Recourse For Road Rage Injuries

October 27, 2021 | Car Accidents

Everyone seems to be in a hurry driving on St. Louis highways and roads today. Consequently, many drivers become angry and aggressive when they feel that other drivers are not traveling fast enough. This emotion, often known as ‘road rage,’ is evident when motor vehicle operators speed, weave in and out of traffic, and tailgate other motor vehicle drivers unreasonably while they are on the road.

When drivers exhibit road rage when they operate their vehicles on busy roadways, including I-64 and I-70, as well as in the Downtown St. Louis or Metro East areas, they increase the chances that they will cause a collision with another motor vehicle—or even worse, with an innocent pedestrian. Since these types of accidents often occur at high rates of speed, usually because the at-fault driver is in a hurry, accident victims can suffer injuries that wind up being debilitating and sometimes permanent.

If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a car or truck accident due to another driver’s road rage, having an experienced lawyer on your side can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. A knowledgeable and experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer can meet with you to discuss how your accident occurred and determine your eligibility for filing a claim for monetary damages.

If you are eligible, a legal team can prepare the claim documents and submit them to the at-fault driver’s motor vehicle insurance company. If the insurance company does not make a favorable settlement offer to resolve your case, they can litigate your case in the Missouri court system.

Seek out a free case evaluation to discover more about how the right law firm can seek monetary compensation for your losses from road rage accidents.

Defining Road Rage

Road rage occurs when a motor vehicle operator responds to a real or imagined roadway situation in an unreasonably aggressive manner. In some instances, the enraged driver might tailgate a vehicle in hopes of getting the driver to speed up. At other times, the at-fault driver might try and cut the other driver off in an attempt to get ahead. The problem with these aggressive maneuvers is that they can lead to serious accidents and injuries.

Some of the most common types of road rage maneuvers that St. Louis drivers exhibit include:

  • Grossly exceeding the posted speed limit signs in a parking lot, parking garage, or road
  • Weaving in and out of traffic quickly and without using the appropriate turn signals
  • Following other vehicles too closely
  • Failing to yield the right-of-way at a traffic intersection when it is appropriate to do so (such as by running a stop sign or red light or attempting to pass a vehicle while traveling through an intersection)

Whenever a driver executes one or more of these risky maneuvers, the driver increases his/her probability of causing a serious accident. Even when other drivers operate their vehicles defensively, they still cannot escape an overzealous and aggressive driver in many circumstances, leading to an accident and serious injuries.

If you suffered injuries in an accident that happened because of a driver’s road rage or aggressive driving, a knowledgeable St. Louis car accident attorney can assist. The right legal team will work hard to discover exactly how the accident happened and determine if road rage played a role in the collision. If it did, they can handle the claims-filing process and negotiate a favorable settlement for your injuries.

Reasons For Road Rage

Road rage can happen for many reasons, none of which justify putting other drivers at risk of harm.

In St. Louis, drivers might feel enraged due to:

  • Heavy traffic on the interstate during rush hour or due to Cardinals or Blues games
  • Stress in the driver’s life that comes out in other ways while driving
  • Using stimulants or other drugs that cause aggression
  • Running late for work or other engagements

Road rage can cause serious crashes and injuries when the driver has other less risky ways of dealing with their stress and impatience.

Types of Motor Vehicle Collisions That Can Result From Road Rage In St. Louis

Many motor vehicle collisions occur in St. Louis that often result from overly aggressive and enraged drivers. One such accident is the classic rear-end collision. These types of accidents can happen on busy highways when drivers speed and do not allow sufficient stopping distance. However, they can also occur at traffic intersections when a driver is in too big of a hurry to move forward and collides with the motor vehicle in front.

Road rage can also lead to sideswipe collisions where the sides of two vehicles brush up against one another while on the road. These accidents are common on busy interstates, where both vehicles are proceeding forward at high rates of speed.

In many instances, these types of collisions happen when a driver fails to use a turn signal when he or she switches lanes—or weaves in and out of highway traffic carelessly and aggressively. In a forceful sideswipe collision, the affected vehicle can get pushed into another highway travel lane—and in some cases, off the road altogether.

T-bone accidents at downtown St. Louis traffic intersections can also result from road rage and aggressive driving. A T-bone accident occurs when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of a vehicle that is moving in an adjacent direction.

These accidents sometimes occur when an overly aggressive driver tries to beat a yellow or red light and get through the intersection in a hurry. When the collision happens, one or both vehicles can spiral out of control, sometimes leading to a massive vehicle pile-up in which numerous drivers and passengers suffer injuries.

