Columbia Reckless Driving Lawyer
Many accidents are the result of careless driving: people who look at their phone while they are out on the freeway or who fail to check a mirror when backing up. These mistakes are temporary lapses which, unfortunately, lead to accidents.
Other accidents stem from reckless behavior. This is more culpable, egregious conduct. These drivers know their conduct is dangerous, but they go ahead and do it anyway. Think of someone drag racing or passing illegally. Reckless driving is a crime, but it’s also a civil wrong which can result in paying money damages to victims.
Call The Stanley Law Group if you were involved in any type of car crash. You might sue for compensation. A Columbia reckless driving lawyer will discuss available compensation and how to make a claim.
Examples of Recklessness
Reckless drivers take unnecessary risks behind the wheel which endanger other people, including their passengers. Some examples of reckless conduct include:
- Drag racing
- Passing illegally around a corner
- Excessive speeding
- Running a red light at high speeds
- Pulling into a crowd
- Driving while drunk or high
- Driving on the sidewalk
- Doing donuts in a parking lot
In these examples, a driver hasn’t accidentally done something unsafe. Instead, they have taken a real risk and should know the consequences. They are consciously endangering other people’s safety, but they don’t care.
Reckless drivers get into all types of accidents. Head-on collisions and T-bones are very common. A passenger could end up badly hurt when their car flips over or they are ejected from the vehicle. Any accident at high speeds creates a real risk of fatal injury.
If you were hurt, you can seek financial compensation for all damages, including medical bills, pain, lost income, car damage, and emotional distress. We spend considerable time correctly estimating the value of your claim. Call our firm to discuss how much work you have missed and other facts, like your pain. We can negotiate with the reckless driver’s insurer for just compensation.
Reckless drivers might also need to pay punitive damages. Under South Carolina law, you can seek punitive damages for a driver’s willful, wanton, or reckless conduct. These damages are meant to punish the defendant, and you get them in addition to the compensatory damages mentioned above. Although South Carolina caps punitive damages, they are often worth seeking. They are one way to hold a reckless driver accountable and punish them.
The Stanley Law Group always considers whether we can seek punitive damages against a defendant. We need clear evidence the driver wasn’t merely negligent—they were reckless. Call our firm as soon as possible.
Were You Struck by a Reckless Driver?
Reckless drivers are a menace to public safety, and there’s no excuse for their conduct. Innocent people are badly injured, sometimes permanently. Call our Columbia reckless driving lawyers to schedule your free, no obligation consultation. We will get to work maximizing the amount of money you take home. We are happy to answer any questions you have in an individualized, one-on-one consultation at our offices.