Legal Definitions - reckless endangerment

Reckless Endangerment

Reckless endangerment is a criminal offense that occurs when an individual's actions create a substantial and unjustifiable risk of serious physical injury or death to another person. The person committing the act does not necessarily intend to cause harm, but their behavior demonstrates a significant disregard for the potential danger their actions pose to others.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: A driver, frustrated by traffic, decides to speed excessively through a busy school zone during dismissal hours, weaving around stopped cars and ignoring crosswalks.

  Explanation: The driver's actions of speeding and weaving in a school zone, especially when children are present, create a substantial risk of serious injury or death to pedestrians and other drivers. Even if the driver didn't intend to hit anyone, their disregard for the obvious danger demonstrates reckless endangerment.

• Example 2: A homeowner, performing DIY electrical work, bypasses critical safety measures and leaves live, exposed wires accessible in an area where children frequently play, despite knowing the danger of electrocution.

  Explanation: By intentionally bypassing safety measures and leaving exposed live wires in an accessible area, the homeowner creates a substantial risk of serious injury or death (electrocution) to anyone, particularly children, who might come into contact with them. This behavior shows a reckless disregard for the safety of others.

• Example 3: During a public event, an individual decides to launch powerful, unregulated fireworks directly into a densely packed crowd, rather than into a clear, open space.

  Explanation: Launching powerful fireworks directly into a crowd creates a substantial risk of severe burns, dismemberment, or even death to numerous individuals. The person's action, knowing the explosive nature of fireworks and the proximity of people, constitutes reckless endangerment because they disregarded the extreme danger to the crowd.