Reckless Driving

When a person drives recklessly, it means they drive without any regard for the safety of others or any concern about the consequences of their actions, such as driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, racing through red lights or sending a text message while at the wheel. Unfortunately, reckless driving victims are left dealing with the physical pain, emotional suffering and financial consequences of this inexcusable behavior.

At Glover Law Firm, our Northeastern North Carolina personal injury attorneys and legal staff are dedicated to protecting the rights of those who are harmed by reckless drivers. Our goal is to hold reckless drivers accountable and secure the compensation that you and your family need to carry on with your lives.

For more than 30 years, we have helped reckless driving accident victims throughout the state, especially in Northeastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks, including those in Elizabeth City, Edenton, Hertford, Camden, Currituck, Manteo, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Duck, Corolla and surrounding areas in Pasquotank, Camden, Dare, Perquimans, Chowan and Gates counties. Our results include some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Northeastern North Carolina history.

If you or a loved one has been hurt by another’s reckless driving, call our accident and injury lawyers today at (252) 299-5300 or use our online form to learn how we can help you.  We provide free consultations and charge no fee unless you recover damages.

When a person is injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, they may be entitled to receive compensation through a personal injury lawsuit for their medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering, among other items. A wrongful death lawsuit can compensate an accident victim’s family for funeral expenses, loss of financial support and the loss of the care, comfort and companionship of a lost loved one.

When the at-fault driver’s conduct rises to the level of recklessness, however, punitive damages may be available to the victim and his or her family as well. These damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer for their especially egregious misconduct and to deter them from committing similar harm to others.

The types of reckless driving that often give rise to punitive damages include:

• Aggressive driving: When a driver runs through a red light or stop sign, makes a dangerous pass, engages in road rage or drives well in excess of the posted speed limit, such as going 15-20 mph faster than the posted speed limit.
• Drunk or drugged driving: When a driver consumes enough alcohol to impair his driving ability or surpasses the legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28 percent of all North Carolina traffic fatalities last year were alcohol-related. Driving while under the influence of illegal drugs or prescription medications is another form of reckless driving. A DWI can establish automatic negligence. Although under North Carolina law punitive damages generally are capped at $250,000 or three times the amount of actual damages, whichever is greater, there is no cap when drugs or alcohol are involved in the car wreck.
• Distracted driving: One of the fastest growing public safety threats in North Carolina is talking on a cell phone or texting while behind the wheel, especially among younger drivers. However, fiddling with a GPS device, eating, drinking or talking with passengers are also forms of reckless driving. According to the NHTSA, 5,474 people were killed and 448,000 injured in distracted driving crashes in 2009. Distracted driving is particularly dangerous at intersections and when driving through highway work zones.
• Drowsy driving: Instead of pulling off the road, too many car and truck drivers try to press on with their trip. In many cases, they fall asleep at the wheel. Drowsy driving can cause a driver to speed, miss a stop light or stop sign, follow too closely or drift across lanes, putting innocent motorists at risk of accident, injury or death.

At Glover Law Firm, our reckless driving accident attorneys and staff can draw on our legal experience and the expertise of highly qualified experts to analyze your accident and determine whether reckless driving played a role. One of our attorneys, Danny Glover Jr., has been widely recognized for his legal skills and knowledge in this area of the law, chairing the N.C. Advocates for Justice Auto Torts Section and serving for many years on the NCAJ’s Board of Governors. We will work tirelessly to make sure you and your family members are fully compensated.

We’ll also keep you regularly updated about the progress of your case. Our attorneys and staff are always available take your phone call, meet you in person and answer your questions.

Attorney Danny Glover Jr. is a seasoned negotiator, an accomplished trial lawyer and a passionate advocate for the rights and interests of his clients. They have more than 24 years of legal experience and have helped thousands of personal injury victims and their families to recover favorable verdicts and settlements. For their work, they have earned recognition from North Carolina Super Lawyers, The Million Dollar Advocates Forum and N.C. Advocates for Justice, among others.

We assist reckless driving accident victims throughout the state, especially in Northeastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks, including those in Elizabeth City, Edenton, Hertford, Camden, Currituck, Manteo, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Duck, Corolla and surrounding areas in Pasquotank, Camden, Dare, Currituck, Perquimans, Chowan and Gates counties.

For a free consultation about your reckless driving accident case, call us today at (252) 299-5300 or use our convenient online form. We charge no fee unless we are successful in our efforts on your behalf.