Aggressive driving is a risky behavior that deviates from safe driving practices and the rules of the road. While speeding and weaving through traffic are the most common examples, drivers may also engage in other aggressive behaviors.
If you’ve been in an accident caused by one of these drivers, then an aggressive driving accident lawyer in Chicago is ready to fight for you and get justice.
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., leverages our knowledge, local relationships, and over 75 years of combined experience to help you hold the other driver accountable for their actions.
We support you and help you navigate the claim process to minimize obstacles and maximize compensation. A Chicago car accident lawyer gives you someone in your corner who will make sure you are treated fairly.
How to Proceed After Being Injured in an Aggressive Driving Accident
If you’ve been in an aggressive driving accident, you are likely to experience a mix of emotions. You may also be unsure what to do. The first step to take is to ensure your safety and receive medical attention.
You should also file a police report. These documents create an official record of the accident, and insurance companies will be using police reports in a car accident case to resolve your claim.
Additionally, you should also exchange your contact and insurance information with the other driver so you can pursue a claim. Be sure to take pictures or videos of the scene of the accident, damage to your vehicle, and your injuries so there is clear evidence of what happened and what you lost. If any witnesses were present during the accident, get their contact information and a statement.
After you have left the scene of the accident, you may wonder when you should contact your insurance company after a car accident. Even though you aren’t necessarily filing a claim with them, you should notify them as soon as possible.
Before filing your claim with the other driver’s insurance company, consult a Chicago personal injury lawyer about your options and to protect your rights.
Aggressive Driving is Hazardous for All Motorists
During the most recent report on speeding and aggressive driving prevention by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), they reported that 11,775 people were killed as a result of speeding. This and other aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating, brake-checking, running red lights, and aggressive lane changes, endanger all motorists, including the aggressive driver.
Aggressive driving significantly reduces the time a motorist has to react to hazards and maneuver to avoid an accident. Higher speeds also increase the force of an impact during a collision, which results in more severe injuries and vehicle damage. This may be further exacerbated when larger vehicles are involved in the collisions.
While aggressive driving and road rage are different, aggressive driving has the potential to cross over and become road rage if an aggressive driver becomes angry enough.
To reduce the risk of an accident, it’s important to stay calm, avoid eye contact with the aggressive driver, maintain a consistent speed, and pull off somewhere safe to let them go by. Resist all impulses to engage or be goaded.
A Chicago Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer Establishes the Other Driver’s Liability for the Accident
Aggressive driving puts many people at risk, and victims have the legal right to hold these drivers accountable for their actions. To accomplish this, victims and their lawyers must gather evidence of the other party’s negligence so that their actions can be established clearly and undeniably.
This requires a step-by-step demonstration of the at-fault party’s responsibilities and role in the accident, which include:
- Duty of care: The other driver was responsible for driving safely, adhering to the speed limit, and following all other rules of the road in order to prevent an accident.
- Breach of duty: The other driver violated their duty to you when they engaged in aggressive driving practices.
- Causation: By driving aggressively, the other driver caused an accident that caused you harm.
- Damages: The at-fault driver must pay for the losses they caused, so you have the resources you need to recover.
Opposing parties and their insurance companies will often try various tactics to avoid taking responsibility or paying for your losses. By establishing the other party’s actions as a fact, though, it becomes harder for them to get out of paying you the compensation you deserve.
Your Chicago aggressive driving accident attorney will skillfully negotiate for you, as well as establish the other driver’s liability in your case.
Victims Can Recover Compensation for Losses Sustained in an Aggressive Driving Accident in Chicago
An aggressive driver can cause extensive damage in an accident, especially if they were travelling at elevated speeds. These types of injuries and losses can set you back significantly or be beyond your ability to manage on your own.
As such, you should file an accident claim as soon as possible after an accident to recover compensation for losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of wages or earning capacity
- Property damage expenses
- Funeral and burial costs
- Pain and Suffering
- Lost quality of life
- Lost consortium or companionship
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
Compensation after an accident can go a long way toward getting back on your feet again and returning to the same or similar state you were in prior to the accident.
Lawyers can help you determine which losses are recoverable in your case, and how much you may be able to recover based on the scope of your injuries, insurance, and any shared fault.
Swift Action is Necessary for Recovering Compensation
In order to recover compensation, you must act before the statute of limitations expires or else risk paying for your losses yourself. Per 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, accident victims have two years to resolve their claim.
Despite the seemingly generous timeframe, this can go by quickly, and cases can take a while to fully resolve. Acting quickly also ensures that the evidence in your case is still fresh and viable.
Seek Justice With the Help of Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C.
Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., guides you through the legal process so you can receive the most favorable outcome possible. We provide counsel and walk you through what to expect so you always know what is happening in your case.
An aggressive driving accident attorney in Chicago also advocates for you so you can have peace of mind. Schedule a free case evaluation today to take the first step toward justice.
