(713) L-A-W-S-U-I-T's Blog

Each day, auto accidents are responsible for many injuries and deaths in Texas and across the country. In most cases, injuries and deaths in car crashes are caused by reckless driving.

In legal terms, reckless driving is defined as operating a motor vehicle with “wanton or deliberate disregard for the safety of property and persons.” Examples of reckless driving include acts such as speeding, driving while distracted, driving while impaired, failure to yield right of way, failing to obey traffic lights, and passing improperly.

People who have sustained injuries due to the reckless driving of another driver in Texas, or the loved ones of those who are killed in reckless driving car accidents, are entitled to pursue compensation for their losses. Contact a reckless driving accident lawyer in Houston at (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T. We have enabled hundreds of personal injury victims all over southeast Texas, including Pasadena, Pearland, Houston, and Cypress secure compensation for their losses and damages. We are prepared to do the same for you.

In case you or a loved one has sustained a catastrophic injury in an accident caused by the carelessness of another driver in Texas, then you should get in touch with (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T as soon as possible to schedule a free consultation session to go over your case. You can reach us at (713) 903-8155, or alternatively, you can use our firm’s online form, or chat service.

When you choose to hire (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T as your personal injury lawyer, then you can be confident that we will fight for you aggressively from the beginning of the process to the end.

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Reckless Driving Accidents in Texas

Under Texas law, reckless driving is an offense that is punishable by a fine not exceeding $200, jail sentence not exceeding 30 days, or even both (Texas Transportation Code Section 545.401). An individual is guilty of a reckless driving offense in Texas “if the individual drives a vehicle in deliberate disregard for the safety of property or persons.”

Also referred to as “aggressive driving,” reckless driving usually causes thousands of car accidents in Texas annually, and this includes wrecks that cause severe personal injury and death.

What are the Most Common Reckless Driving Behaviors?

With the above information in mind, you might be wondering what can be considered as reckless driving? Here are some of the most common types of reckless driving behaviors and how they can be deadly.

Driving while under the influence of drugs

If an individual opts to get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, then he or she is making a deliberate decision to endanger the public. While there are those that may argue that the motorist’s judgment is impaired, this just goes on to solidify the point. In the unfortunate event that you are injured by a driver who was drunk, then it is crucial to retain the services of a drunk driving accident attorney who will be able to effectively reveal to the insurance company exactly what the court will hear at trial.

Furthermore, the intoxicated driver made the decision to drink, made the decision to put the public in danger – including innocent and vulnerable people such as children, and made the decision to not hail a cab or ask for help from a friend. Every decision was made in the utter disregard for others.

Racing and Aggressive Driving

If you see a motorist pull up and dare someone to a race, then you can be sure that the said motorist doesn’t care about the rules of the road or the safety of others. It goes without saying that “challenging” races and drag racing are some of the deadliest and reckless activities that a driver can engage in. But aggressive driving is not any different. Things can quickly get tragic when drivers let rage and impatience get the best of them. Tailgating, speeding, and weaving in and out of traffic just to intimidate others are all very dangerous and demonstrate a pure lack of concern for others.

Driving the Wrong Way

In most cases, this only occurs when drivers are driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but wrong-way driving can also happen when a driver isn’t paying attention and is traveling on the road in the wrong direction. Reckless driving of this kind can lead to head-on collisions, which are usually in most cases, very serious or fatal.

A head on accident that resulted from reckless driving in Houston.

The reason why wrong-way driving can be regarded as reckless driving is the fact that immediately an individual realizes that they are traveling in the wrong direction, they always have the option to slow and get off the road, or drive into a median to avoid running into oncoming traffic. But when the driver chooses to stay on the road, they choose the most dangerous course of action.

What Happens When a Pedestrian is a Victim of the Recklessness of a Driver?

In the case of pedestrians, reckless driving presents a complex challenge. A driver who is reckless or distracted can cause the instant death of a pedestrian. A lot of driving accidents are usually fatal if they involve pedestrians.

When a pedestrian suffers severe injuries or is killed, the loved ones should contact an expert Houston auto accident lawyer immediately. You can be assured that the insurance firm will seek to safeguard itself and avoid having to pay the potentially large claim that follows. Insurers will send their investigators to the scene of the accident within minutes of the crash. Don’t assume that they are there to safeguard your interests; their main task is to protect the bottom line of the insurance company.

How Does One Prove Reckless Driving Was Responsible for the Accident?

