What Is Considered Reckless Driving in Philadelphia?

All Philadelphia drivers must protect each other by avoiding reckless driving. Unsafe driving can lead to severe and fatal injuries. While some drivers might consider reckless driving “joy riding,” it is a serious traffic offense.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in an accident involving a reckless driver, you deserve to recover fully for your financial losses. Contact a Philadelphia car accident lawyer immediately to learn more about your legal options after a car accident.

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Philadelphia Car Accident Guide

• What Is Reckless Driving?
• Legal Consequences of Reckless Driving in Philadelphia
• Common Injuries In Reckless Driving Accidents
• How Can A Philadelphia Reckless Driving Attorney Help Me?
• Damages Available In Reckless Driving Accidents
• Contact A Philadelphia Accident Attorney Today

What Is Reckless Driving?

It is important to understand what is considered reckless driving in Philadelphia. Generally, reckless driving includes any operation of a vehicle in a way that shows a willful disregard for the safety of other drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians who share the road with motorists.

Reckless driving is more dangerous than careless driving, which usually includes simple mistakes. Reckless driving includes very negligent or intentional driving behaviors that increase the risk of harm to other drivers.

Examples of reckless driving include the following:

• Driving in the wrong direction
• Distracted driving 
• Driving without seatbelts 
• Failing to yield to pedestrians 
• Improper use of high beams 
• Driving a vehicle in poor condition
• Driving with a suspended or expired license 
• Driving in dangerous weather conditions without caution
• Unsafe passing 
• Fleeing from police 
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol 
• Street racing 
• Running red lights and stop signs
• Aggressive lane changing 
• Tailgating 
• Excessive speeding 

You can find the Pennsylvania law against reckless driving in Title 75 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes section 3736. Philadelphia drivers can find themselves in trouble for reckless driving if they have a wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property while operating their vehicle.

In Philadelphia, reckless driving has potential civil and criminal consequences. Consult a Philadelphia car accident lawyer today to learn about your legal right to recovery after a reckless driving accident.

Legal Consequences of Reckless Driving in Philadelphia

There are serious potential legal consequences for reckless driving in Philadelphia. Here are some of the penalties that reckless drivers might face:

Criminal Record

Reckless driving is a crime in Pennsylvania. Reckless driving is often treated as a criminal offense, meaning it can appear on your criminal record, which can have long-term consequences for employment and other aspects of life.

Increased Insurance Rates

Reckless driving convictions can result in increased car insurance annual or monthly premiums.

License Suspension

A reckless driver might lose their right to drive in Pennsylvania. A reckless driving criminal conviction may result in the suspension of your driver’s license for a time. License suspension might be especially common if the incident involves a significant risk of harm.

Fines

Reckless drivers in Philadelphia can face steep fines. Depending on the severity of the offense, the fines for reckless driving in Pennsylvania can vary and may range from about $200 to $1,000.

Jail Time

Reckless drivers might find themselves inside of a Philadelphia jail cell. In more serious cases, especially if there are injuries or fatalities involved, reckless driving can lead to jail time, typically ranging from a few days to a few months.

Philadelphia reckless drivers engage in dangerous, negligent, and aggressive behaviors on the road. There are legal consequences for reckless driving in Philadelphia. Contact an experienced attorney if you have suffered an injury in an accident with a reckless driver.

Common Injuries In Reckless Driving Accidents 

Reckless driving accidents often result in severe injuries due to the high-speed, aggressive, or negligent nature of the driving involved. These injuries can range from minor to catastrophic, depending on the severity of the crash.

Here are some common injuries that can occur in reckless driving accidents:

Concussions

A concussion is a type of head injury. It is a minor traumatic brain injury that may occur from a blow to the head or sudden whiplash in an accident. Symptoms of a concussion can include blurred vision, confusion, dizziness, and headaches, among other issues that might require medical attention.

Disfigurement

Disfigurement is a potential consequence of a reckless driving accident. Disfigurement can occur due to severe lacerations, burns, and fractures. These injuries may require long-term reconstructive surgeries or result in permanent scarring. Visible scars, loss of function, and emotional stress can all come with a disfiguring accident.

Emotional and Psychological Injuries

Reckless driving accidents come with emotional and psychological injuries. The emotional and psychological effects of a reckless driving accident can be just as serious as your physical injuries. Victims may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and fear of driving or being in vehicles again.

Pelvic Injuries

The pelvis is a vulnerable area during high-impact collisions. Pelvic fractures are common when drivers or passengers are forcefully thrown against the seatbelt or dashboard. Symptoms of pelvic injuries can include pain when moving and tenderness in the pelvic region.

Facial Injuries

Facial injuries can result from airbag deployment, shattered glass, or impacts on the vehicle’s dashboard, steering wheel, or other parts. These injuries include broken noses, fractured cheekbones, eye injuries, and dental injuries. Symptoms of facial injuries can include swelling, bleeding, bruising, and visible fractures. Serious cases may lead to disfigurement or long-term vision or hearing problems.

