New York City Reckless Driving Lawyer
With over a million vehicles on the road on any given day, New York City’s streets are often considered among the most dangerous in the country. This reputation is not helped by the presence of so many reckless and irresponsible drivers. Indeed, every one of us can likely recall a situation where a reckless driver has threatened to cause a serious accident.
Reckless driving can get you a traffic ticket. That pales in comparison, however, to the lives that can be destroyed when a reckless driver crashes into another vehicle. Our New York City reckless driving lawyer can assist you in taking appropriate legal action against such individuals and their insurance companies. Michael Gunzburg, P.C., is a New York personal injury law firm with a proven track record of representing clients in reckless driving accident cases. We know how to prove a driver’s liability and ensure their victims receive full and just compensation for their losses.
How New York Defines “Reckless Driving”
Reckless driving is not simply a term of art. New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law define it as a specific traffic offense, punishable as a misdemeanor. According to this statutory definition, reckless driving occurs whenever anyone operating a motor vehicle–including a car, truck, or motorcycle–acts in a manner that “unreasonably interferes with the free and proper use of the public highway, or unreasonably endangers users of the public highway.”
Obviously, this is still a fairly broad definition. What is “reckless” often depends on the circumstances, including the time of day, weather and road conditions, or even the level of traffic congestion. But in general, here are a few of the more commonly cited examples of reckless driving behaviors that we see in car accident lawsuits:
- operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol;
- excessive speeding;
- ignoring red lights, stop signs, or other traffic signals and signs;
- tailgating the vehicle in front;
- distracted driving, such as texting or using a cellphone while behind the wheel;
- driving while fatigued;
- street racing;
- passing a school bus while it is loading or unloading passengers; or
- failing to pull over and yielding to an emergency vehicle.
In short, just about any behavior that might warrant a traffic ticket in New York City can be considered reckless driving. Even if no criminal charges result, however, in the event of an auto accident the victims can cite proof of reckless driving in order to establish a driver’s civil liability. Although New York has a “no-fault” insurance system that covers most minor accident injuries, in cases where the victims sustain serious injuries that exceed no-fault limits, they can file a personal injury claim directly against the reckless driver and their own liability insurer.
How a New York City Reckless Driving Lawyer Can Assist You
Even where you suspect reckless driving led to your own auto accident, you may still need to prove it in court. This is where working with an experienced New York City reckless driving lawyer can prove invaluable. If you have been involved in an accident and need legal advice, call Michael Gunzburg, P.C., at 212-725-8500 today to schedule a free initial consultation.
