McLean Reckless Driving Lawyers

Skilled Defense Attorneys Representing Clients Accused of Reckless Driving in McLean, VA

A reckless driving violation is not just a ticket you can pay and be done with. If you have been charged with this offense, your license could be suspended, and you may face fines and jail time. As such, it is important that you prepare for the legal proceedings by seeking out an attorney who can defend you in court. A McLean, VA reckless driving attorney can help devise an in-depth legal strategy to protect your rights.

Fighting a charge of reckless driving is not always easy, but it is worthwhile. At Salvado Law Offices, we will do everything in our power to protect you from the consequences of a conviction.

What Counts as Reckless Driving in Virginia?

The crime of reckless driving encompasses a wide variety of moving violations. In general, reckless driving is a legal term used to describe any conduct in a motor vehicle that puts people or property at risk of serious harm. This may include acts like:

• Unlawfully passing a stopped school bus
• Failing to use your car's signals
• Engaging in street racing, including aiding and abetting a race
• Excessive speeding given the traffic or weather conditions, even if you are technically going below the speed limit
• Failing to yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles with their lights on
• Speeding more than 20 miles above a posted speed limit

The statute for reckless driving is broad. This means that you could be charged with reckless driving for virtually any conduct behind the wheel that could be viewed as dangerous to others.

The Penalties for Reckless Driving

In most cases, reckless driving is prosecuted as a Class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia. Though this may not sound too severe, it is essentially one step below a felony. If convicted, you face up to a year in jail as well as a possible $2,500 fine, both of which can be debilitating to live with.

There are some cases where an ordinary reckless driving charge can be upgraded to a felony. This is typically reserved for incidents where somebody is seriously hurt or killed. For instance, if you cause someone else's death through reckless driving while your license was already suspended or revoked due to a previous violation, you could be charged with a Class 6 felony. If you are convicted of this offense, you could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, with a one-year minimum sentence.

Aside from the criminal penalties, you will also face administrative punishments for a reckless driving conviction. Depending on the circumstances, you could face a license suspension of up to 180 days.

How Can I Defend Against Accusations of Reckless Driving?

Simply being arrested for reckless driving does not mean you will be convicted. With the help of a skilled attorney, you can present a defense to the court tailored to your specific circumstances.

At Salvado Law Offices, we will work with you to determine the best strategy for your case. For example, if you were pulled over and charged with reckless driving for speeding, we could argue that your GPS showed that you were driving at a slower speed than the officer's radar. In other cases, you may have had no choice but to engage in seemingly reckless driving to avoid an accident.

Contact a McLean, Virginia Reckless Driving Attorney Today

A reckless driving charge can come with hefty consequences on a conviction. At Salvado Law Offices, we can advise you of how to respond to an arrest and work with you to develop a legal strategy in your defense. Our McLean reckless driving defense lawyers have the experience and skills to stand up for you in court. Call our offices at 703-379-9446 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.