Here are a few of Missouri’s most common traffic citations and what they could indicate about the other driver’s carelessness and the cause of your accident.
If you have been injured in a car accident and are planning to pursue a claim, you’ll need to provide strong evidence of the other driver’s negligence to have a shot at receiving compensation. Traffic citations can serve as this type of evidence. But what do different types of traffic citations mean, and how can they help your case? Below is a rundown of Missouri’s most common traffic citations and what they could indicate about the other driver’s carelessness and the cause of your accident.
Speeding
Speeding is, by far, the most common traffic violation. It’s also one of the easiest violations to spot on a police report. If the other driver was speeding at the time of the accident, that is solid evidence that they were not driving safely and that their negligence contributed to the accident.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is another serious traffic offense that can be used as evidence of negligence. This includes offenses such as running red lights, making illegal U-turns, or tailgating. Any time a driver breaks the law or drives in a way that endangers others, they can be cited for reckless driving.
Failing to Yield
Failing to yield means failing to give the right of way to another driver who has the right of way. This can happen when turning, merging onto highways, or pulling out from side streets. Failing to yield is often considered a more minor offense than speeding or reckless driving. However, it can still be used as evidence of negligence if it played a role in causing an accident.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
DUI refers to operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. DUIs are one of the most serious types of traffic offenses and can lead to major accidents. If the other driver was driving under the influence at the time of your accident, it’s highly likely that their negligence caused the collision.
Careless Driving
Careless driving is generally a catch-all category for less serious offenses that still demonstrate negligence on a driver’s part. This can include things like failing to signal when changing lanes or not yielding the right of way. Careless driving offenses are often subjective, which means they can be open to interpretation by adjusters and judges. However, if there is a citation detailing the other driver’s careless actions, it can still be used as evidence of negligence.
While traffic citations don’t always indicate that the other driver was negligent, they can be helpful pieces of evidence in building your injury claim. So if you’ve been injured in an accident, be sure to check whether any traffic citations were issued as part of your investigation into whether you have grounds for a claim.
St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact The Hoffman Law Firm today for a free consultation with an experienced St. Louis car injury attorney. We have over 20 years of experience and a proven track record of fighting for and recovering the compensation injury victims need to move forward.
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