Reckless Driver Accidents

All motorists in Ohio and Kentucky are expected to operate motor vehicles with a necessary degree of caution and respect for others. Many accidents on roads throughout these two states are invariably the result of one driver operating recklessly.

Reckless driving is in itself a criminal offense, and the phrase can broadly apply to a number of behaviors that endanger the lives of innocent people. When a motorist causes a crash by acting in disregard of fellow drivers and the basic rules of the road, that person can also be civilly liable for the damages caused.

Lawyer for Reckless Driver Accidents in Cincinnati, Ohio

If you sustained serious injuries or your loved one was killed by the reckless driving of another motorist in the Cincinnati area, you should immediately seek legal representation for help obtaining the compensation you need and deserve. Steiden Law Offices represents clients on a contingency fee basis, which means clients are not charged anything unless we successfully handle their cases.

Our Cincinnati personal injury attorneys represent car accident victims all over Kenton County, Boone County, and Campbell County in Kentucky, plus Warren County, Butler County, Hamilton County, and Clermont County in Ohio. You can receive a complete assessment of your case as soon as you call to take advantage of a free consultation.

Kentucky Reckless Driving Crashes Information Center

Reckless Driving Offenses in Ohio and Kentucky

Under Ohio Revised Code § 4511.20, reckless driving is referred to as operation in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property. People can be charged with this crime for aggressive driving, speeding, failure to yield the right of way, or other dangerous behaviors.

Kentucky Revised Statute § 189.290 establishes, “The operator of any vehicle upon a highway shall operate the vehicle in a careful manner, with regard for the safety and convenience of pedestrians and other vehicles upon the highway.” People may face reckless driving charges for any violation of this statute, typically many of the same behaviors that would constitute a reckless driving offense in Ohio.

It is not uncommon for the negligent driver who caused a car accident to be ticketed for reckless driving. In such cases, it can be beneficial for the people hurt or the families of those killed in the crashes to wait for the criminal cases to be resolved before proceeding with civil lawsuits. When an alleged offender pleads guilty to or is convicted of a reckless driving offense, that conviction can be introduced in the civil case.

It is important to remember that the burden of proof in civil cases is much lower than the standard set in criminal cases. A party can prevail in a civil case by a preponderance of the evidence (roughly 51 percent, or “more likely than not”), but a criminal conviction requires guilt to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt (roughly 99 percent, or any kind of doubt about guilt requires acquittal).

Keep in mind that a negligent driver can still be found civilly liable even if he or she is not convicted of criminal charges. Perhaps the best example of this difference was the O.J. Simpson murder case, in which a jury found him not guilty of the criminal charges but another jury found him liable in the civil case.

Types of Reckless Driving Accident Injuries in Cincinnati

People involved in collisions caused by reckless drivers can suffer injuries of varying severity depending on the egregiousness of the negligent motorist’s conduct. If a negligent driver was operating vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OVI) or traveling at excess speeds, victims can suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Steiden Law Offices files wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of families who have lost loved ones because of reckless driving. We also fight to get compensation for the medical bills, lost wages, and other damages of people who have sustained such injuries as:

Amputation;

Broken Bones and/or Fractures;

Burn Injuries;

Concussions;

Disfigurement;

Internal Organ Injuries;

Nerve Damage;

Paralysis;

Spinal Cord Injuries;

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs); or

Whiplash or Soft Tissue Injuries.

Ohio and Kentucky Reckless Driving Accident Resources

Cincinnati Crash Analysis Reduction Strategy (CARS) | University of Cincinnati — In 2005, the 37 people killed in 36 fatal crashes in Cincinnati was the most in more than a decade. In response, the Cincinnati Police Department developed the CARS program based on the crime prevention theory of problem-oriented policing (POP). CARS sought to use interventions to address the primary causes of fatal accidents; some of those focuses (OVI and speed and aggressive driving) were forms of reckless driving.

University of Cincinnati Institute of Crime Science
Teachers/Dyer Hall
2160 McMicken Cir
Cincinnati OH 45220
(513) 556-6705

Analysis of Traffic Crash Data in Kentucky (2008-2012) | UKnowledge — The Kentucky Transportation Research Program began in 1981 when the Kentucky Department of Highways transferred its Division of Research to the University of Kentucky’s College of Engineering. In this research report, you can find various state crash data statistics for 2008 through 2012. You can also find reckless driving convictions by county and a discussion of drunk driving offenses being reduced to reckless driving charges.

Steiden Law Offices | Cincinnati Reckless Driver Accident Lawyer

Did you suffer catastrophic injuries or was your loved one killed in an accident in the Cincinnati area caused by a reckless driver? It will be in your best interest to retain legal counsel before making any kind of statement to an insurance company.

The Cincinnati personal injury attorneys of Steiden Law Offices fight to get fair and full settlements for clients throughout Clermont County, Warren County, Butler County, and Hamilton County in Ohio as well as Campbell County, Kenton County, and Boone County in Kentucky. Call or submit an online contact form to schedule a free, no obligation consultation that will let our lawyers review your case and help you understand your legal options.