You may be involved in an accident any time you drive. However, when other drivers become aggressive, they put everyone on the road at a much greater risk of being injured in an accident.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by road rage, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages. Proving the other driver was acting aggressively can sometimes be challenging. You need an experienced road rage car accident lawyer to build your strongest case and help you recover maximum compensation.
The Chicago car accident lawyers at Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys have recovered billions of dollars for our clients, and we are committed to helping you secure the justice and financial award you deserve. Call (630) 912-7323 or complete the short form on our contact page and schedule a free consultation.
What Is Road Rage?
Road rage driving occurs when a driver operates their vehicle in an aggressive and unsafe manner. Road rage encompasses behaviors such as speeding, tailgating, and making abrupt lane changes.
Some drivers scream and make angry gestures or even become involved in physical altercations. Their behavior poses a safety risk to other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
How Do You Prove Road Rage Caused Your Accident?
To prove another driver is guilty of road rage, we would use evidence such as witness testimony, surveillance video footage, Dashcam footage, and the responding officer’s accident report.
In some cases, we may even use event data recorder information. The event data recorder (EDR), often referred to as the vehicle’s “black box”, stores useful information about how the car was being driven just before the accident. It can collect data about the vehicle’s speed, brake application, engine RPMs, and ABS activation in the seconds leading up to the crash.
Compensation For Road Rage Accident Injuries
If another driver is at fault in an accident and you were injured, you may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include current and future medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and other financial losses and costs.
Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, mental distress, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, scarring, disfigurement, and other intangible losses.
In some instances, you may recover punitive damages if you can prove that road rage caused your accident. Punitive damages are awarded to punish a wrongdoer and deter similar future conduct and are rarely awarded in Illinois. However, if you can prove with clear and convincing evidence that the defendant’s conduct was willful and wanton, grossly negligent, or intentional, punitive damages may be appropriate.
How Long Do I Have to File a Road Rage Car Accident Claim?
A statute of limitations is a law that sets a deadline for filing a claim to recover compensation for damages in a personal injury case. If you miss your filing deadline, you will be unable to recover any compensation.
The Illinois statute of limitations for filing a road rage car accident claim is generally two years from the date of the accident. However, there are exceptions. You must promptly consult an experienced Chicago road rage accident lawyer to determine your filing deadline.
Contact Meyers & Flowers Trial Attorneys Today
If you have been injured in a road rage car accident in Chicago, an experienced injury attorney in Chicago can help you secure maximum compensation for your damages. Call (630) 912-7323 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.