Reckless driving behaviors can easily cause crashes and serious injuries. If you were injured by someone who did not care about sharing the road safely, then they should be held accountable. A car accident lawyer in Queens can help you sue for compensation and pay any bills stemming from the accident.
What Kinds of Behaviors Can Be Considered Reckless Driving?
When we get behind the wheel of a car, we’re making an implicit agreement that we will share the road safely with all kinds of people. There are other vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycle riders on the road too, and we should keep an eye out for all of them. Some drivers don’t do this though, and their reckless driving behaviors put everyone at risk. Some good examples of potentially dangerous conduct include:
- Excessive speeding
- Aggressively changing lanes
- Street racing
- Tailgating
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Ignoring traffic signals
- Failing to yield when required to
Someone behaving in these ways is a timebomb and they need to be held accountable for their dangerous habits.
What Kinds of Damages Can I Win If I Sue a Reckless Driver?
You should receive compensatory damages in a case like this. They compensate you for the damage caused by the reckless driver. These damages can be broken down into two broad categories. They are:
Economic damages: These are for the more obvious costs of the accident, like lost wages, medical bills, and the costs of repairing your car.
Non-economic damages: These address those costs that are harder to quantify. An accident can be a harrowing experience, so your compensation should also be calculated with things like psychological trauma and the pain and suffering you experienced in mind.
You may also be eligible to receive punitive damages if the reckless driving behaviors on display were particularly egregious.
What Evidence Can Help Prove Reckless Driving?
If you want to make a compelling case against the other driver, you need as much evidence of their reckless driving as you can find. A few things that might help include:
- Video of the crash
- Information from the police report
- Witness accounts
- Testimony from accident reconstruction experts
- Evidence from the accident scene, like tire marks
So take pictures, call the police, and do everything else that you need to do to build a strong case after an accident with a reckless driver.
How Long Do I Have to Pursue Damages?
New York gives accident victims three years to sue for damages. That can seem like a long time, but you want to be careful here. Miss this deadline and your case is likely to be thrown out, no matter how much evidence you have against the reckless driver who caused your injuries.
Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you think that you have a valid personal injury case against a reckless driver, we want to hear from you. Contact the Law Offices of George Poulos to schedule a consultation. We can tell you more about your legal options and the potential value of your case.
