No matter how seriously you take safety when you are behind the wheel, an aggressive driver can cause a crash that leaves you with major injuries. You may be dealing with medical bills, time away from work, and disruptions to your daily life and your family’s routine.
While the aggressive driver can face criminal consequences, you may be able to hold them civilly liable as well. Our aggressive driving accident lawyers in Kennesaw will help you seek the compensation you deserve.
Our team at Jones & Swanson has recovered more than $50 million in settlements for our clients. We help injury victims hold negligent drivers accountable. Learn more about how our Kennesaw car accident lawyers will assist when you call for your free consultation.
What Is Aggressive Driving Under Georgia Law?
Georgia law defines aggressive driving as operating a vehicle with the intent to annoy, harass, intimidate, injure, or obstruct another person. It goes beyond ordinary traffic violations. The behavior has to be deliberate, and it has to put other people at risk.
Common examples of dangerous driving include speeding while tailgating, cutting off other drivers, running red lights, and weaving through traffic without signaling. These behaviors are not just bad habits; they are choices that significantly increase the risk of a serious crash.
Georgia treats aggressive driving as a misdemeanor, but a criminal charge doesn’t automatically resolve your civil claim. You still need to prove your damages and connect them to the driver’s conduct. Our Kennesaw personal injury lawyers will help.
Who Is Liable in an Aggressive Driving Accident?
The aggressive driver is the most obvious responsible party, but liability doesn’t always stop there. If the driver was operating a commercial vehicle or running an errand for an employer, the company may share responsibility for what happened through vicarious liability.
Our aggressive driving accident attorneys in Kennesaw will investigate your crash to establish a clear picture of what the other driver did and why they bear responsibility. The goal is to make sure the fault is placed where it belongs, not shifted onto you.
Georgia follows a modified comparative fault rule. That means your compensation can be reduced if you are found partially at fault for the crash. Insurance companies use this rule aggressively, often trying to assign you a share of the blame to reduce what they owe.
What Compensation Can You Get in an Aggressive Driving Accident?
Aggressive drivers often cause serious and catastrophic injuries, and leave you with a long recovery ahead of you. Causing a crash can lead to imprisonment or fines, but that doesn’t help you pay your bills.
You shouldn’t be forced to shoulder the financial costs for an accident that wasn’t your fault. Georgia law allows the recovery of both economic and non-economic losses. Our Kennesaw aggressive driving accident lawyers will seek maximum compensation for your damages.
Economic Damages
Economic damages focus on costs you can measure and expenses you can document. Depending on your situation, we may seek compensation for:
- Medical bills, including past and future treatment.
- Lost wages from time you could not work.
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to earn income.
- Property damage, such as vehicle repair or replacement costs.
- Rehabilitation, therapy, and other necessary recovery expenses.
- Out-of-pocket costs related to your injury, including transportation, medical equipment, or home modifications.
We gather the evidence needed to prove these losses and pursue the full compensation you deserve.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate you for the personal impact of an injury that does not have a direct financial value. These damages may include your pain, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and similar harms.
Punitive Damages
In cases involving particularly reckless conduct, Georgia law may allow for punitive damages. These are designed to punish the at-fault driver rather than simply compensate you. Aggressive driving, by its nature, can support that kind of claim.
How Is Aggressive Driving Different from Road Rage?
People often use aggressive driving and road rage interchangeably, but they aren’t the same thing. Here’s how they differ:
- Aggressive driving refers to a pattern of dangerous traffic behavior. A driver who tailgates you for miles and then cuts you off is driving aggressively.
- Road rage is a more extreme response that can involve deliberate physical contact or threats. A driver who follows you off the highway and confronts you is engaging in road rage.
Both can lead to serious accidents, but the legal implications can differ. In a personal injury case, the distinction matters because it affects how we characterize the driver’s conduct and what evidence we use to support your claim.
Get Help from Our Aggressive Driving Accident Attorneys in Kennesaw
Drivers who engage in aggressive behavior can be held accountable for the harm they cause. In addition to any criminal or traffic penalties they may face, you may have the right to pursue financial compensation through a personal injury claim.
Insurance companies may push back and look for ways to underpay or deny your claim, but you don’t need to deal with them on your own. Our aggressive driving accident attorneys in Kennesaw will explain your legal options and fight for the compensation you need.
Jones & Swanson has been helping injured Georgians get the justice they deserve since 1995. Call today for a free consultation and tell us about your car accident.
