Reckless drivers cause many of the New Jersey car accidents that lead to serious personal injury. Whether drivers are speeding or texting behind the wheel, their blatant disregard for fellow drivers often results in high-speed collisions that could have been prevented.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a New Jersey accident with a reckless driver and suffered serious injury, you may have questions about your legal rights – and you want answers from an experienced car accident attorney who can give you practical advice specific to your situation.
Since 1981 the car accident lawyers and staff of Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., have dedicated their legal careers to helping people who were injured as a result of the carelessness of others. Call our New Jersey car accident attorneys today at (800) LAW-2000 or use our online form to receive a free initial consultation.
Reckless Driving Injuries
A reckless driver is a more dangerous road hazard than virtually any other obstacle. Reckless driving collisions can cause serious injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injury;
- Spinal cord injury;
- Whiplash;
- Back and neck injuries;
- Broken bones;
- Severe lacerations;
- Herniated or ruptured discs.
Reckless drivers who are caught may face both civil charges in the form of a lawsuit, municipal court penalties and points on their license, as well as criminal charges depending upon the nature of the offense. Reckless driving is defined as driving in such a way that puts other drivers at risk – typically by ignoring common traffic laws. Some of the ways in which a driver can be considered reckless include:
- Speeding;
- Weaving in and out of traffic;
- Unsafely changing lanes;
- Tailgating other drivers;
- Texting while driving;
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Drinking and driving is one of the most serious traffic violations and is governed by a separate violation. In 2009, New Jersey recorded 149 car accident fatalities caused by impaired driving. However, all reckless driving activities have the potential to result in a deadly car accident. Drivers who speed or tailgate have a high chance of slamming into another vehicle at high speeds, as do those who change lanes or weave in and out of traffic. New Jersey saw 95 fatalities in 2009 that were attributed to speeding, according to NJ Department of Transportation statistics.
Drivers who text while driving, a recent phenomenon, ignore the road conditions in favor of their cell phones, creating an environment in which any sudden traffic change can lead to a collision. New Jersey had 257,801 vehicle crashes in 2009, including 64,348 crashes where someone was injured, according to the NJ DOT. At least 1,807 crashes in 2009 were related to cell phone use.
When a reckless driver causes an accident, the driver may be held liable for any injuries that resulted from the accident. However, in order to recover damages, the injured person must be able to prove that the other driver was negligent. In cases of drunk driving, police-administered sobriety test results may be available to establish the presence of alcohol or drugs. However, it can be harder to prove that a driver was texting behind the wheel or to clearly document other driving behavior. The car accident lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. know that quick action is essential to preserve evidence, and we won’t hesitate to obtain court orders if necessary to secure evidence before it can be destroyed. One way to correlate texting is to analyze a car or truck’s “blackbox” to the times of actual text transmissions.
Experienced New Jersey Car Accident Assistance
The car accident lawyers at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C., have been helping people who have been injured in car accidents since 1981. We have handled thousands of accident injury claims, obtaining excellent results for our clients in many instances. Each case and the results vary, so we invite you to contact an auto accident lawyer at our New Jersey or New York offices to discuss the specifics of your situation. If we take your case, you can be assured we will use all the resources of our law firm to develop a strong argument for money damages and other compensation for you.
To speak with a personal injury lawyer with many years of experience, contact our New Jersey or New York offices at (800) LAW-2000. We do not charge attorney’s fees unless we are successful in your case and our initial consultations are free.
No Fee if No Recovery - Home and Hospital Consultations Available
New Jersey personal injury lawyers helping car accident victims and their families since 1981 in Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Edison, Toms River, Trenton, Clifton, Camden, Brick Township, Woodbridge Township, Bergen Co., Middlesex Co., Somerset Co., Warren Co., Sussex Co., Monmouth Co., Mercer Co., Ocean Co., Hudson Co., Passaic Co., Essex Co., Union Co., Morris Co., Teaneck, Fort Lee, Paramus, Hackensack, Hoboken, Secaucus, Englewood, Mahwah, Bergenfield, Union City, North Bergen, Ridgewood, Bayonne, Ridgefield, Belleville, Alpine, New Milford and Atlantic City. Also in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Kings County, Richmond County and New York City, in New York.
