Aggressive Driving Car Accidents in Florida

Florida is home to almost 1,000 car crashes per day. From crashes that involve one car to accidents that include several, each incident can have deadly consequences for the ones involved. And, while things like texting while driving are commonly to blame, distracted driving isn’t the only reason for car accidents. Aggressive driving accounts for about 75,000 crashes per year in Florida. But, what’s considered aggressive driving? And, what can you do if you’re involved in an accident with an aggressive driver?

What is aggressive driving?

Aggressive driving occurs when someone operating a vehicle gets angry and makes choices based on their anger. It could be that they’re frustrated with traffic or just having a bad day. Whatever the reason, overly aggressive drivers can cause serious accidents.

Examples of Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving can be identified by different behaviors. While it’s often associated with road rage, that’s not the only form of aggression. When operating a vehicle, the most common violations by aggressive driving include:

• Speeding
• Running a red light
• Failing to use turn signals when changing lanes
• Cutting off another vehicle
• Tailgating
• Weaving through traffic
• Honking the horn or flashing headlights
• Yelling at or making angry hand gestures to another driver

What To Do After an Aggressive Driving Car Accident

Aggressive driving accidents can result in side swipe, rear-end, and side-impact collisions. If you’ve been involved in one — regardless if you were driving aggressively or not — there are things you can do immediately to give yourself the best outcome possible.

But, first, you and anyone involved should move safely out of the way of traffic, exchange information, and contact authorities. It’s important that during these interactions you don’t apologize or say anything that can be used against you later. It’s also crucial that you take photos of everything involving the accident — including license plates of the vehicles involved, damages, road obstacles, or anything else that could have contributed.

How is fault determined?

Florida is a comparative negligence state. This means that any driver involved in an accident can be found partially at fault. For example, if an aggressive driver flashed their lights at you from behind and you responded by slamming on your brakes, a court may find you partially at fault for the accident. The level of fault is determined during a process called discovery. It’s at this point that you or your lawyer will need to collect information regarding the accident, including:

• Your testimony
• Witness testimony
• Surveillance video
• Police officer testimony
• Accident reconstruction expert testimony (if applicable)
• Additional evidence to support your involvement

How an Attorney Can Help

Collecting the information needed for the discovery process can be time-consuming and intimidating for most people. An experienced attorney can help. During the discovery process, your lawyer gathers all of the relevant information for your case. They can also help negotiate with other parties involved — including insurance companies and adjusters.

Throughout the entire process, they are there to guide you and to make sure your best interests are protected. This includes helping you recover any compensation you are due because of an aggressive driving accident. These can include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages resulting from the accident
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages

Call Hartpence Law if You’ve Been in a Car Accident in Tampa Bay

Determining who’s at fault for an accident will depend on many factors. This is why it’s imperative to talk to an attorney as soon as possible so that all of them can be taken into account before you accept any settlement offer.

If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident, call us at (855) 680-4911 or schedule a free consultation.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not create an attorney/client relationship.