Atlanta Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer

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Have you ever engaged in aggressive driving behavior? If not, then you’re in a very small minority. Recent surveys suggest that an overwhelming three out of four (78%) drivers admit to engaging in aggressive driving behaviors at times while behind the wheel.

In most cases, an aggressive driving maneuver is simply an inconvenience, but when an aggressive driving tactic causes an accident, it becomes a serious problem. An aggressive driving accident can lead to injuries, property damage, and even long-term losses.

If you’ve recently experienced losses after a crash here in Georgia and you believe the other driver’s aggression played a role, then it might be a good idea to consult with an Atlanta aggressive driving accident lawyer about your options. Depending on the situation, you may be able to collect financial compensation from the aggressive driver to cover your losses.

What Constitutes Aggressive Driving?

First off, you need to understand what constitutes aggressive driving under the law. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aggressive driving happens when motorists commit traffic offenses that endanger others. These traffic offenses can include behaviors like speeding, brake checking, tailgating, failure to yield, making improper lane changes, failure to obey traffic lights or stop signs, improper passing, and road rage behaviors. While yelling at someone else, honking, or otherwise intimidating motorists isn’t necessarily a traffic offense, it is considered aggressive driving if it causes an accident.

Under the reckless driving law in Georgia, legal liability is attributed to the party who is considered at-fault for the accident. Aggressive driving is considered negligent driving, which means that aggressive drivers can be held liable in court.

The Risks of Aggressive Driving in Atlanta

Aggressive drivers pose a huge risk on the road because these types of driving behaviors can lead to an accident. Aggressive drivers reduce the overall safety of everyone on the road because aggressive drivers are less predictable, intimidating, and force other drivers to compensate for their recklessness.

Immediate Steps to Take After an Aggressive Driving Accident

Car accidents can be traumatic, especially when they result in significant injuries. Even when you’re not severely hurt, you’re still vulnerable after a crash. You’re likely running on pure adrenaline and aren’t thinking clearly. That said, it’s good to know what steps to take after an aggressive driving accident to preserve not only your physical safety but your rights to compensation as well.

Ensure Safety First

The first thing you need to do is ensure everyone’s immediate safety. Traffic accidents can leave you in a dangerous position if you’re on a road with a high speed limit, blind spots, or heavy traffic. That said, you may need to move your car if you think you’re in immediate danger of getting hit again. You might also need to preserve others’ safety. For instance, pedestrian accidents that result in severe injuries may leave a person in the middle of a crosswalk. You may need to create a barrier to prevent cars from continuing to try to flow through the area.

Call 911

If there are any injuries that you believe are serious, then don’t wait to call 911. Reaching out to emergency services will help ensure that the right medical personnel and police officers arrive to the scene as quickly as possible. The medical professionals will provide medical care to those in need and transport them to a hospital if they require more substantial treatment.

If you don’t think your situation is an emergency, then you should still call the non-emergency police line if you think there are any less serious injuries or any property damage. At times, it might be best to call out the authorities regardless to ensure that a proper police report is filed. This is especially important when aggressive driving is a factor in the accident. The officers may decide to write the offending driver a ticket or at least warn them about the seriousness of aggressive driving to prevent similar behavior in the future.

A police report will serve as crucial evidence for you in the future if you later file a claim for compensation.

Document the Scene and Gather Evidence

If you are injured at the scene of the accident, then focus on getting treatment. Otherwise, you might be able to take immediate steps to start documenting the scene and collecting evidence. Consider taking photographs of the accident, the positioning of the vehicles, and anyone present at the scene. If any witnesses are nearby, then ask them to stay and give a statement to police. You can also ask for their contact information in case you need their eyewitness testimony later. You might also want to check around to see if anyone caught the accident on video. Sometimes, nearby drivers recorded the accident on a dash cam. You might also be able to find a surveillance camera from a nearby business or traffic cam that caught the accident on film.

Seek Medical Attention

Once you take care of the immediate aftermath of the accident and talk to police, you should seek out medical attention. Never delay getting medical care. For one, waiting to seek out treatment could make your injuries worse. For another, you could put your chances of filing a claim at risk if you don’t get timely treatment. When you do go to the hospital to get a full physical, be sure to keep a copy of any diagnosis you receive and any medical bills you incur.

