Careless Driving Attorneys

Florida Statute § 316.1925 outlines the expectations of a driver operating any vehicle on a roadway. Drivers have the responsibility to operate a vehicle in a “careful and prudent manner” that doesn't jeopardize other motorists, pedestrians, and property.

A careless driving moving violation is a non-criminal charge but it still has significant penalties that can quickly impact your life. If you’ve received a traffic citation for careless driving, contact a ticket lawyer with 911 Biker Law. Our ticket lawyers are well-versed in Florida traffic law and are prepared to advocate on your behalf to minimize penalties and reduce charges associated with your ticket.

Why Careless Driving Is Different From Reckless Driving

Though careless driving is classified as a moving violation, it’s a non-criminal offense in Florida. This is the key difference between careless and reckless driving. While the two terms are used interchangeably, careless driving implies a driver didn’t operate a vehicle in a careful manner, such as failing to stop in time to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front of you. Reckless driving is a criminal traffic violation as a driver charged with reckless driving has displayed a “willful” or “wanton” disregard for the safety of people and/or property.

Common Examples Of Careless Driving

Careless driving generally occurs when a driver fails to apply their full attention to driving. Common examples include:

Improper lane change
Speeding
Tailgating or following another vehicle too closely
Running a red light, stop sign, or otherwise failing to obey a traffic control device
Leaving the scene of an accident, also called a hit-and-run accident

Depending on the circumstances, a driver can also face a charge of aggressive careless driving. This augmented charge generally applies if a driver exceeded the posted speed limit; made an unsafe and/or improper lane change; and/or followed another vehicle too closely.

Because a traffic ticket for careless driving usually accompanies a traffic accident for which a law enforcement officer feels you are at fault, it’s important to contact a careless driving ticket lawyer with 911 Biker Law. Our Orlando law firm has access to many experts who are adept at accident reconstruction and can recreate an accident scene to help build a strong defense in your favor and examine your moving violation.

Penalties For Careless Driving

A careless driving ticket generally penalizes drivers by the addition of four points to your driving record and up to $500 in fines plus any associated court costs. Unfortunately, most drivers are subject to increased insurance rates when points are added to their driving record. If you have previous points for traffic violations on your driving record, a careless driving ticket could be the tipping point that results in an automatic drivers license suspension.

How A Traffic Ticket Defense Lawyer Can Help

A careless driving citation is often issued with rear-end collisions. An accomplished civil traffic infractions attorney will dig into the evidence and facts of what can be a subjective situation. Our law firm has helped many clients lessen the financial impact that a careless driving ticket has on their driving record and car insurance rates.