Negligence and recklessness are not synonymous

Being in a car accident with a reckless or negligent driver in Florida can lead to thousands of dollars in damage to your car, plus weeks or months of recovery from personal injury. While the difference between negligence and recklessness is simple, the consequences associated with each are not.

More often than not, getting in a wreck with another driver that falls under one of these categories will be classified as negligence. In these cases, the driver unknowingly endangered the lives of those around them, or at least did not have the intent of doing so. A classic example is a driver looking down for a moment to answer a text, only to rear-end the car in front of them.

Recklessness is a much more serious offense. This type of charge comes about when the driver knowingly commits specific actions with the intent of harming others around them. This can also include doing something that you should know is extremely dangerous, like drunk driving or street racing. While negligence is generally due to carelessness or ineptitude, recklessness involves a conscious decision.

The State of Florida takes reckless driving very seriously. On the first offense, you could face up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $500. Any offense after that could result in up to 6 months in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000. And that’s just for reckless driving; it does not include punishment for drunk driving, injuring someone else or other charges.

If you have been in a car crash due to a negligent or reckless driver in Lake County, it is probably in your best interest to contact an expert attorney. You may be entitled to compensation for any pain and suffering.