Reckless driving is responsible for around 33% of the 6 million car accidents on America’s roads every year. 

As it can cause multiple injuries and fatalities, the punishment for reckless driving can be severe. Reckless driving penalties can range from a misdemeanor charge to spending more than a year in jail. 

This massive disparity between the possible sentences makes it vital that you prepare for a reckless driving case. Good preparation could be the difference between being told off or getting a criminal record! 

Read on to learn how to prepare for dealing with reckless driving charges. 

Learn About Reckless Driving In Your State

Your first step is to educate yourself about what you’re being charged with. The first thing to understand is that reckless driving isn’t a simple traffic violation. Reckless driving is a severe offense, and you’re likely to be charged with a crime. 

In most states, you can be charged with a misdemeanor and receive a fine. However, you may be charged with a felony and serve jail time. Learn about the specific laws in your state and look up case studies, so you know what to expect. 

Decide Your Plea

Your next step is to decide how to plead your case. Sometimes, there’s no way to get out of it – you just have to plead guilty, express remorse, and hope for the best. 

However, there may be ways to prove that you weren’t driving recklessly with intent. For example, can you prove that your speedometer shows the wrong speed? Or, did another driver do a dangerous maneuver that forced you to drive erratically? 

Further possibilities are whether the cop had reasonable grounds to stop you in the first place. Or maybe, you weren’t the driver? 

In some cases, it’s best to negotiate a plea deal. 

Hire a Lawyer 

Now, it’s worth going through the above options yourself. But when it comes to fighting your case to the court, it’s essential to hire a reckless driving lawyer. 

You need someone specializing in traffic law who can guarantee you the best chance of getting your charges overturned. 

They’ll be able to collect evidence on your behalf, advocate for you, advise you, and negotiate with a judge. 

However good you think your skills are, a reckless driving lawyer will be better! 

Don’t Let Reckless Driving Get the Better of You

Getting charged with reckless driving is never easy; if you take anything from the experience, it should be to be a more careful driver. It’ll save you time, energy, effort, money, a criminal conviction, and potentially your (or someone else’s) life! 

However, all hope isn’t lost if you’re facing reckless driving charges. Make sure to prepare well and follow these steps. The outcome might not be as bad as you think it will be. 

Did you find this article helpful? If so, check out our other posts for more legal advice.