If you or someone you love sustained harm in one of these accidents that results from another driver’s aggressive driving maneuver or road rage, you need the right legal representation. An experienced St. Louis car accident attorney can work to prove the legal elements of your claim and recover the damages that you need for your serious injuries.

Common Injuries That Result From St. Louis Road Rage Accidents

Injuries that result from road rage accidents can cause an accident victim to seek out medical treatment, some of which may last for a significant time. In many instances, accidents that happen due to reckless driving and road rage occur at high rates of speed. When a motor vehicle accident involves a significant amount of force, the accident victim’s body can thrash about inside the vehicle, leading to severe injuries.

For example, the accident victim’s body can move abruptly from side to side or forward and backward, causing the accident victim to suffer a neck or back injury. Similarly, the force of the impact might cause an accident victim’s body to strike a part of the vehicle, such as the headrest, steering wheel, dashboard, console, or window.

Some of the best common injuries that accident victims suffer in road rage collisions include:

If you or a person you care about has suffered one or more of these injuries in a road rage accident, your top priority should be to seek the medical care and attention that you need. In many cases, this initial medical treatment involves following up with a primary care doctor or at an emergency room or urgent care center.

The treating healthcare provider at the facility can examine you and undertake the necessary MRIs, X-rays, and other imaging studies that are necessary to assess your post-accident condition. If you require additional medical treatment, your doctor can make the necessary recommendations.

If you suffered injuries in a road rage car collision, you must undertake the necessary medical treatment for your injuries. This means that you should treat continuously and avoid gaps in treatment. Moreover, do not discharge yourself from a particular medical facility. Doing so can have negative consequences for your car accident claim or lawsuit.

An experienced car accident lawyer can handle the legal aspects of your case, all while you complete your medical treatment for the injuries you suffered. Once your treatment is complete, our legal team can set about pursuing monetary compensation on your behalf by way of a favorable settlement offer or jury verdict in your case.

Personal Injury Claims and Lawsuits Arising From Road Rage Accidents

To prevail in a personal injury case stemming from a road rage accident, your attorney must satisfy your legal burden of proof. In other words, the attorney must demonstrate that another driver behaved in a careless, reckless, or unreasonable manner under the circumstances and that your accident and injuries occurred as a result of that breach. Having an experienced attorney on your side can be an invaluable asset when it comes to proving the legal elements of your road rage accident claim.

When you file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver’s motor vehicle insurance company, your attorney will typically submit copies of all of your medical records, bills, lost earnings statements, and other relevant documentation necessary to prove your case. Your attorney may also include copies of the police report, incident report, and a victim impact statement to prove the elements of your claim.

If the insurance company accepts fault for the accident, the adjuster will typically make an initial monetary offer to settle your case. You should always be wary about accepting these initial offers since they typically undervalue your claim. An attorney will negotiate with the insurance company adjuster and work to increase the settlement offer on your case. If the insurance company does not give you the compensation that you deserve, your attorney can file a lawsuit in the court system and pursue a favorable settlement or jury verdict through litigation.

Once a lawsuit begins in a road rage car accident case, the parties will typically engage in discovery, which may include oral depositions. Depositions allow the defense attorney an opportunity to find out what claims the accident victim is making, the injuries that the accident victim sustained, and whether or not the accident victim is claiming permanency. In some cases, after the discovery process is complete, the insurance company may offer more money to resolve the claim.

At other times, the case will have to go all the way to trial, and a jury will have to decide all disputed issues in the case. Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as mediation or arbitration, may also be available to the parties. No matter how your case proceeds, you want the right legal representation.

Potential Damages Available To Accident Victims In St. Louis Road Rage Accident Cases

An attorney can make a claim for all applicable damages for your road rage-related losses. Since Missouri is an at-fault state, the at-fault motor vehicle driver’s insurance company. Potential damages in a personal injury car accident case depend upon the exact injuries the accident victim suffered, as well as the cost and extent of medical treatment. Damages may also increase if the accident victim suffered a permanent injury in the case, as determined by a qualified healthcare provider.

Victims of road rage accidents in St. Louis can recover compensation for all accident-related medical expenses and lost wages. The accident victim can also pursue out-of-pocket costs, as well as compensation for emotional distress, mental anguish, inconvenience, and pain and suffering. A St. Louis car accident attorney can pursue damages in your accident case and work to get you the compensation that you need.

Lawyers
Chris Dixon & Greg Motil

Speak With A St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer About Your Legal Matter Today

An experienced attorney will pursue the monetary compensation and damages that you need for your road rage accident. For a free legal consultation and case evaluation with a knowledgeable St. Louis road rage accident attorney, please contact a law firm you can trust for more information about a possible case.