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5 Common Examples of Negligent Driving

News / August 19, 2022

Every driver must operate a motor vehicle responsibly and with caution. Although, many accidents that occur on roads each day are attributed to negligent acts behind the wheel. At times, preventable accidents lead to fatalities or varying injuries for survivors of collisions. While it’s impossible to prepare for an accident or reverse the damage caused in a collision, understanding common examples of negligent driving may help you understand the cause and how an experienced attorney may help you recover compensable damages. 

By filing a claim or lawsuit against a negligent driver, many injured people can recover compensation for varying short and long-term injuries and life changes. Our injury lawyer at Hollis Law Firm may help you recover compensation for your injuries and damage. 

How Is Negligent Driving Defined According to the Law? 

Every state may differ in the definition of negligent or reckless behavior behind the wheel. Although, negligent driving is generally considered to be any behavior of the driver that disregards the safety of other people and property.

In Kansas, statute 8-1566 explains a reckless driving scenario as follows: 

“…Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving…”  

If a driver causes an accident because of dangerous, reckless, or negligent behavior, they may face misdemeanor charges, fines, and a civil lawsuit from the injured. Since the explanation for negligent drivers may seem broad, there are varying scenarios that may constitute negligent or reckless driving. 

5 Common Examples of Negligent Driving Cases 

If you have been in a car accident caused by another driver, preventable and negligent behavior may have caused the collision. Understanding common types of negligence behind the wheel of a car may help you understand how and why the other driver is at fault. Additionally, proving negligence in a car accident case helps build your claim and ability to recover compensatory damages. 

Common examples of negligent driving include: 

1. Speeding or Racing 

Excessive speeding or street racing is against the law and contributes to many accidents yearly. By speeding or illegally street racing, negligent drivers limit their ability to react and adjust fast enough, increasing the chances of an accident. Additionally, excessive speeding or multiple traffic offenses may cause enhanced fines and criminal charges for the driver depending on the accident’s circumstances. 

2. Tailgating 

Many drivers use tailgating in a fit of road rage or attempt to intimidate drivers and get them to move out from in front of them. Tailgating accidents typically cause the rear driver to rear-end the vehicle in front and may result in serious injury for the front driver. Due to their negligent acts, the liable party in a rear-end collision may be held responsible for the damages and financial compensation. 

3. Drunk Driving

In 2019, twenty-two percent of traffic fatalities in Kansas were attributed to alcohol-impaired drivers. Drunk driving is against the law and a common form of negligent driving. When impaired drivers get behind the wheel of a car, they risk the safety of other drivers sharing roads and highways.

4. Disregarding Traffic Laws 

Another common form of negligence while driving is disregarding traffic laws. Negligent drivers often cause accidents by: 

  • Failing to yield to the right of way
  • Failing to stop at a stop sign
  • Failure to stop at a red light 

Depending on the circumstances of an accident, the negligent driver is often held liable because they did not act with caution and disobeyed a law. At times, criminal charges and a civil case may await a driver that caused a collision by disobeying traffic laws. 

5. Weaving in and Out of Traffic 

Weaving in and out of traffic and making illegal passes or lane changes increases the risk of causing a collision on roads and highways. Drivers who swerve or move into lanes with limited space between cars leave no time to react or brake fast enough to prevent an accident with surrounding vehicles. Sideswiping, head-on collisions, rear-end accidents, and other crashes may result from weaving through traffic. 

How Can an Attorney Help Me After a Car Accident Caused by a Negligent Driver?

After enduring injuries in a car accident caused by negligence, many injured people suffer from the effects of physical injuries, monetary losses, financial hardship, and other damages. Seeking help from an attorney after an accident may help you feel more at ease throughout the process. Especially in the case of a lawsuit, an attorney’s negotiation skills, accident reconstruction, and valuable legal knowledge can help you put your best foot forward in any car accident case. 

Contact Hollis Law Firm for an Experienced Reckless Driving Accident Lawyer to Help Your Case 

Depending on the circumstances and negligent acts surrounding a car accident, every case is different and can result in varying effects for the injured person. Securing proof of negligence and determining liability may be challenging in a state with comparative negligence rules. Despite this, an experienced lawyer at Hollis Law Firm may help you gather evidence, negotiate a settlement, and help ensure your rights are protected from the negligent party’s tactics in refuting a claim. 

We understand the damage and life changes that follow a car collision, especially if a family member is involved in a fatal accident. With the right attorney in Kansas and Missouri, your case may benefit from professional legal resources that support your case. Complete a contact form or call (800) 701-3672 to schedule a case review.