Reckless Drivers Make Georgia Roads Unnecessarily Dangerous
There are a virtually limitless number of reasons that people drive recklessly. Regardless of the reason, reckless drivers who do not respect basic driving laws and traffic safety are responsible for a significant number of Georgia traffic accidents and resulting injuries and wrongful death.
Indefensible driving conduct includes extremely dangerous driving practices that exhibit a conscious disregard for the safety of another. This type of extremely reckless driving behavior may be the basis for punitive damages to punish the driver for extremely objectionable conduct and to discourage such unsafe driving in the future. Where punitive damages are appropriate, they frequently result in the largest portion of damages awarded in a Georgia car accident claim or lawsuit.
In a recent incident, a burglary suspect driving a stolen car ran off a Carroll County road and collided with a tree after speeding the wrong way on Georgia 16 near Mount Zion Road. Although this particular reckless driving incident only resulted in the fatality of the reckless driver, the criminal suspect's unsafe driving put anyone in the vicinity at risk including drivers, bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. According to media reports, the suspect was driving recklessly to avoid capture after stealing the car he was driving. When his vehicle collided with the tree, he was ejected and suffered fatal injuries.
The rules of the road in Georgia provide an effective framework for vehicle safety to prevent motor vehicle collisions as long as motorists abide by those traffic safety rules. When a driver recklessly disregards those rules creating an extreme threat to the safety of others, the driver should be held accountable for his or her unsafe driving practices. Reckless drivers exhibit a conscious disregard for the safety of others by committing DUI, weaving dangerously in traffic, speeding and racing.
Because reckless driving is also a criminal offense, the police may cite a driver who drives recklessly and causes significant injuries or vehicle damage while driving recklessly. If a reckless driver is cited following an accident, this violation of law may make it easier to prove negligence or even recklessness in your case under the legal doctrine of "negligence per se." Negligence per se provides that a violation of a public safety law may constitute negligence on a strict liability (liability without fault) basis if the law was designed to protect the type of person who was injured and is in fact a safety statute. The rules of the road are clearly safety statute designed to protect other motorists on the roadway.
Our experienced auto accident attorneys have been helping injured people for nearly 30 years, and we are commited to providing you with exceptional service as part of our goal of being the best auto accident attorneys in Georgia. If you or someone you love has been involved in a traffic collision in Atlanta or anywhere in Georgia or the Southeast with a reckless driver, Montlick and Associates may be able to help you obtain financial compensation for your injuries. Our Atlanta reckless driving accident attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.