Contact an Aggressive Driving Car Accident Lawyer Before Your Insurance Company

You’ll need to inform your insurance company about your accident in a timely manner, but you also want to be cautious about what you say immediately following the crash. Insurance adjusters have an incentive to minimize your claim, so in general, you don’t want to provide them with too many details about your injuries, the accident, or fault until you have a better idea of how you plan on handling your claim. For that reason, it’s usually best to contact a car accident attorney before you call your insurance provider. The right lawyer will either provide you with solid advice you can lean on while you talk to the agents or handle the call for you.

Understanding Insurance and Legal Claims in Reckless Driving Cases

In Georgia, the at-fault driver is considered financially responsible for the fallout of a crash. In reckless and aggressive driving cases, it’s typically the aggressive driver who will bear legal liability for the accident. If you were hurt by an aggressive driver, then you will want to file a claim for compensation with the insurance provider of the aggressive driver. If you get any pushback, then consult with an attorney on what to do next.

Process of Filing a Legal Claim for Aggressive Driving Accidents

After an accident, the injured person is responsible for taking all the steps necessary to secure financial compensation. They’ll need to compile evidence to prove the other driver was aggressive, document all their losses, file the proper paperwork with the insurance provider, and negotiate a fair settlement award. If the other party refuses to offer a fair settlement, then you may have to take your claim to court.

How Our Aggressive Driving Car Accident Attorneys Can Help

After you’ve gone through the steps above, you should have a general idea of the severity of the accident. If your injuries are significant and your losses are adding up, then it’s time to contact an Atlanta aggressive driving accident lawyer. Here at Singleton Law Firm, our attorneys strive to be a massive advantage to you throughout the process. Below, we’ll go over a few ways we can help.

Personalized Legal Strategy

Our firm is unique in that we offer a personalized legal strategy to our clients. We won’t try to utilize the same legal strategy with every client. Instead, we want to learn the specific facts surrounding your accident and losses. We’ll use that information to personally craft a legal strategy that works for you.

Gathering Evidence

Next, we’ll help with gathering the evidence you’ll need to prove your claim. Cases are won or lost at this stage, so we take this very seriously.

Filing Your Claim

Once we’ve built up a solid case, we’ll help you file your claim. We’ll help you with all the right paperwork and ensure that everything is filed accurately the first time.

Dealing with Insurance Companies

Next, we’ll field all the calls from various insurance companies. This is a huge advantage since insurance adjusters are skilled at getting injured individuals to accept low settlements, make seemingly innocent statements that derail their claims, and otherwise derail their own claims.

Fighting for Fair Compensation

One of the biggest advantages of hiring our team is that we’ll fight for fair compensation in your case. We won’t accept a low settlement to simply get a resolution. We are dedicated to securing justice, even if that means taking your case to court.

Settlement Negotiation

We’re skilled negotiators, and we’re ready to fight for justice in your situation. If the other party is attempting to provide you with a low offer, then we’ll fight back with evidence that proves the significance of your losses.

Representing You in Court

If your case goes to court, then we’ll provide powerful representation for you. We’re prepared to lay out your claim to a jury and work towards getting you what we believe you deserve.

Get in Touch With an Car Accident Attorney

Have you experienced an accident that led to significant losses? Do you believe that the other driver’s aggressive tactics contributed to or directly caused your crash? Here at Singleton Law Firm, our team of trusted legal experts are prepared to represent you.

Hiring an Atlanta aggressive driving accident lawyer will prove to be a massive advantage as you go through the process of your claim. Let our lawyers handle the legal aspects of your claim while you focus on what’s most important – recovering physically and mentally from an accident that wasn’t your fault.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do you have more questions? In general, an Atlanta aggressive driving accident lawyer is the best source to consult with for answers since they will consider your specific circumstances. That said, we’ll go over answers to some general questions below.

How do I prove the other driver was driving aggressively?

You’ll need to prove the other driver was aggressive with evidence. This evidence may come in the form of eyewitness testimony, video footage of the accident, a police report, an admission from the other driver, accident scene investigation results, or photographs that reveal the other party’s aggression.

What should I do if the insurance company offers me a quick settlement?

If you get offered a quick settlement, then you need to carefully consider your options. Be wary of accepting an offer that’s less than what you deserve.

Can I claim compensation if I was partially at fault for the accident?

It depends. You might be able to claim compensation if you were partially at fault for an accident as long as you were not more than 50% at fault.

How long do I have to file a claim for an aggressive driving accident in Atlanta?

In general, you have up to two years after experiencing an aggressive driving accident to file a claim.

What type of compensation can I expect from a reckless driving accident claim?

Your compensation award should cover all of your economic and non-economic losses including your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.