According to the Maryland Transportation Code, reckless driving is considered when a driver operates a motor vehicle with intentional disregard for the safety of other drivers and vehicles in their neighboring areas. It is unfortunately too common of a case where reckless driving directly leads to a car accident event. So, if you were made the victim of such circumstances, please read on to discover whether you can sue for reckless driving and how a seasoned St. Mary’s County car accident lawyer at The Dorsey Law Firm can help you pursue this legal action.
What are the penalties for reckless driving in Maryland?
First, you must understand that reckless driving may constitute a misdemeanor offense in the state of Maryland. With this, a reckless driver may face a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six points added to their driving record. A record of such an offense may also cause their auto insurance premiums to skyrocket. Ultimately, repeat offenses may result in the temporary suspension or permanent revocation of their driver’s license.
It is worth mentioning that negligent driving is categorized differently than reckless driving under the Maryland Transportation Code. That is, negligent driving is when a driver operates a motor vehicle in an improper manner that endangers other drivers and vehicles in their neighboring areas. So, this may be viewed as a less serious offense with a fine of up to $240 and one point added to their driving record.
Can I sue a negligent party for reckless driving in Maryland?
Even though law enforcement may have already punished a reckless driver, this may not account for the injuries and damages they caused you in your car accident event. This is to say, you may still seize your opportunity to pursue a civil personal injury claim against the reckless driver to seek financial compensation.
If you are successful, the Maryland civil court may order the reckless driver to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and property damages, and even throw in extra compensation for your pain and suffering. Importantly, you must effectively shut down the defendant’s attempts to accuse you of driving recklessly at the time of your accident event, as well. This is because you may walk away with zero compensatory damages if they have any reasonable proof against you. This is all thanks to the state of Maryland’s strict negligence laws.
So, a good place to start is to check the defendant’s driving record to see if they have any past reports of reckless driving offenses. It may help more if the responding law enforcement officer wrote about their likely reckless driving in their official accident report. You also must not forget witness testimonies, traffic intersection video footage, photos of your cars’ placements at the scene accident, and more pieces of supplemental evidence.
If you have gotten this far, we now ask you to reach out to a competent St. Mary’s County car accident lawyer to schedule an initial consultation. Overall, we strongly encourage you to retain legal representation from The Dorsey Law Firm for your upcoming civil claim.
