Drivers have a duty of care to not put other road users at risk of harm. Aggressive driving occurs when a driver commits more than one traffic offense and endangers other drivers’ lives. According to the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle accidents accounted for approximately 40,231 deaths in 2017.
Insurance companies may try to contact you in hopes of settling your case quickly. This means that they might try to offer you a certain amount of compensation for your injuries. However, this amount may be lower than what you might be entitled to collect based on your damages, yet the insurance company may still try to convince you to accept their offer.
Negotiating with the insurance company can be tough on your own, especially if you are still focused on recovering from your injuries. Fortunately, you have a right to legal representation. If you or a loved one sustained injuries in an aggressive driving accident, you can hire an Abbeville aggressive driving accident lawyer to represent you in your case.
A lawyer may help your case by:
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf
- Drafting and filing legal documents
- Determining the cause of the accident
- Gathering evidence that proves the other party’s liability
- Calculating the costs of your damages
If you would like legal assistance on your aggressive driving accident case, reach out to Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777 to receive a free case evaluation. We can determine where your case stands and take action from there.
Aggressive Drivers Breach Their Duty of Care on the Road
A driver has a duty of care to other road users. This means that they must drive responsibly to avoid putting other road users at risk. The following behaviors often exhibit aggressive driving:
- Failing to signal lane changes
- Speeding and carelessly overtaking other cars
- Following other cars too closely
- Ignoring traffic laws
Failing to signal lane changes when passing other cars can be dangerous. Doing so may put other road users at risk of colliding with the aggressive driver or other vehicles.
Speeding is an aggressive behavior commonly seen on the road. It can reduce a driver’s reaction time and may lead to a driver losing control of their vehicle if they try to avoid a crash at the last second. Speeding and carelessly overtaking other vehicles endangers the lives and property of other road users. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speeding accounts for approximately 16.7 percent of fatal accidents.
A driver who engages in tailgating is also breaching their duty of care. Tailgating amounts to aggressive driving because it increases the likelihood of causing a rear-end accident.
Ignoring traffic laws is one of the main examples of aggressive driving. A driver who refuses to stop at red lights, observe the speed limit, and refuse to give other road users the right of way is engaging in aggressive driving.
Types of Accidents Caused by Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving is a common cause of road accidents, such as:
- Head-on collisions
- Hit and run accidents
- Side impact collisions
- Rear-end collisions
Aggressive driving can lead to head-on collisions if a driver tries to overtake another vehicle without checking if there is oncoming traffic. Head-on collisions may also occur when a driver speeds or races with other road users.
Hit and run accidents occur when a driver hits another vehicle but leaves the scene of the accident before law enforcement arrives and contact information is shared between involved parties. An aggressive driver might leave an accident scene prematurely if they were also engaging in other illegal driving behaviors, such as speeding, drunk driving, or texting while driving.
Side impact collisions often occur when an aggressive driver does not stop at an intersection. Side impact accidents may result in fatalities. Aggressive drivers may also collide with other road users when they fail to signal.
Rear-end accidents occur when the driver crashes into the rear of the front vehicle. This can occur if the aggressive driver was tailgating a vehicle in front of them.
Aggressive drivers may be held liable for any accident they cause. You might be entitled to receive compensated for any injuries you sustain due to an accident caused by an aggressive driver. An Abbeville aggressive driving accident lawyer can help you organize materials and evidence to build a case about your personal injury and damages. Your lawyer can help you create arguments to hold the aggressive driver accountable for their actions.
Call Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers today at (337) 777-7777, and get your case reviewed for free.
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You May Receive Punitive Damages After an Aggressive Driving Accident
Punitive damages serve as a punishment for the defendant in an effort to prevent them from committing the same offenses in the future. These awards are rarely given out, but in cases where exemplary negligent actions were taken, you might be able to receive them when pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.
You might receive punitive damages from the liable party if you can prove that:
- The driver acted in an unreasonable manner and caused you harm
- The driver breached of their duty of care
- The injuries you sustained are due to the accident
- The court should punish the driver because they have a history of aggressive driving
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
Hire an Abbeville Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer to Work on Your Case
If you sustained injuries in an aggressive driving accident, you can hire a lawyer to help you with your personal injury claim or lawsuit. An Abbeville aggressive driving accident lawyer can help you fight for you to receive compensation for your damages by investigating and gathering evidence against the liable party’s defense.
Call (337) 777-7777 today to get a free case evaluation from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULTATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
