Protecting Your Business After a Reckless Driving Charge

An aggressive driving charge goes beyond simply receiving a traffic ticket; it is actually considered a criminal misdemeanor that may result in fines, points on your license, increased insurance premium rates or even jail time.

An initial conviction can bring 30 days in jail. An experienced Ontario reckless driving lawyer can identify flaws in the prosecution's case to help you avoid being found guilty and avoid conviction altogether.

1. Reputational Damage

An arrest for reckless driving can have lasting repercussions, potentially impacting professional licenses and employment prospects as well as fines that significantly raise insurance rates.

Reckless driving involves showing willful disregard for the safety of others. Prosecuters must show that you knowingly put others in harm's way without exercise any due diligence; only the most flagrant behaviors would meet this standard.

An experienced attorney can help you devise a plan to disprove the prosecution's evidence for reckless driving offenses. Sometimes this means getting your charges reduced to something less serious, like speeding or careless driving - your lawyer will review police reports for discrepancies that they can exploit to your advantage.

2. Financial Losses

A reckless driving charge cannot simply be waved off like any traffic ticket; as it is considered a misdemeanor offense and will appear on your criminal record, which could adversely impact future employment prospects - particularly with positions that require security clearance as such convictions are likely to raise red flags with their employers.

Insurance companies will carefully examine your driving record when setting premiums. A reckless driving conviction indicates you as being high-risk driver and may lead them to increase or refuse renewal of coverage altogether.

An experienced Ontario reckless driving accident attorney can assist in mitigating financial losses and protecting your reputation. Economic damages may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and emotional damages; while non-economic damages may be more difficult to assess. You may even be entitled to punitive damages which aim to punish certain actions that exceed compensatory damages.

3. Employee Morale

Studies show that high employee morale can boost productivity and job satisfaction, while low morale has the opposite effect. A reckless driving charge may have an especially damaging impact on employees whose jobs require regular driving for work or those employed at companies with policies imposing penalties such as license suspension or termination upon repeated or serious infractions.

Employers can help reduce these risks by creating a security plan, which includes setting clear rules and consequences for drinking on the job, offering regular alcohol awareness training courses, and quickly responding to reports of dangerous driving in company vehicles. When investigating reported incidents, employers should keep confidentiality in mind and remain impartial; furthermore it's vitally important to document investigations carefully so as to show good faith and due diligence if matters later turn into legal matters; finally it's important to inform all involved parties of results of investigations as well as any disciplinary actions taken during investigations as quickly as possible.

4. Legal Issues

Many people mistake reckless driving charges as minor traffic violations, failing to recognize that they constitute criminal offenses. Being charged with this misdemeanor could mean substantial fines and points added onto a license that result in higher insurance premiums; additionally there could be driver responsibility assessment fees and state surcharges added on top of these financial implications of reckless driving charges. Reckless driving convictions may also prevent them from obtaining professional licenses and finding work, particularly positions which require background clearance checks.

Opting to fight a reckless driving ticket can protect both their long-term driving privileges and finances as well as their reputation. Consulting legal representation early allows an assessment of evidence, witness testimony and procedural integrity relating to how the ticket was issued - opening doors to various defense strategies which might reduce penalties or penalties altogether.