Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyers in Palm Coast, FL
Aggressive drivers who run traffic lights, follow too closely, weaving between lanes, and pass improperly are a danger to other road users in Palm Coast and Ormond Beach, Florida.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s aggressive driving, you may have a right to seek compensation for your injuries. You may be unable to return to work and be struggling to pay your medical bills. The aggressive driver should be held accountable for his or her actions. It is critical that you consult with a personal injury lawyer about your legal rights.
We encourage you to contact the personal injury attorneys at Chiumento Law, PLLC as soon as possible to discuss your legal options during a free case review. We are dedicated to helping Florida car accident victims. We do everything we can to help accident victims hold negligent drivers accountable.
At Chiumento Law, PLLC, our Palm Coast car accident lawyers have handled many claims involving injuries caused by aggressive driving. We understand the evidence needed to prove the at-fault driver was behaving recklessly at the time of the crash. Call us today at 386-753-3221 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Types of Compensation You Can Seek After an Aggressive Driving Accident
In Florida, there are two main types of compensation: economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic damages seek to provide compensation for losses that can be easily quantified.
Examples of economic damages include:
- Medical bills (past, present, and future)
- Lost wages from missed work
- Lost earning capacity
- Property damage
Non-economic damages are intended to compensate you for more subjective losses that you suffer, including but not limited to:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disability or disfigurement
Characteristics of Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving is defined as the operation of a motor vehicle in a manner that is likely to endanger persons or property, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Aggressive drivers demonstrate a variety of dangerous behaviors, including:
- Speeding
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Running red lights
- Running stop signs
- Driving on the shoulder
- Passing in no-passing zones
- Tailgating
- Honking and gesturing
- Sudden braking and acceleration
- Preventing others from passing
- Cutting off other drivers
- Violating traffic signals or controls
- Failing to use signals
Accidents Caused by Aggressive Driving in Florida
- Intersection accidents – An intersection accident can occur when an aggressive driver is trying to rush through a changing traffic light and a driver going the opposite way is attempting to make a left turn. Intersection accidents are often caused by aggressive drivers attempting to make a light before it turns red. These accidents can cause serious injuries, especially if there are passengers on the left side of the turning vehicle.
- Rear-end collisions — Rear-end accidents are often caused by aggressive drivers tailgating and not allowing enough space to stop if the cars in front brake suddenly. A rear-end collision typically affects the drivers and passengers of the vehicle that is struck from behind. Whiplash is a common injury in a rear-end collision. The driver of the vehicle that rear-ends the vehicle in front of them is typically at fault in these collisions.
- Side-impact collisions — Side-impact collisions can cause serious injuries. Often referred to as “T-bone” accidents, these accidents occur when the side of a vehicle is struck. Drivers or passengers on the impacted side usually suffer more serious injuries than they would in another type of collision because of the lack of protection in the side panels of cars.
- Crashes while merging – This type of accident occurs when two lanes of traffic merge together and one car sideswipes another. These collisions can be caused by aggressive drivers speeding up and failing to yield to another vehicle that has the right of way.
- Multi-vehicle collisions –Multi-vehicle collisions tend to occur on busy roads and highways. The collision may be initiated by an aggressive driver. Because vehicles may receive multiple impacts from multiple angles, the accidents can be even especially dangerous.
- Accidents involving a violation of the right of way – These accidents can occur when an aggressive driver fails to yield the road. These accidents occur in situations such as when there is a flashing red or yellow light when an aggressive driver making a left turn fails to yield to oncoming traffic, when a driver is aggressive about merging onto the freeway, and when a driver is entering the street from a driveway.
- Head-on collisions – Most head-on crashes in Florida occur on rural, two-lane highways. Only a small number of those crashes involve drivers who are attempting to pass. Instead, they involve drivers who are going straight or entering a curve and crossing the centerline. Driver negligence is the leading cause of these crashes. Examples of aggressive driving behaviors that can lead to a head-on collision include traveling too fast around a curve, swerving, failing to obey traffic controls, and going the wrong way down a one-way road.
- Sideswipe accidents – There are a few ways that sideswipe car accidents occur. A driver must check their blind spot before merging into moving traffic or switching lanes. Drivers risk colliding with a car in the other lane if they rely only on their side-view mirrors and fail to turn their heads to check blind spots.
Injuries Caused by Aggressive Driving
- Neck injuries and whiplash – Whiplash is an injury to neck muscles, ligaments, and spinal disks that is commonly caused by the sudden jerking motion of a rear-end collision. The symptoms of a whiplash injury may not be apparent immediately and may cause pain and discomfort a day or two after the accident. Whiplash can cause chronic pain, as well as trouble concentrating and sleeping. Car accidents caused by aggressive driving can lead to broken bones in the neck and soft tissue damage.
- Spinal and paralysis injuries – An accident that causes injuries to the spine – including the vertebrae or discs of the spinal column, or the spinal cord itself – can cause partial or total paralysis. The spinal cord connects the brain to the body’s central nervous system. A spinal cord injury can cause loss of movement, sensation, and control of bodily functions.
- Chest and abdominal injuries – The impact of a collision can rupture or tear the diaphragm, which is the muscle below the lungs that aids breathing, and cause injury to other internal organs such as the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Injuries to major internal organs usually require surgery.
- Head injuries – Car accident victims may strike their heads on the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, or side window, which can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Symptoms of TBIs include persistent headaches, vomiting or nausea, slurred speech, seizures, and convulsions.
- Scrapes and cuts – You may experience scrapes and cuts from the impact of your vehicle or the other vehicle, or you could get hit by loose objects in the vehicle. Scrapes and cuts can be very painful, cause scarring, and pose a risk for infections.
- Internal bleeding – It’s not uncommon for accident victims to suffer internal bleeding in a serious car crash. Internal bleeding can be dangerous and lead to shock, particularly if the bleeding is not treated promptly after the accident. If there is any chance that you may have suffered internal bleeding, it’s important to seek medical care to make sure that you don’t have life-threatening injuries.
- Herniated disc – A herniated disc occurs when one or more vertebrae in your spine either rupture or shift out of place. This injury can cause debilitating chronic pain, require surgery, and be life-altering.
- Knee trauma – The sudden impact of a collision may cause your knees to strike the dashboard, causing severe pain to your ligaments and kneecaps. Braces, crutches, or surgery may be necessary. Knee injuries can cause difficulty in walking.
If you have been seriously injured in a car accident in Ormond Beach or Palm Coast that was due to someone else’s aggressive driving, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
Contact a Palm Coast Aggressive Driving Car Accident Attorney
If you have been the victim of a car accident that was caused by an aggressive driver in Flagler or Volusia County, you need the guidance of an experienced personal injury lawyer. The Palm Coast car accident lawyers at Chiumento Law, PLLC understand the complexities of aggressive driving cases and can build a solid case to help you pursue full and fair compensation.
Chiumento Law, PLLC can help you recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and more. Contact us or call us at 386-753-3221 today to schedule a free and confidential consultation. Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you won’t owe a legal fee unless we are successful in recovering compensation for you through a negotiated settlement or jury verdict.