Is Negligent Driving More Dangerous Than Drunk Driving?

Of the millions of car accidents that occur in the United States each year, negligent driving is a leading cause, making driver error a significant factor in collisions.

From driving too fast to falling asleep at the wheel, drivers engage in dangerous behaviors daily, causing hundreds of billions of dollars in losses each year. Among the most prevalent—and deadliest—are negligent driving and drunk driving, which together account for a significant portion of the more than 40,000 lives lost annually in car accidents across the U.S.

Determining whether negligent driving or drunk driving is more dangerous is challenging. They are both huge contributors to these tragedies. Here, we’ll explore this question, the differences between negligent and reckless driving, other important data, and more.

If you have been injured in an accident with a negligent, reckless, or drunk driver, we encourage you to get in touch with the committed car accident lawyers at Colling Gilbert Wright. Call us at (407) 712-7300 to schedule a FREE case review. Our attorneys proudly serve our neighbors in Orlando and throughout Florida.

What Is Considered “Negligent Driving”?

Technically speaking, negligent driving encompasses any driving behavior that fails to provide a reasonable degree of care for other drivers on the road, pedestrians, and bicyclists. As such, it can include everything from speeding to driving under the influence.

The term is often used interchangeably with distracted driving, which describes a range of behaviors that take one’s attention off the task of driving. These can include activities like:

• Texting or checking cell phone notifications
• Eating or drinking
• Talking on the phone
• Applying makeup or grooming
• Programming or adjusting GPS
• Talking to passengers

When a driver is engaged in these activities, it can be too easy to make mistakes that—however small they may seem—lead to traumatic accidents.

What Is an Example of Negligent Driving?

There is a misunderstanding that negligent driving is all about what you are (or aren’t) looking at—that is, are your eyes on the road or your device?

However, the CDC has identified three types of distracted driving:

• Visual: Are your eyes on the road?
• Manual: Are your hands on the steering wheel?
• Cognitive: Is your mind focused on driving?

In other words, distracted driving is not just about looking away from the road; it can also include, for example, talking on your phone via your car’s hands-free system since this activity takes your cognitive attention away from the act of driving.

This can make you slower to apply the brakes, more prone to tailgating, and less likely to be mindful of the speed limit—even if you never take your eyes off the road.

What Is the Difference Between Reckless & Negligent Driving?

Generally speaking, negligent driving is not motivated by aggression or anger. More often than not, it’s a product of boredom or curiosity, leading to distracted behaviors that create a dangerous situation as a side effect.

Reckless driving, on the other hand, is more about intentionally dangerous behavior motivated by frustration or anger. Typical reckless driving conduct includes things like:

• Speeding
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Aggressive tailgating
• Running red lights
• Cutting off other drivers
• Failing to yield

These behaviors can be hazardous to other drivers on the road and, unfortunately, are often worsened when someone is driving under the influence.

Which Is More Dangerous: Negligent Driving or Drunk Driving?

Statistically speaking, drunk driving causes more traffic fatalities than anything else. According to the NHTSA, “About 32% of all traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drunk drivers…” This equated to 13,524 fatalities in 2022 alone, or one death every 39 seconds.

When it comes to negligent or distracted driving, the number is much lower. The NHTSA reported that 3,308 people lost their lives due to distracted driving in 2022, although there were also nearly 300,000 people injured in accidents caused by distracted driving.

Ultimately, it can be difficult to compare the two since they are so different. Drunk driving involves a continued altered state of consciousness while distracted driving often starts and stops again as a driver checks their phone or engages in other forms of distracted and negligent driving.

Some studies have concluded that the dangers of using a cell phone while driving “can be as profound as those associated with driving while drunk.” Hence, while it may not cause as many deaths as drunk driving, it still leads to thousands of avoidable fatalities and tens of thousands of injuries each year in the U.S.

Read More: What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Florida?

What To Do If You Are Hit By a Negligent or Reckless Driver

Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, making it difficult to think clearly about how to handle the situation. Here are a few things that should be at the top of the list:

• Get to safety as quickly as possible
• Call 911
• Seek medical attention
• Document the scene
• Exchange information with the other driver

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for negligent and reckless drivers to flee the scene, especially if their actions were clearly the cause of the accident.

In these cases, do your best to document any information you can without compromising your own safety. You may be able to provide witnesses or evidence that could help the authorities track down the other driver.

Read More: What To Do After a Car Accident in Florida

The Trusted Car Accident Attorneys at Colling Gilbert Wright Can Help

There is one more step you should take if you have suffered damages due to a negligent, reckless, or drunk driver: get in touch with an experienced car accident lawyer.

They can help investigate a negligent driving accident, prepare a claim, and also:

• Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf
• Recruit the help of expert witnesses
• Ensure you calculate the full extent of your damages
• Represent you in a court of law if you file a lawsuit for your damages
• And more

At Colling Gilbert Wright, we walk alongside you each step of the way. Let’s work together to pursue the compensation you need and deserve for your damages.

Contact our Orlando car accident lawyers today to get started with a FREE consultation.