How reckless driving is different than negligent driving

Negligent driving is what leads to most car accidents. People make mistakes. A driver at a four-way stop goes out of turn and hits another vehicle. A driver on their phone does not see a red light and accidentally runs the light, hitting a motorcycle that is proceeding through the intersection. There are countless examples of negligent mistakes.

Recklessness, however, is a bit different. Under Washington law, someone can be charged with reckless driving if they show “willful or wanton disregard” for the safety of others around them. They know that someone else could be injured as a result, and they do not care. Not only could they cause a crash, but this could also lead to criminal charges.

Why do people drive recklessly?

One of the main reasons why people drive recklessly is just that they are in a hurry. You may have seen someone driving 100 miles an hour on the interstate, weaving back and forth between the lanes, passing other vehicles on the left and the right. All of this is very dangerous, but that person may be feeling a lot of outside stress or pressure, such as if they are late for work.

In some cases, especially with young drivers, people will drive recklessly for the thrill of it. This is what leads to things like two drivers racing each other down the interstate. They think that it is fun and exciting, and they may believe that they are skillful enough drivers to avoid an accident. But most crashes happen because of human error, so there is a high chance they are eventually going to cause an accident and someone else may suffer injuries.

If you are the innocent party who is involved in that crash, then you may be able to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more.

Matthew D. Dubin

Matthew D. Dubin has represented injured people throughout Washington since 1995. He is the founding attorney of Dubin Law Group and focuses his practice on personal injury claims involving motor vehicle accidents, dangerous products, premises liability, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death.

Education

• License Number: 25378
• University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington – J.D.
• Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut – B.A.

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