When an aggressive driver causes a car accident, the resulting injuries and damages can be devastating for victims and their families. An aggressive driving attorney attorney in Maryland at Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers, understands the complexities of aggressive driving accidents and are dedicated to helping accident victims recover fair compensation for their sustained injuries. As a leading personal injury law firm in Maryland, we are well-versed in aggressive driving laws and have successfully handled numerous Maryland aggressive driving claim cases and know what it takes to determine liability against reckless drivers.
Our car accident attorneys serve victims throughout Maryland, including Prince George’s County, Baltimore, Columbia, Towson, and surrounding areas. Our experienced accident lawyer team is available to discuss your car accident case and explain your legal options for pursuing a personal injury claim after an accident caused by Maryland aggressive driving behaviors. We offer a free consultation to all victims, and you won’t pay attorney fees unless we win your automobile accident case.
Contact Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation with a Maryland car accident attorney at 410-753-4611.
What Is Aggressive Driving?
Aggressive driving is a dangerous pattern that puts everyone on the road at risk of serious injuries. Unlike a single traffic violation, Maryland aggressive driving behaviors involve multiple dangerous actions that demonstrate a driver’s complete disregard for traffic laws and the safety of others. Understanding these behaviors is crucial in preventing traffic accidents and protecting innocent drivers from harm.
The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration defines aggressive driving as operating a vehicle in a manner that endangers persons or property. What makes aggressive driving particularly hazardous is that it involves a pattern of violations occurring simultaneously, significantly increasing the likelihood that a serious car accident will occur.
These behaviors have become increasingly common, contributing to accidents in Maryland. Traffic congestion, time pressures, and stress all contribute to driver frustration that can escalate into dangerous aggressive driving. When a car accident occurs due to aggressive driving behaviors, determining liability often requires thorough investigation and evidence gathering to prove the other driver was at fault.
The legal process for handling an aggressive driving accident case requires experienced representation from a qualified accident lawyer. Insurance adjusters often try to minimize Maryland automobile accident claims or shift blame to accident victims, making it essential to have legal representation that understands aggressive driving laws and how to build a strong Maryland automobile accident claim.
Signs of Aggressive Driving
Recognizing Maryland aggressive driving behaviors can help you stay safe and provide crucial evidence if you become involved in an automobile accident. These dangerous behaviors are clear warning signs that a driver poses a significant threat:
Speed-Related Aggressive Driving Behaviors:
- Excessive speeding, often 15-20 mph or more above the posted limit
- Racing other vehicles on public roads
- Rapid acceleration from stops or traffic signals
- Maintaining dangerous speeds in construction zones
Dangerous Lane Changes and Following Patterns:
- Making unsafe lane changes without proper signaling
- Weaving erratically between lanes in heavy traffic
- Tailgating or following at dangerously close distances
- Blocking other drivers from changing lanes or merging
Hostile and Intimidating Actions:
- Making obscene gestures or shouting at other drivers
- Excessive or inappropriate horn honking
- Flashing headlights aggressively to intimidate others
- Deliberately blocking traffic flow
Traffic Control Violations:
- Running red lights or stop signs with blatant disregard
- Failing to yield right-of-way at intersections
- Ignoring traffic signals and control devices
- Making illegal turns or U-turns in dangerous locations
If you witness these behaviors leading up to a car accident, this information can be crucial evidence in your car accident claim. The accident police report should document these behaviors, and witness statements can help establish that the at-fault driver was engaging in aggressive driving before the auto accident occurred.
When Is a Driver Guilty of Aggressive Driving?
Under aggressive driving laws, a driver can be found guilty when their behavior meets specific legal criteria that demonstrate a pattern of dangerous driving. Understanding these legal standards is crucial for victims pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, as evidence of aggressive driving can significantly strengthen your Maryland automobile accident claim.
Maryland Transportation Code § 21-901.2 establishes the legal framework for aggressive driving charges. For a driver to be guilty of aggressive driving, they must commit three or more specific traffic violations during a single, continuous period of driving.
