Reckless driving is a frequently used term that can be considered confusing. A person may be driving recklessly if they are not obeying Colorado traffic laws. If you are charged with reckless driving, you may face numerous consequences, including fines and, in some cases, jail time. Talk to a Lakewood, CO, car accident attorney from Flesch & Beck Law.
Colorado law states that reckless driving is not a minor traffic violation. Rather, it is wanton or willful disregard for the safety of another person who is on the road with you. That means that a person charged with reckless driving of a motor vehicle did something to put another person – in a car, walking, on a bike, or otherwise – at risk in some way. Most of the time, reckless driving is considered:
These laws are defined under Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-1401. In these cases, a person is driving who is displaying a conscious disregard for the risks or the consequences of their actions and how those actions will impact others.
If you are charged with reckless driving, it is critical to hire a criminal defense attorney in Colorado who can help you. These are considered serious charges with consequences that could include:
You may also be labeled a habitual traffic offender. This means that if you get three such traffic offenses within a seven-year timeframe, your driver’s license will be suspended for up to seven years.
A person charged with criminal defense must show that they did not engage in such activities. There are various potential ways to do so, such as showing that the other person involved made a false claim or that you were wrongly identified.
Other times, your criminal defense attorney may work to get your charges reduced, such as getting them reduced from reckless driving to careless driving, which carries far fewer consequences. Proving this is essential, but if you do not have a history of such claims and you can show what your intentions were, it may be possible to avoid the consequences of jail time. Your attorney may also look for other weaknesses in the charges against you to develop a strong defense strategy. Your attorney may be able to get the charges dismissed in some cases or may work to get your charges reduced when possible.
If you are charged with reckless driving, take the time now to seek out legal help from a criminal defense attorney who is proven and experienced. You will learn what legal defense strategies may be applicable in your case, as well as what steps you can take to reduce the risk of the worst outcomes.