Aggressive drivers are negligent, irresponsible, and lack concern for others. If their aggressive driving caused an accident, you can hold them liable for any injuries they caused. The team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC wants to see you get the justice you deserve. If you live in Ohio and are searching for an aggressive driving accident lawyer in Cleveland that can help you fight for your rights, our team can help. We will evaluate the details of your case and determine whether you might be entitled to compensation.
Our lawyers will advocate for you and pursue a settlement that fairly compensates you for the pain and suffering you have endured. Our team offers free, no-commitment consultations. You can call us at (844) 730-0233 to learn more about what we can do for you.
We work on a contingency basis, which means you do not pay any attorney’s fees until we win a verdict or settlement for you.
Examples of Aggressive Driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aggressive driving is when “an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.”
These offenses include:
- Speeding
- Following too closely
- Abruptly changing lanes
- Driving erratically
- Failing to observe traffic signs, ex: running stop signs and red lights
- Disregarding other cars and drivers,
- Improper passing
- Refusing to let other people merge
Road Rage
While aggressive driving can be dangerous and life-threatening, it is distinguished from driving with “road rage”, a crime defined as “an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of one motor vehicle or precipitated by an incident that occurred on a roadway,” according to the NHTSA.
Road rage offenses include:
- Violent behaviors, such as forcing people off of the road
- Blocking drivers from moving, exiting, changing lanes, etc.
- Throwing objects
- Getting out of the car, physically confronting other drivers
- Cursing and making obscene hand gestures
- Intentionally ramming into another vehicle
For a free legal consultation with a aggressive driving accidents lawyer serving Cleveland, call (844) 730-0233
Injuries We Have Seen from Aggressive Driving Accidents
Aggressive driving and “road rage” accidents are traumatic. Even when hit at slower speeds, the impact on the body can be significant enough to cause physical trauma. Practically, injuries suffered at high-speeds tend to be more severe and life-threatening.
Common injuries suffered include:
- Bone fractures
- Soft tissue injuries, such as severe bruising, sprains, or whiplash
- Lacerations, scrapes
- Head injuries suffered when the head hit the windows or dashboard
- Chest injuries from high speed impact on the steering wheel
Cleveland Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
What to Do if You Get into an Accident with an Aggressive Driver
- First, you should call the police. The police will file an official accident report documenting the incident and ensuring you receive accurate identifying information of the other driver.
- Do not get out of your car to exchange information with the other driver unless you feel safe doing so. Otherwise, wait in your car and do so after the police arrive. When exchanging information, try to get a picture of the driver’s license and insurance information.
- Write down all observations and memories you have of the accident as soon as possible. Important details can be quickly and easily forgotten.
- Get the names and contact information of any witnesses at the scene. Ask them to provide feedback or testimony as soon as possible to ensure a more detailed recall of the incident.
- Take pictures of your car and theirs from all angles, if possible.
- Take pictures of your injury and each stage of it to document its progression and severity.
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Proving Negligence for an Aggressive Driving Accident
To win a personal injury claim against the aggressive driver who caused your accident, you must prove negligence. Proving negligence requires a demonstration that the defendant’s irresponsibility and reckless driving interfered with your right to freely and safely operate a motor vehicle. You must be able to show that they infringed on this right, causing you an accident and an injury.
You must prove:
- They are at fault for the accident, and:
- That the accident caused your injury.
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Recoverable Compensation in Your Aggressive Driving Accident Case
When you prove that another driver’s negligence or aggressive driving caused you harm, you are entitled to compensation. There are two different types of compensation you may recover in an aggressive driving injury case:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are any financial losses you have incurred as a result of your accident. These damages are easy to keep track of and verify, because they are usually documented in some way. They include:
- Hospital stays
- Doctor visits
- Medicine
- Testing, x-rays, CT scans, etc.
- Lost wages from missed work
- Lost wages from future work
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages include compensation for the suffering you have endured. This might include:
- Lengthy recovery time
- Loss in quality of life
- Lost time and inconvenience of dealing with your injury
- Potential lifelong complications
Be Wary of Offers from an Insurance Adjuster
Soon after an accident, the other driver’s insurance adjuster will likely try to contact you. It might be wise to speak to an attorney before that conversation happens. It is important to remember that the insurance adjuster is not a neutral party, or a mediator. They work for the other driver’s insurance company and their job is to pay you as little as possible and save themselves as much money as possible.
Anything you say in a conversation with the insurance adjuster can be used against you later in court. Keep in mind that they sometimes try to befriend victims and coax them into making statements that end up hurting their case. For that reason, it is best to be very conscious of what you say when speaking to an insurance adjuster.
Be Aware of the Statute of Limitations
You must file a personal injury lawsuit before the deadline, or the statute of limitations runs out. The statute of limitations is the “expiration date” for your lawsuit. After it has passed, you may be unable to recover compensation through a lawsuit.
The statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit is two years, so the lawsuit must be filed within two years of the exact date of the accident.
We want to ensure you do not suffer any further damage due to the reckless actions of an aggressive driver. If you would like help from a Cleveland aggressive driving accident lawyer, Ben Crump Law, PLLC wants to hear from you. We fight for victim’s rights because they believe everyone deserves justice.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC does not accept payment upfront, because we work on a contingency basis. That means that we do not get paid until we win you a settlement or verdict. We offer free, no-commitment consultations and can be reached at (844) 730-0233.
Call or text (844) 730-0233 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form