Reckless Driving by Teens Leads to Serious Accidents

Reckless driving is defined under Georgia law as driving in a manner that exhibits reckless disregard of property or other people and is a misdemeanor. Reckless driving includes any unsafe driving practice that recklessly places anyone in the surrounding area at risk of injury or even death. Georgia law does not specify how fast or what circumstances demonstrate “reckless regard” for property or the safety of others.

This assessment is initially made by the arresting officer and prosecutor and to a judge if the case goes before trial. Teen drivers are particularly likely to cause Georgia reckless driving auto accidents. When parents are out of sight, novice drivers frequently engage in unsafe driving practices intended to impress their friends and test their limits. These unsafe driving practices often include street racing, drifting or spinning out their vehicle or driving at extremely high rates of speed.

If a reckless driver has injured you or a loved one has been tragically lost in this type of collision, you may be able to obtain compensation for your loss. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, our experienced Georgia reckless driving accident lawyers have been representing car accident victims throughout Georgia for over 39 years. Our compassionate team of attorneys and staff understand that auto accidents resulting from unnecessary and reckless driving practices can cause catastrophic injuries or even fatalities. Our experienced Georgia reckless driving accident attorneys work diligently to obtain the best possible results for our clients, as part of our goal of being known as the top Atlanta personal injury law firm in Georgia.

Examples of reckless driving that can lead to serious car crashes include:

• Distracted driving
• Eating or drinking while driving
• Talking on a cell phone or texting
• Engaging in exhibition of speed
• Driving under the influence
• Speeding
• Swerving
• Drifting or spinning out
• Street Racing
• Tailgating

Teenagers trying to impress their friends or trying to test the limits of their driving abilities often engage in reckless driving. There are more than 5,000 – 6,000 teenage deaths a year that result from auto accidents. A teenage driver is more likely to die in a car accident than to die of an illness, suicide, homicide, or any other circumstance.

Most of the reckless behavior displayed by teenagers while driving is due to a less mature perception of risk and sense of invincibility. Because teen drivers have more limited driving experience, they may have less perspective regarding hazards and risks that may lead to serious auto accidents. Teenagers also tend to have a less developed sense of their own mortality so they do not really understand that serious auto accidents can directly affect their lives. Teenage passengers often play a critical role in teen driving accidents by distracting inexperienced drivers and encouraging them to engage in high risk driving behavior. While Georgia has attempted to reduce this risk by prohibiting new teen drivers from transporting teen passengers that are not related, some teen drivers disregard this legal requirement. Passengers may encourage teen drivers to engage in unsafe driving practices like racing other cars, speeding, and doing tricky maneuvers.

Here are some tips that can help keep teen drivers out of serious auto accidents:

• Be a safe driver and set limits for the number of passengers in your car.
• Do not use a cell phone while driving.
• Wear a seat belt and make all your passengers wear one as well.
• Obey the speed limit.
• Never drive drunk or while under the influence of drugs.
• Do not ride with a drunk person or someone under the influence of drugs.
• While a passenger in someone else's car, do not distract the driver.
• Do not text while driving.

Many teen drivers fail to understand that reckless driving can cause more harm than simply a damaged car or a few bumps and bruises. People suffer life-altering injuries or death in accidents as a result of reckless driving on a daily basis. It is important that parents impress upon their teen driver that auto accidents can deprive a family of a breadwinner, a parent of their child or a person of their ability to communicate and remain mobile. If you have suffered a loss caused by a reckless driver in a Georgia auto collision, Montlick and Associates is available to provide an evaluation of your right to compensation.

Our experienced Atlanta reckless driving auto 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.