Reckless drivers have little regard for pedestrians or other motorists and are a clear threat on Grand Junction’s roads. If you have been injured by a reckless driver, you should consider your options for receiving compensation. In many situations, you can receive a settlement that should cover the full costs of your injuries, including medical care and lost income.
Contact a Grand junction reckless driving attorney as soon as possible for a free consultation.
Examples of Reckless Driving
A reckless driver is more culpable than a merely careless one. Reckless drivers understand the risks that their conduct poses to other people—but they go ahead and drive dangerously anyway.
Common examples of reckless driving include:
- Tailgating
- Passing illegally
- Running a red light
- Speeding
- Refusing to yield
- Cutting off a driver
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Forcing another vehicle off the road
- Drag racing
- Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol
Reckless drivers are responsible under Colorado law for compensation when their behavior injures someone else. You should quickly document the accident by calling law enforcement to come to the scene. Also take pictures of damage to all vehicles. If the reckless driver flees the scene after the crash, then note the direction the vehicle fled, as well as its make/model and a description of the driver.
Road Rage
Road rage is the phenomenon that describes the anger some people feel when behind the wheel. Road rage usually starts over something small—a person cuts off another person, or a driver is going too slowly. Quickly, however, tensions escalate.
When a driver is in the grips of road rage, he can engage in countless dangerous acts while driving. Sometimes the driver also tries to provoke the targeted vehicle into engaging in dangerous activity as well, such as racing each other.
Almost anything can serve as a trigger for road rage. What’s important is to know how to respond if you notice a person driving very aggressively around you. Remember the following:
- Don’t respond to the road rager. Even if the driver is honking his horn, giving you the finger, or shouting out his window, do not respond in kind. Look straight ahead and maintain a reasonable speed.
- Increase the separation between you and the road rager, if at all possible. Let the person pass you or pull over to the side of the road. If the enraged driver gets past you, they should no longer be a threat.
- Never get out of your vehicle to confront someone acting aggressively. Instead, drive to the nearest police station if you fear for your life.
In many situations, a road rage driver is out of control, but that does not excuse their behavior when they cause accidents.
Compensation for Injuries in a Reckless Driving Accident
Under Colorado law, you can receive money in the form of “damages.” Many of our clients have received money for:
- Lost income
- Medical care, including future medical care
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- Physical pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Disability
When a driver has been reckless, victims might also receive exemplary damages. These damages have a different purpose than compensatory damages listed above. Instead, exemplary damages focus on punishing the defendant for reckless conduct (which is why they are known as “punitive” damages). Depending on the facts of the case, you might be able to pursue punitive damages in a lawsuit if the facts warrant them.
Our Advantage
Reckless accident cases present unique challenges that not every firm is capable of handling. Reckless accidents often cause much more serious injuries than minor fender benders, and our clients are often so injured that they cannot handle their cases on their own. To maximize the amount of compensation you receive, you need to fully document your injuries, including intangible injuries like depression, anxiety, and physical pain.
Some reckless driving accidents are also hit and runs, where the culpable parties disappear. Receiving compensation in these cases can be challenging, but we can help our clients understand their best options.
Based on our experience, we can take over your case from start to finish, including negotiating a favorable settlement with the defendant’s insurance company. If you hire us, then you can focus on what really matters—getting well.
Speak to Cimarron Ridge Legal Group Today
If you are unsure about what to do after a reckless driving incident, please contact us. A Grand Junction reckless attorney at Cimarron Ridge Legal Group can meet for a free consultation. We have decades of combined legal experience. Let us put that experience to benefit for you. Contact us at (970) 230-7656.
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