://c

inju
yvictims.comp-content
uplo
ds
2019/08/c

–
ccident-lye
.jpg”> ss="
lignleft
p-im
ge-28041″ title=”Ste
t J. Guss |
eckless D
iving
tto
ney" s
c=”https://c

inju
yvictims.comp-content
uplo
ds
2019/08/c

–
ccident-lye
.jpg”
lt="Ste
t J. Guss”
idth="120" height="118"
> >
uto
ccidents
ith inju
ies e difficult to m
n
ge unde
no
m
l ci
cumst
nces. If you o

f
mily membee
e inju
ed in
c

sh
ith eckless d
ive
, you need
n expe
ienced leg
l
ep
esent
tive
ith skills, expe
ience,
esou
ces,
nd
d
ive to m
ke them p
y.
n
tto
ney c
n
dd
ess li
bility
nd cove

ge issues, dete
mine if you h
ve
vi
ble UM o
UIM cl
im, p
esent you
d
m
ges cl
im o
l

suit,
nd p
otect you
leg
l inte
ests. Technologic
l
dv
nces
llo
inju
ed clients to <
h
ef="https:
/c

inju
yvictims.com
cont
ct-us
/”>consult
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eckless D
iving: You
ecognize It
hen You See It

Yes,
eckless D
iving Is
C
ime

ecove

ble D
m
ges

Economic
nd Non-Economic D
m
ges

Intention
l
ct Exclusions

Cove

ge fo
Punitive o
Exempl

y D
m
ges

Lo
Li
bility Cove

ge Limits

You
Insu

nce C
ie
Might Igno
e the Conflict of Inte
ests

Testimonials

eckless Diving: You ecognize It hen You See It

Yes, eckless Diving Is Cime

ecove ble D mges

Economic nd Non-Economic D mges

Intention l ct Exclusions

Cove ge fo Punitive o Exempl y D mges

Lo Libility Cove ge Limits

You Insu nce C ie Might Igno e the Conflict of Inteests

Testimonials

Read More

eckless D
iving: You
ecognize It
hen You See It

Yes,
eckless D
iving Is
C
ime

ecove

ble D
m
ges

Economic
nd Non-Economic D
m
ges

Intention
l
ct Exclusions

Cove

ge fo
Punitive o
Exempl

y D
m
ges

Lo
Li
bility Cove

ge Limits

You
Insu

nce C
ie
Might Igno
e the Conflict of Inte
ests