While most motor vehicle collisions occur due to careless and accidental behavior, others are due to the intentional misconduct of motorists, such as those involving road rage. Colorado ranks third in the nation for road rage. Road rage puts all motorists at risk. If you were injured in a road rage accident, even if you were not the intended target, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
An experienced car accident lawyer in Denver can investigate your case and identify your options for economic recovery.
What Is Road Rage?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration describes aggressive driving as operating a motor vehicle in a way that endangers or is likely to endanger people or property. Aggressive driving might include speeding, following too closely, making unsafe lane changes, running red lights, or repeatedly violating traffic laws.
AAA characterizes road rage as an extreme form of aggressive driving. Road rage occurs when a driver is angry and violent. Sometimes, these situations escalate to criminal offenses.
Examples of Road Rage
Road rage may include the following behaviors:
- Yelling and cursing at other drivers
- Ramming a vehicle into another driver
- Driving so closely to another driver in a way that pushes them off the roadway
- Following another driver to their home or business
- Shooting, stabbing, or otherwise assaulting another motorist
Differences in a Criminal Case and a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Road rage can have criminal and civil consequences. Criminally, a person who intentionally causes a crash can face criminal charges for vehicular assault or other crimes. This can result in the defendant being sentenced to jail, having to pay fines, and being subjected to other criminal penalties.
In a civil case, the car accident victim can pursue financial compensation for the harm they suffered due to the at-fault driver’s wrongful conduct. Through a personal injury claim, you can recover compensation for:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses related to the accident
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Mental anguish
In cases involving intentional or reckless misconduct, you may be able to recover more compensation in non-economic damages and be eligible for punitive damages under Colorado law.
How to Prove Road Rage Caused an Accident
To recover compensation, you will need to prove the other driver was at fault for the crash. Evidence may be able to help demonstrate this, such as:
- Accident reports
- Witness statements
- Statements the driver made to law enforcement or others
- Video surveillance
- Photos of the accident scene
- Skid marks, property damage, and other physical evidence
Your attorney can take the steps necessary to gather and preserve compelling evidence in your case.
Call Us for a Free Case Review
If you were injured due to road rage, you should not have to pay the consequences for someone else’s wrongful conduct. An experienced car accident attorney from Dulin McQuinn Young can review your case during a free consultation. Call us today at (303) 246-1111 to discuss your legal rights during a free and confidential case review.