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DANGEROUS AND RECKLESS DRIVING OFFENCES

If you have been charged with a dangerous or reckless driving offence, the financial penalties and punitive sanctions the Court can impose are severe and can have deleterious effects on your reputation, family relations and work prospects.

At GMH Legal, we provide sophisticated legal support and emotional guidance to people who have been involved in a serious motor vehicle accident. Our traffic lawyers will use their expertise to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding your case and vigorously represent your interests during the course of negotiations and in court if your matter proceeds to trial. We can provide you with advice and representation on the following offences;

* Dangerous driving cause death: This offence is committed when someone causes the death of another person whilst driving and at the time of impact, the driver was either under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or a drug, or driving at a speed or manner to dangerous to others. The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years imprisonment, though if the offence is committed under aggravated circumstances, the maximum penalty becomes 14 years imprisonment.
* Dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm: This offence is committed when someone causes another person to suffer grievous bodily harm, which basically means an injury of a ‘really serious kind’, whilst driving. At the time of impact, the driver must have been either under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drug, or driving at a speed or manner dangerous to others. The maximum penalty for this offence is 7 years imprisonment, though if offence is committed under aggravated circumstances, the maximum penalty becomes 11 years imprisonment.
* Negligent driving causing death: This offence is committed when someone causes the death of another person whilst driving, and at the time of impact, the driver was driving in a negligent manner. For a first offence, the maximum penalty is 18 months imprisonment and/or a fine of $3,300. For a second or subsequent offence, the maximum penalty is 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $5,500.
* Negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm: This offence is committed when someone causes another person to suffer grievous bodily harm whilst driving and at the time of impact the driver was driving in a negligent manner. For a first offence, the maximum penalty is 9 months imprisonment and/or a fine of $2,200. For a second or subsequent offence, the maximum penalty is 1 year imprisonment and/or a fine of $3300.
* Driving in a manner dangerous to the public: This offence is committed when a person drives a motor vehicle on a public road in a manner that is considered by the court as being dangerous to the public. If a motorist drives at a speed or in a manner that is potentially dangerous to other people in the vicinity, for a first offence, the court can impose an imprisonment term of up to 9 months, suspend your license for an unlimited period, or issue a fine of $2200. For a second or subsequent offence, the court can impose an imprisonment term of up to 1 year, suspend your license for an unlimited period, or issue a fine of $3300.
* Driving at a speed dangerous to the public: This offence occurs when a person drives a motor vehicle furiously, recklessly, or at a speed or in a way that is dangerous to the public. The maximum penalty for this offence is 9 months imprisonment or a $2,200 fine for a first offence, and 1 years imprisonment or a $3,300 fine for a second or subsequent offence.
At GMH Legal, our traffic lawyers have the expertise and technical proficiency necessary to advise you on all your legal options and potential defences. We will also advise you in relation to other methods of maximizing your prospects of securing a favourable outcome in court, such familiarizing you with the Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program.

In addition, we have the connections necessary to retain expert driving reports in order to maximize your prospects of success, including pharmacological and crash investigation or crash reconstruction reports. These are the sort of resources and additional information that will make your case stand out in court and increase your chances of securing the best possible outcome in the circumstances.

If you have been charged with one of the offences listed above, please contact one of our expert traffic lawyers as soon as possible.