In California, aggressive driving is both dangerous and illegal. If an aggressive driver caused your car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. You should not have to pay for another person’s reckless behavior or wrongdoing. A Long Beach aggressive driving accident lawyer can help you seek compensation for the costs of your accident and injuries. To learn more about how a lawyer can serve you, contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 today.
About Aggressive Driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aggressive driving is behavior that endangers or is likely to endanger others on the road. Road rage is severe aggressive driving in which the driver engages in intentionally violent behavior behind the wheel.
Aggressive driving behaviors include cutting off other vehicles, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, following too closely, and disobeying stop lights and signs. Road rage might include purposely sideswiping another vehicle, running another car off the road, ramming into another vehicle, or throwing an object at another driver. Your lawyer can help you prove your accident was caused by an aggressive driver using any surveillance or cell phone videos that may exist and statements from witnesses.
Aggressive Drivers May Face Charges in Criminal and Civil Court
Vehicle Code (VEH) § 23103 makes it a crime for anyone in California to drive on a highway with “willful or wanton disregard” for the safety of another person or their property. Drivers who do so are guilty of reckless driving and may face punishment, including imprisonment for five to 90 days in county jail and/or fines up to $100,000.
If a driver deliberately strikes another vehicle with their car on purpose, it could be considered assault and battery under Penal Code (PEN) § 245. This crime comes with a state prison sentence of two to four years, or one year in county jail, as well as a fine of up to $10,000.
The state brings criminal charges, but if an aggressive driver caused your crash, you can bring charges against them in civil court. A Long Beach aggressive driving accident lawyer can help you file a lawsuit or seek compensation via an insurance settlement.
For a free legal consultation with a aggressive driving accidents lawyer serving Long Beach, call (844) 730-0233
Civil Awards
A lawsuit allows you to seek awards for the physical and emotional costs of your accident. Medical costs, like surgeries, hospitalizations, physical therapy, and future procedures, are considered economic damages. These include other past and future losses you can quantify, including your lost wages and damaged property.
You may also sue for non-economic damages. There are no concrete values you can use to figure these awards. Rather, they attempt to compensate you for your pain and suffering. For example, if you lost a leg in your accident, you could be compensated for how this affects your capacity to enjoy life. You may not be able to play sports you once played or help your spouse with certain household chores. These damages also award you for mental anguish, including conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or insomnia, caused by your accident.
In cases involving severely aggressive driving, the court may penalize the plaintiff with punitive damages. These are damages the court can order a defendant pay as punishment for their wrongdoing if they acted with a willful disregard for the safety of others. These damages may be available to you if an aggressive driver intentionally caused your accident.
If your loved one died from injuries they suffered in an aggressive driving accident, you can sue for their final medical costs and burial and funeral costs. You may also be able to seek awards for your loss of consortium and loss of financial benefits your loved one may have provided had they lived.
One important thing to keep in mind about a lawsuit is you will be bound by the statute of limitations. Under Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) § 335.1, you have two years to initiate a suit for personal injury or wrongful death. If more than two years have elapsed since your accident or your loved one’s death, you may not be able to pursue your case.
To learn more about the awards you can receive in a lawsuit, get in touch with Ben Crump Law, PLLC today.
Long Beach Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer Near Me (844) 730-0233
Insurance Settlements
Before taking your case to civil court, your lawyer may attempt to settle your claims through an insurance settlement. California is an at-fault insurance state. Drivers must carry liability insurance coverage to pay for bodily injuries or property damages they cause. According to the California Department of Insurance, the law mandates drivers to carry a minimum liability policy of $15,000 for bodily injury to one person and $30,000 for injury to two people or more. The minimum property damage liability is $5,000.
If you were seriously injured or your vehicle was destroyed, it is likely your damages exceed these minimums. If the driver who caused your crash does not have additional, optional coverage, or if the amount the insurance company offers does not cover your costs, you may win a higher settlement in court. Also, insurance claims do not include non-economic damages. There is no statute of limitations for filing an insurance claim, but it is best to begin the process as soon as possible following your accident.
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Helping Accident Victims Across the County
At Ben Crump Law, PLLC, we know that accidents can happen through no fault of your own. When someone else’s dangerous driving decisions lead to injuries and death, they should be responsible for their actions. We want to help you seek awards to aid in your recovery and help you and your family move forward through this difficult time.
A Long Beach aggressive driving accident lawyer is here to serve you. Whether it is trying to get you the best insurance settlement or taking your case to court, our goal is to successfully settle your case. In fact, we do not collect a fee unless we win. To find out more, call our team at (844) 730-0233 for a no-cost consultation.
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