Reckless driving in St. Petersburg can have severe consequences, graver than what most people realize. Each year, numerous people get injured due to someone’s recklessness while driving, leading to property damage or even personal injuries. Despite the stringent penalties in place, the cases of personal injury due to reckless driving persist.
If you’ve been a victim of a crash caused by the negligence of a reckless driver, get in touch with an experienced team of lawyers immediately to get fair compensation from the insurance company. If you don’t have a lawyer, schedule a consultation with Lewis & Castagliola today to get started on your case.
What Constitutes Reckless Driving In St. Petersburg, Florida
In St. Petersburg, Florida, and various other states in America, for that matter, reckless driving is considered a grave offense, much more severe than offenses like improper driving and careless driving. Reckless driving occurs when a driver is not only driving over the permissible speed limit but does so without any regard to the traffic rules and laws, the lives of pedestrians, and the safety of other drivers.
Florida’s laws outline the circumstances which would constitute reckless driving. One of them is when the driver deliberately disregards the safety of others and the properties. Another offense that would lead to reckless driving is when the driver drives away from the law enforcement officers and engages in a chase.
If you suffered an injury due to a driver’s recklessness, consult a lawyer immediately to know what your rights are and how you can get compensation for the negligence of another. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the better help you would be given. If you don’t have an attorney, get in touch with car accident lawyers Lewis & Castagliola PA, a law firm with 40+ years of experience dealing with car accident cases.
What Are The Consequences Of Reckless Driving?
Florida has strict laws on reckless driving and has put some harsh penalties in place for reckless drivers. If found guilty, the driver would be sentenced to prison for up to 90 days and fined up to $500. If the same person is charged with reckless driving for the second time, the jail time will increase to six months, while the fine would soar up to $1000.
If the reckless driving of a person results in damage to someone’s property, the charge would be classified as a first-degree misdemeanor. Furthermore, if the driving results in personal injury of someone, the charge would be classified as a third-degree felony. In addition to this, if the driver charged with recklessness was drunk, then they will also be charged with DUI, or “driving under the influence.”
There could be other consequences to reckless driving in St. Petersburg too. The local statutes can be a little intimidating for people who have little legal knowledge to understand. If you want to know about your options for the legal process, if you’ve been a victim of someone’s recklessness while driving, contact a lawyer and discuss your case.
After hearing your statement, lawyers will be able to determine the exact nature and degree of recklessness that you were a victim of and inform you of your options and rights accordingly. Lewis & Castagliola will provide you with an experienced lawyer who knows the ins and outs of reckless driving laws and the ramifications of such an offense in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Lewis & Castagliola
Lewis & Castagliola is a law firm that has been in the business for over 40 years and has fought and won numerous cases over these four decades. The personal injury law firm knows what kind of trauma and loss personal injuries can cause and thus, deal with such cases with sheer empathy. Paul Castagliola and Alexander T. Lewis both have had extensive experience in arguing card accident cases. The two lawyers ensure that the clients are given fair compensation after facing the ordeal of a car accident in St. Petersburg, FL. Contact the law firm today, and have the attorneys begin working on your case immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What speed is considered reckless driving in Florida?
In Florida, grossly excessive speeds could be categorized as reckless driving. In a 35 mph residential neighborhood, this speed could be 80 mph, while on a freeway, it would be 120. If you experienced an accident due to someone driving at these speeds, contact a team of attorneys and file a complaint as soon as possible
How long does reckless driving stay on record in Florida?
In Florida, a charge of reckless driving stays on your record for 75 years.
What is the difference between careless driving and reckless driving in Florida?
Reckless driving is deemed a criminal offense in Florida, while careless driving is considered a civil traffic offense. There are other differences between both the charges, too, including the penalties.
