Negligent driving behavior is by far the number one cause of auto accidents in Washington. Many motorists fail to exercise reasonable care while operating their vehicles, which can lead to catastrophic injuries and fatalities. It’s important to recognize dangerous or reckless driving behaviors and create adequate deterrents to make the roads safer.
If you or someone you love has suffered injuries due to the negligent driving actions of another, you should consult with proven and skilled Spokane personal injury attorneys to hold the at-fault driver accountable for maximum damages.
What Is Negligence Under Washington Personal Injury Law?
Negligence in the context of Washington’s personal injury law is the failure of an individual to exercise a certain minimum level of care that another person reasonably would under similar conditions. To prove that a motor vehicle driver’s negligent behavior led to your accident and injuries, you or your personal injury attorney in Spokane, WA, must establish the following four legal elements:
- Duty of Care: The driver owed you a reasonable duty (such as driving safely or obeying traffic laws).
- Breach of Duty: The driver breached that legal duty through negligent driving behavior or inaction.
- Causation: The breach contributed to or directly caused your accident and injuries
- Damages: You suffered actual harm, such as medical bills, loss of income, and/or pain and suffering.
Common Negligent Driver Behaviors in Washington
Several types of negligent driving behaviors lead to devastating crashes in Washington. These may include:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving behaviors, such as texting while driving, eating, or using a GPS, continue to be the most common and dangerous form of negligence. In Washington, statute RCW 46.61.672 prohibits drivers from:
- Holding a cellphone in their hands while driving
- Browsing the Internet or texting while driving
- Using personal electronic devices even during a traffic signal stop
Violation of the distracted driving laws in Washington leads to a large number of injuries and fatalities on the roads.
Speeding
Speeding is a dangerous driving behavior that lowers the reaction time to road hazards and magnifies the impact of crashes. In Washington, under RCW 46.61.400, motorists are required to operate within the prescribed speed limits and reduce speed in inclement weather conditions, poor lighting, or heavy traffic.
A Spokane, WA personal injury attorney will prove speeding violations using evidence such as citations, surveillance footage, black box data, witness testimonies, or accident reconstructionist reports.
Failure to Yield
Accidents at intersections in Washington usually occur because a negligent driver failed to yield the right-of-way. Common examples of this driving behavior include:
- Failure to yield to oncoming traffic when turning left
- Ignoring yield signs or stop signs
- Not yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks
When these negligent driving behaviors violate the state’s Rules of the Road (such as, RCW 46.61.185), it may constitute a case of negligence per se.
Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Under Washington’s statute RCW 46.61.502, it’s a criminal offense to operate a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. At the same time, violation of this statute constitutes strong evidence in a civil claim for damages.
A seasoned personal injury attorney in Spokane, WA, will aggressively pursue compensation on behalf of the injured victims, which may also include punitive damages in exceptional cases of egregious driving behavior.
Reckless or Aggressive Driving
Dangerous driving behaviors, such as tailgating, running red lights, racing on the streets, road rage, and excessive lane changes may constitute reckless driving under Washington statute RCW 46.61.500. If an accident due to such reckless actions leads to severe injuries or wrongful death, the court may treat this conduct as gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
Fatigued or Drowsy Driving
Road safety experts suggest that driving while fatigued or drowsy can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Commercial truck drivers, shift workers, as well as many passenger vehicle drivers, may indulge in this careless driving behavior of drowsy driving, which lowers their reaction times. Sometimes the driver may fall asleep behind the wheel, leading to a devastating collision.
How to Prove Negligent Driving Behavior Led to Your Car Accident in Washington?
A dedicated Spokane, WA, personal injury attorney will move fast to collect the following types of evidence to establish negligence of the other driver:
- Traffic citations
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Surveillance camera footage
- Vehicle damage or skid mark patterns
- Black box data
- Accident reconstructionist reports
Negligent driving actions are a top cause of accidents and injuries in Washington. If you or someone you love has suffered injuries due to a driver’s negligence, you should consult with a leading personal injury lawyer in Spokane, WA, to pursue financial compensation for injuries and losses.