When drivers behave recklessly, their negligence can lead to severe and sometimes fatal outcomes, but Munley Law’s Philadelphia reckless driving accident lawyers are here to hold them accountable. For almost seven decades, our attorneys have defended injured Philadelphians, negotiating with insurance companies for fair settlements and arguing their cases in court when necessary.
As a result, we’ve obtained victories such as a $1 million jury verdict for the family of a retired firefighter who was killed by an intoxicated truck driver who was driving recklessly. Our lawyers’ relentless pursuit of truth and justice has garnered us five-star Google Reviews and accolades from Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, Irish Legal 100, Lawdragon, and other respected organizations.
For a no-obligation, free consultation, contact our Philadelphia car accident lawyers today.
What is Considered Reckless Driving in Pennsylvania?
Under Title 75 Pa. C.S.A. Vehicles § 3736, “Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.” Should you be found guilty of reckless driving in Pennsylvania, it is an initial summary offense and if convicted, you will be charged a fine of $200, up to 90 days in jail, and a six-month license suspension.
However, reckless driving can encompass a variety of traffic violations, such as:
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Racing with other drivers
- Driving without a license
- Distracted driving, such as using a cell phone while driving
- Illegal passing
- Weaving through traffic
- Disobeying traffic signals
This means several criminal charges can be filed against a driver who is behaving recklessly.
Additionally, if the reckless driving caused serious bodily injury to another person, they may be found guilty of aggravated assault by a vehicle which is a third-degree felony. If convicted, these reckless drivers can face up to seven years in prison, up to $15,000 in fines, and a one-year license suspension.
Reckless driving continues to plague the Commonwealth’s roads. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), of all the reported accidents in 2024:
- 23,427 were speed-related
- 6,929 were caused by drunk drivers
- 13,313 were related to improper turning
- 5,247 were a result of careless or illegal passing
- 8,971 were caused by proceeding without clearance
- 5,456 were tailgating-related
If you’re not sure whether the driver who caused your accident was driving recklessly, contact our Philadelphia reckless driving accident lawyers. We will investigate the accident, determine whether recklessness and negligence played roles, and work to protect your rights.
What Is the Difference Between Careless Driving vs. Reckless Driving?
The difference between careless driving and reckless driving is a matter of intent. Pennsylvania law states that “Any person who drives a vehicle in careless disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of careless driving, a summary offense.”
If a driver did not intentionally cause harm to another while driving a vehicle, but an accident occurs, they will likely be found guilty of careless driving. This includes actions like changing lanes, unsafely passing another driver, falling asleep behind the wheel, etc.
Even though the driver may not have intended to cause harm to another, they can still be punished for their actions. In Pennsylvania, careless drivers can face up to 90 days in jail and up to $300 in fines. But in the case of the accident causing serious bodily injury to another, the fine may be set at $250. For accidents that lead to death, they may face fines of $500, a six-month license suspension, and demerit points on their driving record.
What Are Some Examples of Reckless Driving?
Reckless driving accidents often occur after a combination of bad driving habits. Such reckless behaviors include:
- Distracted Driving: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that every day, nine people die in car accidents as a result of distracted driving. Distracted driving occurs anytime you take your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off driving. This may include answering a cell phone, sending a text, changing the radio station, eating or drinking, etc. If you were involved in a distracted driving accident in the City of Brotherly Love, our Philadelphia distracted driving accident lawyer can help.
- Speeding/ Aggressive Driving: Speeding is most commonly associated with aggressive driving behaviors, which took the lives of over 11,000 people in 2024. Aggressive driving is more than speeding – it can also include running red lights, following another driver too closely, not yielding, etc.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI): We all know the dangers of drinking and driving or using drugs before getting behind the wheel. Yet even with laws in place to reduce the number of DUIs occurring, they still take thousands of lives each year.
