Have you ever used your cell phone while driving? Perhaps you texted, or failed to use your hands-free device. It could be because you were running late, just wanted to make a quick call, or a variety of other reasons. Regardless, actions like this can cause accidents, and people get hurt. Even if you escape the crash unscathed, you can still face criminal charges. If this happened to you, speak to a Chantilly reckless driving lawyer right away.
Several things we do frequently behind the wheel count as reckless driving. A few of them include:
Most individuals perform at least one of these activities while they have their licenses. But if the activities cause an accident, or an officer catches you in the act of performing one of these violations, you can be cited for reckless driving in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
If you are from out-of-state, you may not realize that reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia. Failing to deal appropriately with a reckless driving charge can result in a criminal record.
The time to contact a Chantilly reckless driving attorney is right after you’ve been ticketed, arrested, or investigated. Don’t make statements to anyone before receiving your attorney’s guidance. This includes the police or other accident victims. Even if you’re innocent of the charges, there’s a chance you could say the wrong thing. This can make it much more difficult to avoid a conviction.
Your attorney can do many things for your case that you’d find difficult otherwise. For instance, some perform accident reconstructions in order to determine who was really at fault for the crash. They can also negotiate with prosecutors for you, and attempt to have your charges dismissed or reduced to a non-criminal speeding charge. They can ask for leniency in sentencing, which might allow for lighter penalties. And the penalties for a reckless driving conviction can be substantial. They may mean paying fines, doing community service, and even jail time. Another common penalty is the temporary or permanent loss of a vehicle.
In addition, if you were charged with reckless driving in Chantilly, but you are from out-of-state, our Virginia attorneys can work with you so you are prepared for your court date.
We have extensive experience dealing with reckless driving cases.
Northern Virginia Criminal Defense Group