If you have sustained injuries following a reckless driving accident, then you and your loved ones are up for a difficult period. What makes the situation even worse is realizing that the insurance company is trying to avoid liability and minimize your compensation.

Here at (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T, our team of reckless driving lawyers fights aggressively against these kinds of malicious insurance tactics by fervently advocating for our harmed clients. The following are some of the ways we endeavor to prove your case and establish that the other driver was reckless:

Official Reports

Our team will set out to gather all the necessary evidence right away, including the official police file on the accident. It normally includes evidence such as the crash report, 911 recording, body cam footage, dashcam footage, and any other official evidence that might be available to the public.

Investigating the Scene

Next, in fatal cases, we visit the scene to record information regarding signage, distances, and any other relevant evidence that may help to establish who caused the accident. For instance, in high impact accidents, the lack of skid marks is usually a great indication that the accused driver wasn’t paying attention and was in some way distracted. Besides, a driver who is reasonable and is faced with a potential collision will instinctively hit the brakes hard to avoid a collision. Similarly, when there is a presence of skid marks, our forensic engineers will meticulously measure and examine the distance of the tracks to determine the speed at which the vehicle might have been traveling at before the accident.

Witnesses and Photos

Our investigation isn’t limited to the scene of the accident. In most cases, we put it upon ourselves to track down key witnesses so as to help prove your case. People are often kind enough to take some time out and give a statement, however, it then gets hard to locate them. Luckily, our firm partners with some of the top private investigators in the state. These investigators utilize their expertise to locate witnesses and find out everything that they saw.

Knowledge of the Law

Last but not least, since we have a deep understanding of Texas Law and we are aware of how the courts decide cases, we are able to provide our clients with a strategic advantage in negotiations against insurance adjusters who depend solely on statistics and computers. Nothing is better than having an experienced and knowledgeable reckless driving attorney who can meticulously review the specific details of your case so as to effectively help the jury understand why the crash occurred and how the other driver’s behavior was willful and deliberate.

What Should One Do After a Reckless Driving Crash?

In case you have been the victim of a reckless driving accident in Houston, then you need to carefully follow these steps:

Go to the hospital immediately. Don’t hesitate. You have to ensure that you get treatment for your injuries. You shouldn’t give the insurance company a reason to state that your injuries were not a direct result of the accident. In addition, some injuries are usually latent, which means that they don’t usually manifest themselves for a number of days or weeks. By this time, they may be harder to treat and you end up in a lot more suffering than if you would have been treated at an early stage.

A man injured by a reckless driving accident meeting with a Houston lawyer.

Don’t communicate with insurance adjusters. Their task is to refute your claim and they are seeking to get a reason. Don’t give it to them. Allow your lawyer to handle all communication with insurance adjusters.

Contact The Law Offices of (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T. Get in touch with our law firm or have a loved one call us on your behalf, so as we can start aggressively pursuing justice for you.

Legal Options After a Reckless Driving Crash in Texas

Reckless driving collisions in Texas often result in devastation in a lot of lives. Texas law enforcers and the courts can’t put an end to the threat of those who drive while disregarding the safety of others. However, civil law in Texas enables reckless driving accident victims to pursue compensation from the at-fault party.

Texas residents who have sustained injuries from reckless driving accidents, and/or their families, might be able to recover damages via a personal injury lawsuit that pursues reimbursement for:

  • Lost wages and/or reduced earning capacity
  • Medical bills
  • Permanent impairment and disfigurement
  • Mental anguish and pain and suffering
  • Exemplary damages also referred to as punitive damages.

Following a fatal car accident caused by reckless driving, the immediate family members, who include the spouse, children or parents, have the right to pursue compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit for:

  • Mental anguish
  • Funeral expenses
  • Loss of society and companionship
  • Loss of the deceased loved one’s maintenance, care, support, counsel, advice and services
  • Loss of the deceased loved one’s earning capacity

Get in Touch With A Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer in Houston As Soon As Possible

In the event that you or someone close to you suffers a catastrophic injury or wrongful death in a car accident that was caused due to the reckless driving of another driver in southeast Texas, call a Houston car accident attorney at the Law Office of (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T or use our firm’s online form.

Receive the compensation that is owed to you as a Texas reckless driving crash victim. (713) L‑A‑W‑S‑U‑I‑T advocates for accident victims on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you don’t have to pay any amount until we successfully secure your compensation.

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