Reckless driving is a dangerous and often deadly driver behavior that is characterized by a wanton disregard for the safety of others, including other motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Sadly, hundreds of drivers in Pennsylvania are guilty of reckless driving on a daily basis. When reckless driving results in serious and fatal automobile accidents, crash victims may work with skilled car accident lawyers in Pittsburgh to find out if they are eligible for compensation for the losses they have suffered.
Most Car Accidents Are Caused By Driver Error
In 2023, 110,382 reportable traffic accidents occurred in Pennsylvania (source: the Department of Transportation). These accidents resulted in 66,563 injuries and 1,209 lives lost. Nationwide, it is estimated that driver error contributes to as much as 90 percent of all traffic accidents. Reckless driving behaviors greatly increase the risk of collisions and the odds of an accident causing serious or fatal injuries.
Speeding
Pennsylvania crash statistics from 2023 show that speeding was the highest contributing factor involved in car accidents. Speeding was responsible for 23,070 reported car accidents and 366 fatal crashes. Nationwide, speeding killed 12,151 people in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Speeding is such a dangerous driver behavior because it decreases the ability of the driver to control the motor vehicle and stop in time to avoid a collision when presented with changing roadway situations. Racing two or more vehicles is also a reckless driver behavior that can lead to fatal accidents in Pennsylvania.
Impaired Driving
In any given year, thousands of motor vehicle drivers are guilty of illegally operating their motor vehicles while under the intoxicating influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Driving while impaired was a contributing factor in 7,350 accidents and 127 fatal crashes in Pennsylvania in 2023.
Impaired driving is dangerous because it interferes with a driver’s ability to pay attention to the road, react quickly to changing roadway situations, physically control a motor vehicle and make safe decisions behind the wheel. Even a small level of driver impairment increases the odds of a crash.
Distracted Driving
Driving while dedicating some or all of a driver’s attention to something other than the driving task, such as a cell phone, food, drink or passengers, can compromise a driver’s attention and reaction times. A distracted driver may not notice a hazard in the road in time to apply the brakes and avoid a collision. Knowingly engaging in dangerous distractions, such as breaking Pennsylvania’s cell phone laws, can be considered reckless driving.
Road Rage
Aggressive driving or road rage occurs when a driver loses control of his or her emotions and actions due to a high level of frustration, often caused by personal problems or traffic conditions. Road rage can lead to many dangerous driver behaviors, including tailgating, cutting other drivers off, weaving in and out of multiple lanes, running red lights, passing illegally, and violating traffic laws.
Holding Reckless Drivers Accountable for Car Accidents in Pennsylvania
Reckless driving can cause severe car accidents, including head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, chain-reaction crashes and multi-vehicle collisions. If reckless driving is identified as the cause of a crash in Pennsylvania, the at-fault driver can be held financially responsible for a victim’s medical bills and property repairs.
Proving a reckless driving claim requires evidence that the driver was violating a traffic law or behaving dangerously at the time of the crash. An experienced Pittsburgh injury lawyer can help by investigating the crash and collecting evidence of reckless driving, such as police reports, witness statements, and photographs and videos.