Unfortunately for the victims of this offense, this question is difficult to answer. Unlike more black-and-white infractions like drunk driving or speeding, reckless driving does not have a neat definition. However, every Pennsylvania resident knows it when they see it. When was the last time you saw another car aggressively weaving in and out of traffic on a packed highway at rush hour? Chances are it wasn\u2019t too long ago.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve fallen victim to a reckless driver in Pennsylvania, you have options. We discuss them in detail in this blog post.<\/p>\n
Section 3736 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes defines \u201creckless driving\u201d<\/a> as operating a vehicle \u201cin willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.\u201d The law is violated when a driver either increases the probability of a serious accident or is aware of the situation but disregards the risk of their act.<\/p>\n In practice, actions that can attract reckless driving charges include:<\/p>\n However, because most of these are subjective to some degree, it can be difficult to establish that a driver\u2019s conduct in a given case should amount to reckless driving.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania is what\u2019s called a \u201cchoice no-fault\" state, so you may be able to file a car insurance claim with your own coverage provider even if you weren\u2019t to blame for your crash, if you have no-fault insurance coverage.<\/p>\n However, no-fault coverage typically has quite limited benefits. So, if you sustain serious physical injuries and very costly property damage, you\u2019ll likely have to file a personal injury lawsuit to recoup all your financial losses.<\/p>\n Additionally, if you don\u2019t have no-fault coverage, you\u2019ll only be able to recover insurance benefits if you can prove that the at-fault driver was indeed responsible for your accident. In many cases, you\u2019ll need to hire a car accident lawyer<\/a> to work on your case to achieve this.<\/p>\n Drivers convicted of reckless driving (without causing serious bodily injury to others) can be given the following penalties:<\/p>\n However, if the convicted driver causes serious bodily injury, they can be convicted of aggravated assault by vehicle\u2014a 3rd degree felony\u2014which can carry a sentence of up to 7 years in prison and a maximum fine of $15,000.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania also has a lesser offense called \u201ccareless driving.\u201d If convicted, a driver can face:<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note that criminal charges and civil cases (that is, personal injury claims) are entirely separate matters, even when they relate to the same act. It\u2019s possible for a criminal defendant to be found not guilty of a reckless driving charge, but to be found liable for damages in a civil case. In fact, this is not an especially unlikely outcome, as the standard of proof<\/a> required for a conviction in a criminal case is much higher than the standard needed to establish liability in civil court.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve suffered injuries and property losses because of the negligent behavior of another driver, you may think you have more pressing concerns than legal action to deal with. However, it\u2019s only fair that you receive compensation if you\u2019re in this situation, and hiring a law firm to represent and advocate for you vastly improves your chances of getting it.<\/p>\n\n
How to Pursue Compensation After a Reckless Driving Accident in Pennsylvania<\/h2>\n
Criminal Consequences of Reckless Driving or Careless Driving<\/h2>\n
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What Should You Do If You Are Charged With Reckless Driving?<\/h2>\n