Reckless drivers are one of the biggest hazards on the roads in Sevierville and across East Tennessee. Their dangerous, unpredictable choices can turn an ordinary drive into a serious crash. Beyond any criminal penalty they face, a reckless driver can be held financially responsible to the people they injure. If a reckless driver hurt you, The Terry Law Firm can help you pursue that accountability.

Contact us for a free claim evaluation to talk through your options for financial recovery. We have represented injured people in Sevier County since 1960.

What Is Considered Reckless Driving in Sevierville, TN?

Driver conduct that may count as reckless includes:

  • Excessive speeding, including 20 or 30-plus mph over the limit
  • Street racing
  • Weaving through heavy traffic
  • Crossing a solid yellow line to pass
  • Purposely running a red light or stop sign
  • Tailgating
  • Passing a stopped school bus loading or unloading children
  • Choosing to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs
  • Road rage or attempts to intimidate other drivers

Tennessee Reckless Driving Laws

Tennessee’s criminal statute defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property. The law also covers ignoring a flood warning sign or barricade and driving into a flooded road. Reckless driving is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both, plus a mandatory $50 assessment that funds county alcohol and drug treatment programs.

Civil liability is a separate matter. You may still recover compensation from a reckless driver’s insurance company even if the driver is acquitted on the criminal charge or never charged at all.

How Reckless Driving Causes Crashes

Reckless driving crashes usually happen because excessive speed leaves the driver too little time to brake or steer clear of a collision, and because aggressive maneuvers raise the odds of losing control. Certain dangerous roads in Sevierville see more of these crashes because their layout and traffic patterns leave even less margin for error. An aggressive driver can also intimidate others into panicking and making a mistake that causes a wreck.

Injuries Caused by Reckless or Aggressive Drivers

A reckless-driving car accident can cause lacerations and abrasions, dislocated joints, sprains and tears, broken bones, bulging or herniated discs, nerve damage, whiplash, internal injuries and bleeding, spinal cord injuries and paralysis, facial injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and amputation or limb loss.

Filing a Claim After a Reckless Driving Accident in Sevierville

You may have claims beyond the reckless driver alone. For example, you might have a claim against the driver’s employer if the crash happened on the job, or a negligent entrustment claim against a vehicle owner who lent the car to a driver known for reckless behavior.

Evidence that supports a reckless driving claim includes police accident reports, traffic citation and conviction records, eyewitness testimony, surveillance, traffic-camera, and dashcam video, and vehicle event data recorder (black box) logs.

Tennessee’s statute of limitations gives you only one year from the crash to file a lawsuit, so it is worth talking to a lawyer early.

How Our Lawyers Help People Hurt by Reckless Drivers

  • Investigating the crash and recovering the evidence to build your case
  • Identifying every liable party and source of compensation, including insurance coverage
  • Documenting your injuries and losses to determine what fair compensation looks like
  • Filing your claims, sending demand letters, and dealing with adjusters
  • Negotiating for a settlement that fairly covers your losses
  • Taking your case to court and trial when necessary

Contact Our Sevierville Reckless Driving Accident Lawyers

Talk to The Terry Law Firm about starting a claim after a reckless driver injured you. The consultation is free and comes with no obligation.