Reckless Driving Accident Results in Driver’s Death

A strange occurrence happened on a Georgia highway this past week. According to reports, a pickup truck ran a red light which led to a fatal accident.

The pickup truck driver has been charged with several different serious traffic violations including reckless driving.

As a Georgia DUI Lawyer, I will outline the law behind reckless driving in today's post.

Reckless Driving in Georgia

Georgia Law defines the criminal offense of reckless driving in Georgia in O.C.G.A. §40-6-390 as:

(a) Any person who drives any vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property commits the offense of reckless driving.

(b) Every person convicted of reckless driving shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, provided that no provision of this Code section shall be construed so as to deprive the court imposing the sentence of the power given by law to stay or suspend the execution of such sentence or to place the defendant on probation.

As you can see from the statute, the law behind reckless driving is actually quite broad. Examples of reckless driving include but are not limited to:

• Weaving
• Excessive speeding
• Running red lights
• Running stop signs
• Failing to yield
• Passing other vehicles
• Driving erratically
• Veering
• Tailgating
• Weaving, etc.

The consequences of reckless driving are serious. Reckless driving is not like other traffic violations. Reckless driving is classified as a misdemeanor, and therefore, all misdemeanor consequences apply if convicted. The penalties can include a fine up to $1,000, jail time up to 12 months, or both.

Practice Note

Contact our offices now if you or a loved one has been arrested.