Cape Girardeau Aggressive Driving Accidents

Aggressive driving is a factor in more than 6 out of every 10 auto accidents in Missouri. It is a factor in about 50% of the motor vehicle accidents nationwide. Aggressive driving occurs when a person violates a traffic law, endangering other drivers and vehicles. It can include speeding, following too closely, making erratic lane changes, running red lights or stop signs, reckless driving, driving on the shoulder or in the median, passing in no-passing zones, failing to use turn signals, and failing to yield the right of way to other drivers.

Aggressive driving collisions can cause serious or life-threatening injuries such as broken bones, neck and back injuries, brain injuries, and death. Victims of aggressive driving car crashes may seek monetary recovery in the form of compensatory and sometimes punitive damages. Compensatory damages are intended to reimburse you for your losses and to put you back in the same position you were in prior to accident, to the fullest extent possible. Compensatory damages include lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost future earnings, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. Punitive damages, on the other hand, are intended to punish drivers for their wrongdoing. These damages are only awarded in cases in which the at-fault driver’s conduct was particularly egregious, such as in road rage or aggressive driving cases.

As with any other auto accident, a person injured in an aggressive driving accident must prove that his or her injuries were caused by the aggressive driver’s negligence or recklessness. In some accidents, the responding law enforcement office will decline to issue any citations or otherwise determine which driver was at fault for the accident. In many cases, the drivers’ descriptions of the accident will be conflicting, as each driver will tell the officer a different version of what happened. In those cases, it is especially important to seek the assistance of an experienced car accident attorney in the Cape Girardeau area who can immediately begin investigating the claim, interviewing eyewitnesses, and preserving evidence from the scene of the accident. Otherwise, the aggressive driver may point the finger at you for the accident, causing his or her liability insurance carrier to contest your bodily injury claim. If an aggressive driver tries to blame you after an accident, consult a knowledgeable attorney who will fight for you so the aggressive driver can be held responsible.