- Traffic Pattern Accidents: Be it driving down a one-way street, colliding with another driver at an intersection, or failing to follow other traffic patterns, drivers who do not abide by road markings, street signs, and traffic laws can find themselves facing heavy penalties and fines for reckless driving. In Philadelphia, this is extremely common for reckless driving collisions due to busy intersections, interstates, and expressways.
Regardless of whether the driver who caused your accident was distracted, drunk, or driving recklessly in other ways, you deserve justice and compensation for your losses. Choose Munley Law for some of the best legal representation in Philadelphia.
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Where Are Philly Car Accidents Most Likely to Occur?
It is estimated that there are more than 640,000 cars on Philadelphia roads. While that is spread throughout the city, certain roadways have more daily traffic than others. Car accidents in Philadelphia are most likely to occur on the following roads:
- Grays Avenue and S. 48th Street intersection
- Intersection of Roosevelt Blvd. and Red Lion Road
- Intersection of Roosevelt Blvd. and Grant Avenue
- I-95
- Grand Avenue and Southwest 49th Street
- The Schuylkill Expressway
- Broad Street
- Bustleton Avenue
- Main Street
- Easton Street
- Old York Street
- 611
- Pennsylvania Turnpike
The heavy congestion, aggressive driving behaviors, and a number of pedestrians and other vulnerable road users make these some of the most dangerous roadways in Philadelphia and in Pennsylvania.
If you were injured as a result of reckless driving on one of these Philadelphia roadways or another section of Philly, contact a car accident lawyer at Munley Law.
What Are the Common Injuries From Philly Car Accidents?
Whether your car accident was caused by a reckless driver or another form of driver error or negligence, there are certain injuries you need to be mindful of. Because adrenaline will be high following the collision, you may not even realize how severe your injuries are until the next day or days after the accident.
This is why we encourage reckless driving accident victims to seek medical attention following an accident right away and to keep a record of any medical care received in the days and weeks following.
Common injuries from Philadelphia reckless driving accidents include:
- Back/neck injuries such as whiplash
- Bone fractures of limbs, skull, etc.
- Extensive cuts and severe burns
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Internal bleeding and/or organ damage
- Amputation
- Vision and/or hearing loss
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Paralysis
- Death
The extent of your and your passengers’ injuries will impact the value of your claim, which is why you’ll want to speak with an attorney before the insurance companies try to settle your medical bills. You may face a lifetime of pain, suffering, and medical needs that you cannot afford without compensation.
Munley Law can help you calculate the current and long-term medical needs of you and your loved ones, with the help of medical professionals.
Why Is Philadelphia Reckless Driving at an All-Time High?
One reason why reckless driving in Philadelphia is at an all-time high is that the city adopted a driving equity bill that prohibits police from pulling drivers over for minor traffic offenses, over concerns about who was pulled over most often, and the reasons for those stops. Now, instead of being pulled over for relatively minor traffic offenses, offenders receive a violation letter by mail. The result is that moving violation citations issued by city police plummeted from almost 500,000 in 1998 to 45,000 in 2023.
With an increase in pedestrian deaths due to these reckless drivers, Philadelphia has seen an uptick in car crashes and traffic fatalities.
What Compensation Can You Recover in a Reckless Driving Case?
There are a number of factors that will determine the value of your reckless driving case. Because each car accident claim is different, the following elements need to be considered when calculating the compensation you may be entitled to.
- The nature and severity of the accident
- Who is at fault
- The severity of your injuries
- The insurance company’s negotiations
In addition, you and your legal team will need to determine what other losses you may have sustained, such as:
- Current and future lost wages
- Long-term medical needs
- Accumulated medical bills
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral costs in the case of wrongful death
To obtain compensation for those losses, we will need to prove that you were less than 50% at fault for the collision. Under 42 Pa C.S.A. § 7102, Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence law, you cannot recover compensation if you are more than 50% at fault for an accident.