Legal Standards for Aggressive Driving:
The prosecution must prove that the driver’s actions demonstrated deliberate intent to endanger others. This intent can be established through the pattern and severity of violations, witness testimony, and the circumstances surrounding the Maryland car accident. For accident victims, this same evidence can be used in an insurance claim to prove the other driver’s negligence.
Criminal Penalties and Civil Implications:
First-time aggressive driving offenders face fines up to $500, up to 5 points on their driving record, and potential license suspension. Repeat offenders face escalating penalties including higher fines, longer suspensions, and possible jail time.
For victims, evidence of aggressive driving violations provides strong support for a Maryland aggressive driving claim. Insurance companies cannot easily dispute liability when their insured driver has been cited for aggressive driving, leading to better settlement offers if your car accident case goes to trial.
Aggressive and Reckless Driving Are Different
While both aggressive and reckless driving are serious offenses in Maryland, understanding the differences is important for auto accident victims pursuing compensation. The classification of the at-fault driver’s behavior can impact both criminal proceedings and your ability to pursue compensation through an auto accident lawsuit.
Reckless Driving Defined:
Reckless driving under Maryland law is defined as driving in wanton or willful disregard for the safety of persons or property. Unlike aggressive driving, which requires multiple violations, reckless driving can be charged based on a single incident that demonstrates extreme departure from reasonable driving standards.
Impact on Your Accident Claim:
Both aggressive and reckless driving violations strengthen your position when negotiating with the insurance company. Evidence of either type of violation makes it difficult for insurance adjusters to deny liability or minimize your auto accident claim. Your car accident lawyer can use these violations to demonstrate the driver’s reckless conduct and justify higher compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
When Aggressive Driving Becomes Road Rage
Road rage represents the most extreme form of aggressive driving, where a driver’s behavior escalates beyond traffic violations, like ignoring traffic signals, to intentional acts of violence or intimidation. When road rage leads to accidents in Maryland, victims often suffer more severe injuries and may be entitled to additional compensation through their automobile accident claim.
Road rage incidents typically involve deliberate attempts to harm or intimidate other drivers, such as intentionally ramming vehicles or forcing other cars off the road. These actions go beyond typical aggressive driving behaviors and can result in serious criminal charges against the at-fault party.
Legal Implications of Road Rage Accidents:
When a Maryland car accident happens due to road rage, the injured person may have grounds for both compensatory and punitive damages. Maryland courts may award punitive damages when a defendant’s conduct shows actual malice or gross negligence.
Road rage cases often involve multiple witnesses and sometimes surveillance footage, making determining liability easier. When accident police arrive at the scene, they typically include detailed information about the driver’s behavior in their police report, providing strong evidence for your car accident injury claim.
Broken Bone Injuries Caused by Aggressive Driving Accidents
Aggressive driving car accidents often result in severe broken bone injuries due to the high-impact nature of these collisions. When aggressive drivers speed, make unsafe lane changes, or engage in other relevant behaviors leading to a collision, the resulting crashes frequently occur at high speeds with tremendous force.
How They Happen
Broken bones in aggressive driving auto accidents typically occur due to the violent nature of high-speed collisions. When an aggressive driver causes an accident, the sudden deceleration and impact forces can cause occupants to be thrown against vehicle interiors, leading to fractures.
Common Mechanisms of Broken Bone Injuries:
- High-speed frontal impacts causing dashboard and steering wheel injuries
- Side-impact collisions from unsafe lane changes resulting in hip and pelvis fractures
- Rollover accidents from aggressive driving causing multiple bone fractures
The emergency medical care required for broken bones can be extensive and expensive. Many car accident victims require immediate surgery, followed by months of physical therapy. Medical professionals often need to insert pins, plates, or screws to properly heal complex fractures, adding to the overall medical bills.
Long-Term Effects of Broken Bones
Broken bone injuries from aggressive driving accidents can have lasting effects that extend far beyond the initial healing period. Many victims experience chronic pain, reduced mobility, and ongoing medical bills for years after their auto accident happens.
