As a driver in Colorado, you may have to deal with accident and injury risks, including aggressive, reckless and road rage drivers. Knowing what to do if you get into a car accident with a dangerous driver can help you protect your rights. If necessary, you have the right to hire a Denver car accident attorney to help you hold an aggressive driver responsible for your crash in Denver.
Aggressive driving refers to a pattern of behavior where a motor vehicle driver is driving erratically or dangerously, often due to feelings of anger or frustration. An aggressive driver may be frustrated due to congested traffic, for example, and express this emotion with dangerous traffic violations.
Examples of aggressive driving include:
Aggressive driving may be a warning sign that a road rage incident is about to occur. Road rage is a violent reaction by a driver toward other road users, often triggered by an emotional response to traffic conditions or personal problems. Road rage can escalate into acts of violence, such as intentionally ramming a car, pursuing another driver for confrontation or retaliation, or exiting the vehicle to physically assault the other driver.
There is no specific criminal statute in Colorado that prohibits “aggressive driving.” However, there are laws against specific driving behaviors that are often exhibited by angry, enraged and aggressive motorists. These include laws against speeding, making unsafe lane changes, running red lights, excessive speeding and street racing. There are also criminal statutes against assault, battery, vehicular assault and vehicular manslaughter.
If you get involved in a car accident or altercation with an aggressive driver in Denver, try to stay calm and call for help. Report the incident to local law enforcement by calling 911 as soon as possible. Remain inside your vehicle with the doors locked until the police arrive. If you do not feel safe pulling over at the scene of the incident, drive directly to the nearest police precinct.
If you suffered any injuries in the accident, get medical care immediately. Document the incident and your injuries in detail. Keep copies of files such as the police report and your medical records. Take photographs while you are still at the scene and speak to eyewitnesses, if possible. When you are ready to pursue financial compensation for your medical bills and property damage, file a claim with the aggressive driver’s car insurance company.
Even if you have evidence that another driver was behaving aggressively and caused your automobile accident, his or her car insurance company may deny liability or refuse to offer a fair settlement. Car insurance companies tend to protect their profits more than their clients.
If you have a complicated car accident claim or severe injuries from the event, you can most likely benefit from hiring an experienced attorney to represent you. Your attorney can go up against the aggressive driver’s insurer on your behalf to pursue maximum financial compensation for your losses.
To speak to a car accident attorney about your recent experience with an aggressive or road rage driver in Denver, contact Fang Accident Lawyers for a free case evaluation.