Burns

Burns happen if the vehicle catches fire after the crash. The heat from the components inside the car, like the engine or airbags, coming into contact with the skin will cause a burn. Symptoms of burn are redness, blistering, and pain. Severe burns can cause permanent scarring and long-term complications.

Chest Injuries

Chest injuries are severe and common in reckless driving accidents. Chest injuries usually happen because of the impact of the victim’s chest against the steering wheel or airbag. These injuries can include bruising of the chest wall or more severe injuries to your internal organs, including the heart and your lungs. Symptoms of chest injuries can include pain and trouble breathing, tenderness, and bruising.

Amputations or Loss of Limbs

In severe accidents, parts of the body may become trapped, severed, or crushed, leading to amputations. An amputation can happen in reckless driving accidents with larger vehicles, commercial trucks, or those that cause significant deformation on the car. The need for amputation may be present if the victim has immediate and severe pain, bleeding, and shock. Immediate medical attention is vital to save the person’s life.

Broken Ribs

The impact of a reckless driving accident can lead to broken ribs, especially if the person is thrown through the dashboard or against the seatbelt, door, or steering wheel. Symptoms of broken ribs include experiencing sharp pain while breathing, moving, or coughing and tenderness in the chest area.

Lacerations and Abrasions

Cuts and scrapes from broken glass, contact with vehicle parts, or airbags can be painful. Bleeding, pain, and scarring are possible after an accident. Severe lacerations may require stitches or surgery to repair.

Internal Injuries

Internal injuries are severe and dangerous. See a doctor immediately after an accident with a reckless driver to rule out internal injuries. Common symptoms of internal injuries can include abdominal pain, nausea, dizziness, difficulty breathing, or shock. Internal bleeding can be life-threatening and may not be immediately visible.

Broken Bones and Fractures

Fractures often happen in reckless driving accidents. The impact force causes bones to break or shatter. Common fractures include arms, pelvis, legs, and ribs.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis. These injuries occur when the spinal cord is damaged in an accident. These injuries are common in high-impact accidents, like reckless driving accidents. Symptoms of spinal cord injuries include a loss of sensation, weakness or paralysis in the limbs, difficulty breathing, and loss of bladder or bowel control.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury happens when there is a serious blow to the head that shakes the victim’s brain. This motion causes brain tissue damage. This can happen even if the person does not hit their head directly. Symptoms of a brain injury include loss of consciousness, confusion, memory loss, nausea, headaches, dizziness, and sometimes long-term cognitive or physical impairments.

Whiplash and Neck Injuries 

Whiplash is one of the most common types of injuries after an accident. Whiplash happens when the head is suddenly and violently jerked forward and then backward, causing damage to the neck muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This is particularly common in rear-end collisions. Symptoms of whiplash can include neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, and sometimes numbness or tingling in the arms.

How Can A Philadelphia Reckless Driving Attorney Help Me? 

A reckless driving attorney can help you get what you deserve after a crash. Here are some practical ways an attorney can help build your case for compensation.

Settlement Negotiations 

Many accident cases are resolved during the settlement negotiations phase of the case. Negotiating with the insurance company can be a difficult task for an individual. An attorney can help because they are skilled at overcoming common bad-faith tactics that insurers use to avoid paying settlements. Contact an attorney immediately after a reckless driving accident. 

Help You Get Medical Help

Accessing proper medical care after an accident can be difficult. An attorney can help you get the care you need to fully recover after a crash.

Representing You At Trial 

If the settlement negotiations phase is unsuccessful, your attorney might file a lawsuit on your behalf and represent you in court. Having an attorney can help protect yourself and your interests. Your attorney will present the evidence in your case persuasively to get you the best available outcome.

Handle All Paperwork and Communication

Your personal injury lawyer will handle all case-related paperwork and communication on your behalf. A civil lawsuit can come with a long paper trail and a lot of correspondence. It can get stressful. Hiring a lawyer gives you the opportunity to focus on your physical recovery while your personal injury attorney handles your legal affairs.

Answer Legal Questions and Offer Guidance 

Knowing the best next step after an accident can be difficult. It can be hard to find reliable information on your own. Having an attorney will give you the peace of mind you deserve after an accident with a reckless driver.

Investigating the Cause of the Accident 

Your attorney will help investigate the cause of the accident. In cases where at least one driver was reckless, there can be issues determining liability. Finding each liable party is one of the most important parts of an accident claim because the party responsible for causing the accident must pay for your damages.

You need legal representation if you have been involved in a traffic accident with a reckless driver. Contact a personal injury lawyer to get the help that you need.

Contact A Philadelphia Accident Attorney Today

Call a Philadelphia car accident attorney to assert your legal right to recover compensation for your losses after an accident. You deserve to get the monetary recovery that you need to get your life back on track, and you do not need to go after compensation alone after a crash. And, remember,  there are strict timelines for filing accident claims and lawsuits. Contact a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer today to begin the road to full and fair financial recovery.