Aggressive Driving Accidents
Even a careful, law-abiding driver in Utah can still experience a serious car accident, especially when they share the roadway with an aggressive driver. Aggressive driving is a growing problem across the U.S., including in Utah, where regular delays, congested roadways, and frequent construction all contribute to driver frustration and aggressive driving. When an aggressive driver takes unnecessary chances or behaves recklessly behind the wheel, the results can be a serious accident and injury to other motorists.
Reach out to a Salt Lake City car accident attorney to pursue financial compensation for your injuries.
Call our firm today at (385) 404-6398.
Examples of Aggressive Driving In Utah
An alarming AAA study found that 96% of surveyed drivers admitted to engaging in at least one aggressive driving behavior during the year before the survey. Nearly all drivers surveyed also reported witnessing others driving aggressively while sharing the roadway. Common examples of aggressive driving in Utah include the following:
- Excessive speeding
- Cutting off other vehicles in traffic
- Making unsafe lane changes or weaving through traffic
- Aggressively tailgating
- Horn-honking out of anger
- Passing in emergency lanes or on the shoulder of the road
- Flashing high-beams at other drivers
- Brake-checking, or cutting in front of another driver and then slowing down, or repeatedly hitting the brakes in front of another car
- Running through stop signs or red lights
- Intentionally blocking another vehicle from changing lanes
In the worst examples, aggressive driving can escalate into road rage behaviors, such as yelling, making rude gestures, or physical confrontations.
What Types of Accidents Happen From Aggressive Driving In Utah?
Sharing the road with an aggressive driver can be frightening, particularly in congested traffic when it’s difficult to get out of the way. The most common types of accidents resulting from aggressive driving include the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone accidents in intersections
- Sideswipes
- Forced roadway departures
- Head-on collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Multi-car pileups
Aggressive driving accidents often result in serious or even catastrophic injuries, since aggressive drivers are often exceeding the speed limit when they cause the accident. Crash force becomes more powerful with increased speed, escalating the chances of severe injury to both the speeding driver and other motorists in a collision.
Aggressive Driving and Utah’s Fault-Based Accident Law
Unlike the handful of states with no-fault car accident laws, in Utah, it matters who causes a car accident. Under Utah Code Section 78B-5-818, the state operates under a modified comparative negligence system. This system assigns fault to each party involved in a traffic accident. In most cases, when an aggressive driver causes a car accident in Utah, they can be held fully liable for an injury victim’s damages. Common damages recovered in Utah aggressive driving claims include total past and future medical expenses, total income loss, and compensation for pain and suffering. Catastrophic injury compensation may also be available in cases of severe permanent injury that requires projecting the total life-plan costs of a disability.
How Does a Utah Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer Help My Case?
After suffering the terror and trauma of an accident caused by an aggressive driver, you have the right to seek compensation for your accident-related losses. Compensation typically comes from the aggressive driver’s insurance. Unfortunately, insurers are not on your side, especially when you have a substantial claim. They may actively undermine your claim by attempting to assign you an undue portion of fault to reduce the amount they must pay you by your assigned percentage of fault. Hiring an experienced injury lawyer in Salt Lake City increases your chances of a favorable result.
Call Handy & Handy at (385) 404-6398 for skilled legal representation in your Utah car accident claim.