The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as any action taken while operating a vehicle that endangers or may endanger other drivers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, or property. If you or a loved one suffered losses in an aggressive driving car accident, you may be eligible for compensation. You have several legal options for pursuing these damages, including filing an insurance claim and taking your case to civil court.
At the Morris Bart law firm, we can help you better understand Louisiana’s legal system. A Shreveport aggressive driving accident attorney from our team can use available evidence to build a case that helps you prove the other party’s liability. To learn more about how the Morris Bart law firm can help fight to protect your right to compensation, contact a team member today. We offer you a free consultation.
Causes of Aggressive Driving Accidents in Shreveport
Many aggressive driving accidents occur when drivers are either in a rush, agitated, or acting recklessly. In fact, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 9,148 people suffered fatalities in speeding-related crashes in 2018. This made up 25% of all roadway fatalities in the U.S.
When drivers do not obey the rules of the road and choose to drive aggressively, they may be held financially responsible for any accidents they cause. Common examples of aggressive driving include:
- Blocking other motorists from merging or changing lanes, or otherwise purposefully preventing them from moving freely on the roadway
- “Brake-checking” other drivers. This involves tapping the brakes abruptly when a car is following close behind, and it is often done to serve as a warning
- Driving too fast for roadway conditions
- Deciding to speed up instead of yielding to the right of way
- Failing to stop at stop signs or red lights
- Failure to use proper turn signals
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Tailgating
While aggressive driving often gets confused with road rage, these are technically two separate offenses. Whereas aggressive driving counts as a traffic violation, road rage is seen as a criminal offense that may result in felony charges depending on the severity of the driver’s actions. If a driver caused your accident while committing any of these actions, you may be eligible to recover damages for your losses.
For a free legal consultation with a Aggressive Driving Accident lawyer serving Shreveport, call 800-537-8185
Recovering Your Accident-Related Expenses
Even if your accident was relatively minor, you may still face thousands of dollars in bills and lost income. These expenses increase when you have suffered serious physical injuries. If you obtain proof of your economic losses, you may receive compensation for them in your final settlement.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your accident, you may be able to receive compensation for the following:
- Medical costs
- Property damage
- Loss of consortium and loss of companionship
- Lost wages, benefits, and a loss of future earnings
- Mental anguish
In most cases, there is no limit on the amount of economic losses you can recover. However, this is not the case in claims made against government agencies. According to La. R.S. §13:5106, the maximum amount of economic damages you can recover from a state-run agency is $500,000. This is one reason a lawyer can be helpful in determining all the parties who could potentially be liable for your losses.
Determining the Value of Your Non-Economic Damages
Although it may take time to catalog your financial losses, it is typically harder to assign an appropriate value to your intangible suffering. Whereas you may receive bills related to your medical expenses, which allows you to track them, there is no universal value for damages to your mental health.
A Shreveport aggressive driving accident attorney can help. The Morris Bart law firm has worked with car accident victims—many of whom have suffered severe psychological impacts. Along the way, we have developed several methods for estimating damages regarding mental anguish. These include:
- Calling upon the testimony of victims and their loved ones, showcasing the true effects of the accident
- Utilizing third-party experts to provide insights about these losses, such as medical professionals and specialists from the industry you once worked in
- Providing evidence of how the event impacted your outlook for the future
- Using the multiplier method to assign a number to your non-economic damages, which will generally fall between 1.5 and 5, depending on the extent of your suffering. We will then multiply this number by your economic losses to assign a monetary value to your mental anguish.
To learn more about how our team at the Morris Bart law office can help calculate your damages, contact a team member today. You can reach us to receive your free consultation.
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Know Your Deadlines
The field of personal injury law involves many different statutes, proceedings, loopholes, and other challenges that may seem confusing if you are unfamiliar with them. Therefore, many victims of collisions seek out legal support.
For example, you may not realize that there is a one-year statute of limitations on personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits in Louisiana, as detailed under La. Civ. Code Art. 3492. If you have not filed a lawsuit within one year from the day of your accident, you may lose your right to do so.
You don’t want to miss out on obtaining the compensation you’re entitled to. So, you should allow a lawyer to begin working on your case immediately. The sooner we get started on your case, the stronger it could be. This is because evidence can vanish quickly, and witnesses’ memories of the accident fade. We want a successful case for you that brings you justice and a fair financial recovery, so don’t wait to reach out.
Contact a Shreveport Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer Today
If you retain an aggressive driving accident lawyer at the Morris Bart law firm, our attorneys can fulfill your legal needs and represent you throughout the process. You do not have to go through this on your own. To receive your free consultation with a lawyer at the Morris Bart law firm, contact us today. You can learn your legal options and what the next best steps are.
We work on a contingency-fee-basis, so you pay nothing upfront or out of pocket.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.
