It’s crucial to have a seasoned reckless driving attorney in the wake of a speed-related accident. If you live in the Fort Lauderdale area, David I. Fuchs, Accident & Injury Lawyer, P.A. is the man for the job. With over 30 years of experience working in personal injury and vehicle collision law, he has the finely cultivated negotiation skills and compassionate determination to help you reclaim what’s rightfully yours.
If you were injured in an accident caused by speeding, you may be entitled to financial compensation. But you don’t have to navigate this complex process alone. Attorney David I. Fuchs is an experienced litigator whose courtroom experience and signature negotiating style has helped his clients get the settlements they’re after, and you could be his next success story.
To schedule your free consultation, reach out to us today.
What Is Considered Reckless Driving in Fort Lauderdale?
State law defines reckless driving as “driving with willful or with disregard for the safety of persons or property.” It’s considered more serious than improper driving and careless driving, so the punishments are naturally more severe.
Reckless driving charges you can face in State courts include:
- Reckless Driving Causing Serious Bodily Injury
- Reckless Driving with a Prior Conviction
- Reckless Driving Causing Property Damage
- First Offense Reckless Driving
If a reckless driver is convicted, they will face criminal fines and penalties in addition to being responsible for your damages. A detail-oriented attorney in Fort Lauderdale like David Fuchs can help prove that someone acted recklessly in causing an accident.
State Car Accident Laws to Consider
There are a few pertinent Florida state car accident laws that are good to know should you ever find yourself hit by a reckless or raging driver.
For starters, there are legal requirements surrounding reports of car accidents. If a crash resulted in vehicle and/or property damage exceeding $500, serious injury, or death, then by law you must file a report with your local police department. If the collision didn’t happen in a municipality, then you’ll have to report the accident to your local county sheriff or the Florida State Highway Patrol.
There’s also a statute of limitations for filing a reckless driving accident claim in Fort Lauderdale: four years. This means that starting from the date of your crash to the four-year anniversary, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. If you decide to file after this time window has passed, though, then your case may be dismissed.
Florida is a “comparative negligence” state. That means that if you are partially at fault in a wreck with a reckless or speeding driver, you will still be able to recover compensation in percentage that the other person was to blame. Your compensation will be reduced by the amount you are at fault.
How to Prove a Reckless Driver was Speeding
Proving that the other driver was speeding at the time of your accident can be tricky, but there are a few reliable methods to confirm that it happened.
Witness testimonies can be extremely useful when trying to prove who was speeding, as matching firsthand accounts from different witnesses will do a lot to solidify your case. However, witnesses don’t just have to be bystanders from the wreck; expert witnesses can also take the stand and verify any medical, financial, or other facts pertaining to the case. Law enforcement officials and forensic scientists who specialize in traffic accident reconstruction may even be called in to give their opinions.
Physical evidence can also be pretty damning, especially if it’s a totaled car or seriously injured person. However, there are some other dead giveaways that reckless drivers caused an accident: skid marks on the road and any road debris flung from the cars involved can prove that the collision was speed related.
Last but not least, police reports are another reliable route you can go when attempting to prove a speeding driver was at fault. Police reports not only provide details from the crash, but officers’ opinions on the accident as well. Officers will usually collect witness information and their contact information, too, and will also make note of any citations made at the crash scene. This means that a speeding ticket is all you need to prove in court that the other driver was, in fact, speeding. A dedicated Fort Lauderdale attorney could pursue this evidence and help you maximize compensation for your reckless driving case.
How a Fort Lauderdale Reckless Driving Accident Attorney Can Help You
If you were a victim of a car accident caused by an aggressive driver, you know how traumatizing it can be to try and handle the aftermath all on your own. However, only a shrewd reckless driving attorney will be able to help you get the justice you’re after.
Since 1988, attorney David I. Fuchs has been helping Florida residents get the financial and emotional restitution they deserve, thanks to his keen negotiation skills and hands-on approach to working with clients. He’ll not only advocate for you in court, but he’ll be there to guide you every step of the way. Call a Fort Lauderdale Reckless Driving lawyer today to learn how we can best serve you.
