Serious Accident in Jacksonville, Florida May Involve Reckless Driving
An SUV driver was driving recklessly and speeding, hit a utility pole and then crashed into other vehicles in the area of Beach Boulevard and Hodges Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida according to an article on News4Jax.com. At least two people in the other vehicles were injured as a result of the crash.
The article suggests that the SUV driver was driving recklessly prior to the crash. There is no simple definition for reckless driving. There is a legal definition of reckless driving (which is actually a misdemeanor crime in Florida), but it does not help to define reckless driving in regular terms. It basically refers to driving that goes above and beyond more routine negligent driving and places other people in danger. Running a red light, speeding, or failing to yield are common examples of negligent driving. Doing all of those at once, excessive speeding in a residential area, or driving while intoxicated may be examples of driving that is worse than negligent driving and rises to the level of reckless driving. Ultimately, it may be up to a jury in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit to decide if the defendant's driving was reckless.
Whether a defendant's driving was reckless or just negligent can have a major impact on a personal injury or wrongful death case. If the personal injury/wrongful death lawyer for the plaintiff can prove the defendant driver was driving recklessly when he/she caused the crash, the plaintiff can ask the jury to award punitive damages. Punitive damages are more easily defined. They are damages awarded to the plaintiff that are designed to punish the defendant for his/her reckless conduct and deter any such future conduct. Punitive damages can significantly increase the value of a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
