Snohomish County Reckless Endangerment Lawyer

Reckless Endangerment Charges in Snohomish County, WA

Reckless endangerment occurs when a driver puts another person at risk with their driving. Someone can be convicted of reckless endangerment in spite of if they were aware they were posing a danger to others. In other words, intent or awareness doesn’t matter—if someone put another person’s life at risk while driving, they could be charged. Individuals may face reckless endangerment charges for non-DUI-related circumstances, including carrying a weapon while driving or other negligent forms of conduct not related to driving.

If you are facing a DUI or reckless endangerment charge, it’s critical that you seek an aggressive defense lawyer. The team of dedicated Snohomish County reckless endangerment lawyers at DUIHeroes has the resources to protect your interests and fight for your future. With your freedom on the line, you can trust that our firm will fight relentlessly for your rights.

Are you facing DUI charges in Washington? Schedule a free case evaluation with our Snohomish County reckless endangerment attorneys at (425) 296-9358.

Reckless Endangerment Is a Gross Misdemeanor

Washington State law stipulates that an individual is guilty of reckless endangerment when they engage in conduct—with the exclusion of a drive-by-shooting—that places other people at substantial risk for suffering serious physical injury or death. Simply acting in a way that shows any sort of disregard for others with regard to death or physical injury is enough to result in a reckless endangerment charge.

Reckless endangerment is charged as a gross misdemeanor in our state and is punishable by up to $5,000 in fines, up to one year in jail, or both. Other penalties may include probation, driver’s license suspensions and restrictions, and the social repercussions that come with having a criminal conviction.

Reducing DUI Charges to Reckless Endangerment

Reckless endangerment is a criminal charge with a unique relationship to driving under the influence (DUI). Depending on the nature and facts concerning a DUI case, reducing your charge to reckless endangerment may be a viable option. Drivers who are able to successfully reduce a DUI charge to reckless endangerment may reduce their criminal penalties and may not experience any negative impact to their driving privileges.

Motorists who have a prior DUI conviction on their record may also find that reducing their new DUI charge to reckless endangerment allows them to avoid additional driver’s license penalties. It must be mentioned, however, that reckless endangerment can be considered a prior DUI conviction if a driver is charged with a DUI in the future.

There is another key difference between reckless endangerment and DUI: reckless endangerment comes with no mandatory minimum penalties. A DUI conviction comes with a minimum jail sentence, but, depending on the judge, you can go home after a reckless endangerment conviction.

Review Your Options After a DUI Arrest

Reducing DUI allegations to reckless endangerment can be a beneficial defense strategy for many individuals, but it is not always favorable or possible. As such, it is highly advised that anyone facing a DUI charge in Snohomish County, Seattle, Lynnwood, or anywhere throughout Washington State learn more about their available options by speaking with a lawyer. Our Snohomish County reckless endangerment attorneys can help. 

Request a free case consultation and learn more about your legal options—contact us online or call today at (425) 296-9358.