Reckless driving isn’t just careless behavior behind the wheel – it’s a deliberate or extreme disregard for the safety of others. When a driver makes the choice to drive recklessly, they put everyone at risk – not just themselves, but other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists who share the road. The consequences of reckless driving can be devastating. Victims often face severe injuries, overwhelming medical bills, lost wages, and lasting trauma. In the worst cases, these crashes can be fatal, leaving families to deal with overwhelming grief and financial hardship.
What Legally Counts as Reckless Driving in New Mexico?
New Mexico law defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle “carelessly and heedlessly in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others and without due caution and circumspection and at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property.” Context matters when determining recklessness. A single action like speeding might not always qualify as reckless driving, but combine that with weaving through traffic and running red lights, and you have a clear case of recklessness. The totality of the circumstances helps determine whether behavior rises to the level of reckless driving.
Reckless driving results in more than just a traffic ticket – it’s a criminal misdemeanor that can result in jail time, fines, and license suspension for the driver. More importantly for victims, this definition establishes a higher level of wrongdoing that can affect your personal injury claim.
Common Types of Reckless Driving Behaviors
Excessive Speeding
Not all speeding is reckless driving, but there’s a point where speed becomes so excessive that it shows complete disregard for safety. This might include driving 20+ mph over the posted limit, racing through school zones or residential areas, or maintaining dangerous speeds during poor weather conditions. Excessive speeding is particularly dangerous because it reduces reaction time and increases stopping distance. A driver going 100 mph on I-25 may not be able to avoid a sudden slowdown in traffic, leading to catastrophic multi-vehicle crashes.
Aggressive Driving and Road Rage
When anger takes the wheel, disaster often follows. Aggressive driving behaviors that can cross into recklessness include tailgating (following too closely), brake-checking other drivers, weaving in and out of traffic, using a vehicle to intimidate others, and cutting off other drivers intentionally. These aren’t just rude behaviors – they’re dangerous choices that show a blatant disregard for the safety of everyone on the road.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs represents one of the most dangerous forms of reckless driving. When someone makes the decision to drive under the influence, they’re knowingly putting lives at risk. Intoxicated drivers suffer from impaired judgment, slower reaction times, reduced coordination, decreased concentration, and poor visual function. These impairments make crashes almost inevitable.
Street Racing
Street racing is a textbook example of reckless driving. Participants typically drive at extreme speeds, ignore traffic signals and signs, make dangerous lane changes, and risk the lives of bystanders and other drivers. New Mexico’s long, straight highways sometimes attract illegal street racers, especially at night. These races can lead to horrific crashes, often involving innocent motorists who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Street racing cases can be complex because they may involve multiple liable parties – not just the driver who hit you, but potentially others who were participating in the race.
Distracted Driving
While not all distracted driving rises to the level of recklessness, certain behaviors show such extreme disregard for safety that they qualify. This includes texting while driving at high speeds, watching videos while driving, taking selfies or livestreaming while driving, and reading or doing makeup in heavy traffic. Distracted driving is especially dangerous because it combines multiple types of impairment – visual (eyes off the road), manual (hands off the wheel), and cognitive (mind off driving). A driver who is texting while speeding through a school zone is making a choice that puts children’s lives at risk.
Ignoring Traffic Signals and Signs
Traffic signals and signs exist for a reason – they maintain order and prevent crashes. When drivers deliberately run red lights, ignore stop signs, or disregard yield signs, they’re showing a willful disregard for safety. These violations are particularly dangerous at busy intersections in cities like Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe, where pedestrians and cyclists are often present. The T-bone crashes that result can cause severe injuries or death.
Ignoring Weather Conditions
New Mexico’s weather can change rapidly, from sudden monsoon downpours to blinding dust storms. Responsible drivers adjust their speed and following distance to account for these conditions. Reckless drivers don’t. Examples include driving at normal highway speeds during heavy rain, not slowing down in areas with limited visibility, failing to use headlights during storms, and taking curves too quickly on icy roads. This behavior shows a disregard for the obvious risks posed by adverse weather and road conditions.
How Roadrunner Law Firm Proves Reckless Driving in Your Case
Proving that a driver was acting recklessly is often key to maximizing your compensation. Our car accident lawyers at Roadrunner Law Firm know exactly how to build these cases.
Gathering Evidence
We start by collecting all available evidence from the crash scene: police reports documenting violations, skid mark measurements, vehicle damage analysis, traffic camera footage, environmental conditions, and roadway design and signage. We often work with accident reconstruction experts who can scientifically demonstrate how the at-fault driver’s reckless actions caused your injuries.
Finding and Interviewing Witnesses
Eyewitness testimony can be powerful evidence of reckless driving. Witnesses often observe dangerous behavior that occurred before the crash – like a driver weaving through traffic or running previous red lights. Our team knows how to find witnesses and ask the right questions to document this behavior properly.
Utilizing Available Technology
In today’s connected world, there’s often digital evidence of reckless driving: surveillance video from nearby businesses, dashcam footage from other vehicles, cell phone records showing texting while driving, social media posts (sometimes drivers actually post about their reckless behavior), and GPS data showing speed and location. This technological evidence can be compelling in negotiations and at trial.
Building a Strong Legal Argument
Ultimately, our job is to connect the dots between the driver’s reckless choices and your injuries. We build cases that clearly demonstrate how the driver violated their duty of care, what specific reckless actions they took, how those actions directly caused your crash, and the full extent of your damages, both economic and non-economic. This comprehensive approach helps us achieve maximum compensation for our clients.
What Compensation Can You Receive After a Reckless Driving Accident?
Victims of reckless driving accidents may be entitled to several types of compensation. Medical expenses include emergency care, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, medication, and any future medical needs related to your injuries. Lost income compensation covers wages lost while recovering, as well as reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work in the future. Pain and suffering damages address the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injuries and the traumatic experience of the crash. Property damage compensation helps repair or replace your vehicle and any other damaged property. Punitive damages are different from other types of compensation – they’re designed to punish especially bad behavior. Reckless driving cases often qualify for punitive damages in New Mexico.
Don’t Wait to Get Help After a Reckless Driving Accident
If you’ve been hurt by a reckless driver in New Mexico, time is not on your side. Evidence can disappear, witnesses’ memories fade, and the statute of limitations can expire. You need to act quickly to protect your rights. At Roadrunner Law Firm, we’re ready to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys will fight tirelessly for you while you focus on healing.
Call us today at 505-444-4321 for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, answer your questions, and help you understand your options. Remember, we only get paid if we win your case.
Don’t let a reckless driver’s bad choices define your future. Contact us today and let us help you move forward.