As plaintiff lawyers who exclusively handle personal injury claims, we have our thumb on the ever-changing laws surrounding motor vehicle accidents. Our attorneys will work diligently to recover compensation for:
- Past and future medical bills
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Disability
- Lessened quality of life
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses
- Potential punitive damages
We know that a car accident can derail your life as you struggle to pay for your medical needs and navigate the legal system. In fact, many victims of personal injury cases chose not to file a claim because of the time, resources, and guilt they feel for reporting another person. This burden should not be on you. Munley Law knows that taking legal action against another person can be stressful and overwhelming. When your family depends on you for survival, know that working with our team of legal professionals will make it easier for you to move forward.
How Long Do You Have to File a Reckless Driving Claim?
If you are involved in a reckless driving accident in Philadelphia that caused you to sustain injuries or led to the death of a loved one, you have the right to file a claim against the negligent driver and pursue legal action.
In Pennsylvania, under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524 (2), the statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death charges is two years from the date of the accident or time of death. However, should you miss the two-year deadline, you forfeit your right to bring forth a claim.
In addition, you must act diligently and secure legal counsel as soon as possible following the collision. If you accept a settlement from the insurance companies, you will likely be unable to secure further compensation for your losses.
This is why you need a Munley Law Philadelphia personal injury lawyer by your side from the very start. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions About Philadelphia Reckless Driving Accident Cases
How Do I Prove the Other Driver Was Reckless in My Accident In Philadelphia, PA?
To prove the other driver was reckless in your accident in Philadelphia, PA, you must show they acted with willful or wanton disregard for safety. In most cases, doing this means gathering evidence like police reports, witness statements, traffic camera footage, or expert accident reconstruction. A Munley Law Philadelphia reckless driving accident lawyer can help gather this evidence and build a strong case.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
Yes, you can still recover compensation if you were partially at fault for the accident, depending on your percentage of blame. Under Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence rule, you can recover compensation if you are less than 50% at fault for the accident. However, your total compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. You cannot recover damages if you are more than 50% to blame for the accident.
What Types of Compensation are Available in a Philadelphia Reckless Driving Accident Case?
Several types of compensation are available in a Philadelphia reckless driving accident case. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, property damages, pain and suffering, reduced earning capacity, long-term care costs, and wrongful death expenses. The exact amount you receive depends on the details of your accident and the extent of your injuries.
How Long Do I Have to File a Reckless Driving Accident Claim in Philadelphia, PA?
In most cases, under 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 5524 (2), you have two years from the date of the accident to file a reckless driving accident claim in Philadelphia, PA. Missing this deadline can prevent you from recovering compensation, so it’s important to consult a lawyer at soon as possible after your accident to protect your rights and preserve evidence.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Reckless Driving Accident Claim?
You are not legally required to hire a lawyer for a reckless driving accident claim, although hiring one can significantly improve your chances of receiving justice and recovering fair compensation. An experienced Philadelphia reckless driving accident lawyer can gather evidence, handle negotiations with insurance companies, and represent you in court, if needed.
Injured in a Car Crash? Call the Philadelphia Reckless Driving Lawyers of Munley Law.
If you were involved in a reckless driving accident in Philadelphia, the car accident lawyers of Munley Law can help you recover the compensation you need to move forward. Our car accident and reckless driving lawyers have almost 70 years of experience fighting for the rights of injury victims in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania. Allow us to bring that expertise to your claim.
A single moment that ends in a collision can change your life forever. Don’t handle it alone. For a no-obligation, free consultation, contact the Philadelphia reckless driving accident lawyers of Munley Law today by calling, emailing, or chatting with us online.
James Christopher Munley
James Christopher Munley is a multi-award winning auto accident lawyer and advocate for auto accident plaintiffs. Chris has been named to Best Lawyers in America since 2012, and was also named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer the following year in 2013. Alongside this, he was named to the Top 25 Motor Vehicle Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. Chris has helped in the recovery of millions in damages for auto accident victims, including notable cases such as a $17.5 million jury verdict for a teen death caused by a car accident, and a $6.9 Million Settlement when a garbage truck crashed into a car.
