Road rage incidents can lead to very serious harm. A motor vehicle is a dangerous weapon. It is heavy and capable of very fast speeds. When an angry person chooses to drive negligently, recklessly, or with intent to harm others, the danger is great. When another driver's road rage is the cause of your injuries, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit against that person and receive compensation for your injuries.
If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed as the result of a road rage automobile accident in Denver or the greater Denver metropolitan area, an experienced personal injury attorney at accidentdenver.com can fight for the financial compensation you deserve.
Road Rage Related Car Accident Lawyers in Denver, Colorado
If you were involved in a road rage related car accident in Denver or the surrounding areas, the other driver should be held responsible for the injuries you suffered as a result. The dangers of road rage are all too real, and when others are harmed because of the temper of another driver, the injured driver should not be responsible for those costs.
No matter how small or how big your case may be, the accidentdenver.com team will keep you informed every step of the way throughout the process and they will handle every detail seamlessly to put you on the road to recovery. Our team at accidentdenver.com pride themselves on clear, honest, and open communication with each and every one of their clients.
Our attorneys at accidentdenver.com take cases on a contingency basis, which means that you pay nothing until your case has reached a favorable resolution. Let us put our years of experience to work for you and your loved ones.
Road Rage Accidents in Colorado
Road rage is an all too common cause of Denver car accidents. Road rage can be defined in many different ways, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines road rage as "angry and violent behaviors at the extreme of the aggressive driving continuum." It defines aggressive driving as "dangerous on the road behaviors."
Road rage is an incredibly dangerous thing to deal with, especially in highly congested roadways and highways such as those found in Denver. Those enraged and behind the wheel often want to scare others or get some type of revenge upon them for some perceived or actual wrong that occurred against them.
Typical Road Rage Actions
Road rage can take a great many different forms, but some of the most common include, but are not limited to:
- speeding
- intentional use of high-beam lights to blind another driver
- cursing, using profanity, or rude hand gestures (i.e., using the middle finger)
- weaving in and out of traffic
- tailgating (following too closely)
- excessive honking of the car horn
- driving close to another driver
- firing a weapon at another driver
- illegally passing or changing lanes
- flashing headlights constantly
- cutting off other vehicles
- running stop signs or red lights
- throwing things at other drivers
These types of actions can easily lead to a very serious accident, whether the other driver intended to cause it or not. This type of behavior can be used to show to the court and the jury that it was the other driver that caused the accident.
When the Road Rage was "My Fault"
Some people mistakenly believe that when the road rage was caused by something they did, that they will not be able to file a lawsuit. Take this example.
Example: Johnny was driving on the highway and attempted to cross into the next lane, not realizing Frank was in his blind spot. Frank honked loudly, and Johnny swerved back into his lane at the last second, narrowly avoiding hitting Frank. Frank gets angry and chooses to get behind Johnny, tailgate him within a foot of his bumper, and honk loudly and continuously. Frank then drives beside Johnny's driver-side door, crossing over his lane and within two feet of Johnny's vehicle, when suddenly he hits Johnny's car, causing a major accident.
This dangerous behavior engaged in by Frank is the type of road rage behavior that can get people extremely hurt or even killed. Although many people would be angry or upset at Johnny for not checking his blind spot, Frank's choices after the "near miss" are illegal, unsafe, and negligent (or even reckless). It does not matter that Johnny almost hit Frank, as that is not the cause of the eventual accident—Frank's road rage was the cause.
Proving Road Rage
You do not have to actually prove the other driver was angry or enraged. Instead, you only need to prove that the actions of the other driver were the cause of the accident. However, if you and your attorney can prove that the type of behavior constituted road rage, it can lend credibility to your case, and make it easier to prove that the other driver was the cause of the motor vehicle accident.
Road rage can be proven by presenting evidence such as:
- traffic camera footage
- eyewitness testimony
- admissions by the other driver
- your testimony
- physical evidence that supports your version of events
- a history of violent or angry behavior by the other driver
If you can successfully and effectively prove that road rage played a part in your injuries, you may also be entitled to a type of damages called punitive damages that are above and beyond your actual costs and are designed to punish certain types of liable parties. Your personal injury attorney can help you know if punitive damages may be available in your case.
Consult an Experienced Denver Road Rage Related Auto Accident Lawyer
When road rage is the cause of an accident, you should not be responsible for the costs of that accident. Another person's temper should not be allowed to deprive you of your health or financial freedom. You have rights that deserve to be protected by a knowledgeable attorney.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in the greater Denver metropolitan area, please do not hesitate to contact accidentdenver.com today at 303-642-8888 for a free consultation. We are here waiting for you.