When a driver is charged with careless driving it can be a very serious matter. A citation for careless driving normally means you should contact a traffic ticket defense lawyer as soon as possible.  Many times the charge is the result of a traffic crash or accident. If the officer makes the allegation of a serious bodily injury, then the consequences can be severe. A person charged with careless driving causing serious bodily injury or death faces mandatory fines and license suspension. The driver cited for careless does not have to injure another person. However the mandatory suspensions for careless driving only come into play if the cited driver has injured or killed another person. Fla. Stat. sec. 318.19

A citation for careless driving is a moving violation that carries three (3) points unless there is an allegation of a crash. A conviction for careless driving causing a crash will result in four (4) points. Many times the charge for careless driving will only involve one vehicle, that of the driver who received the citation. In almost all cases the officer that issued the citation for careless driving will not have witnessed the accident. In those instances you should always hire an attorney to fight your traffic ticket.

In addition to mandatory fines and driver's license suspension, a violation of careless driving resulting in a death can also result in one hundred and twenty (120) community service hours, which is more than required for a DUI!!!

Careless driving whether involving serious bodily injury or death or just a crash where thankfully no person is hurt is a serious traffic offense with potential long term consequences not only to your record but to your insurance. Visit the traffic page of my website or for a free consultation in your traffic ticket or citation, please call or e-mail.