Potential Long-Term Complications:
- Arthritis developing in previously fractured joints
- Permanent loss of range of motion or flexibility
- Chronic pain requiring ongoing medical treatment
- Need for future surgeries or medical procedures
- Inability to return to previous employment or activities
Your Maryland car accident attorney must account for these future medical expenses when negotiating with the insurance company. Many insurance company offers fail to adequately compensate for the long-term effects of broken bones. Our attorneys work hard to prevent traffic accidents in Maryland from crippling victims longterm.
When an Aggressive Driver Is Grossly Negligent
Gross negligence occurs when a driver’s conduct goes beyond ordinary carelessness to demonstrate a reckless disregard for the safety of others. In aggressive driving cases, proving gross negligence can be crucial for maximizing compensation for things like medical expenses and lost wages, and potentially recovering punitive damages.
Maryland law defines gross negligence as conduct that is so reckless that it constitutes a conscious disregard for the life, safety, or rights of persons exposed to such conduct. When aggressive driving behaviors rise to this level, victims may be entitled to additional compensation beyond basic damages.
When your auto accident lawyer can prove gross negligence, it strengthens your position in settlement negotiations and at trial. Insurance companies are more likely to offer just compensation when faced with evidence of gross negligence.
Importance of Dashcam Footage in Proving Liability
Dashcam footage has become increasingly valuable evidence in aggressive driving accident cases, providing objective documentation of the events leading up to a car accident. This video evidence can be crucial for determining liability when the other driver denies engaging in aggressive driving behaviors or it wasn’t included in the police report.
Modern dashcam technology captures high-quality video that can clearly show unsafe lane changes, excessive speeding, tailgating, and other aggressive driving behaviors leading to traffic accidents. When accident police arrive at the scene, this footage can immediately establish fault and prevent disputes.
Benefits of Dashcam Evidence:
- Provides objective, unbiased documentation of the auto accident
- Shows the other driver’s relevant behavior leading up to the collision
- Helps counter false claims or denials from the responsible driver
- Can capture audio of road rage incidents or threats
- Prevents insurance companies from disputing clear liability
If you have dashcam footage of your aggressive driving accident, preserve this evidence immediately and provide it to your car accident lawyer. Contact Zirkin & Schmerling injury Lawyers for a free legal consultation.
Non-Medical Pecuniary Damages You Can Recover
Beyond medical bills and lost wages, victims in aggressive driving cases can receive compensation for various damages and other non-medical losses. Understanding these damages is important for ensuring you receive full compensation for all losses resulting from your Maryland aggressive driving claim.
Property Damage Compensation:
- Vehicle repair or total loss replacement value
- Personal property damaged in the accident
- Rental car expenses while your vehicle is being repaired
- Diminished value of your vehicle after repairs
- Towing and storage costs following the accident
Other Non-Medical Economic Losses:
- Lost wages from missed work due to the accident
- Loss of earning capacity if injuries affect your ability to work
- Costs of hiring help for household tasks you cannot perform
- Transportation costs for medical appointments
Your personal injury lawyer will work with economists when necessary to properly calculate these damages, ensuring the insurance company cannot minimize your losses.
Contact Our Experienced Auto Accident Lawyers in Maryland
Aggressive driving accidents can have devastating consequences for victims and their families, resulting in serious injuries, extensive medical treatment and medical costs, and significant financial losses. If you’ve been injured by an aggressive driver in Maryland, you need experienced legal representation from an accident lawyer to protect your rights and ensure you receive fair compensation.
At Zirkin & Schmerling, our experienced Maryland car accident law firm has the experience and resources necessary to handle complex aggressive driving cases. We understand how to gather evidence and negotiate with insurance companies to achieve the best possible outcomes. Our goal is to prevent traffic accidents from devastating families and to hold reckless drivers accountable while helping victims recover.
Our Maryland car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay attorney fees unless we successfully recover compensation for your traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, or other accident injuries. This allows victims to obtain quality legal representation without upfront costs, starting with your free consultation.
Contact Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers today at 410-753-4611 for your free consultation about your Maryland car accident claim. You can also fill out our form for more information about your legal options and to speak with an accident lawyer.
