Aggressive Driving Accidents in Kansas City
Request Free ConsultationEvery driver on the road has witnessed an aggressive driver blowing past them, weaving in and out of traffic lanes, and antagonistically tailgating to try to “push” traffic forward or bully other vehicles out of their way. Aggressive driving causes about 66% of fatalities in car accidents in Kansas City and across the United States. When an aggressive driver causes a car accident with injuries to others, the injury victims shouldn’t be left responsible for the expenses related to their injury and recovery time.
What Is Aggressive Driving?
Like other states, Missouri has no specific laws citing aggressive driving. Instead, the state defines aggressive driving as a collection of dangerous driving behaviors that cause an increased risk of an accident. Missouri §304.012 states the following:
“Every person operating a motor vehicle on the roads and highways of this state shall drive the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner and at a rate of speed so as not to endanger the property of another or the life or limb of any person and shall exercise the highest degree of care.”
Aggressive driving behaviors include the following:
- Speeding
- Weaving (making unsafe or frequent lane changes)
- Tailgating
- Brake-checking (intentionally tapping brakes in front of other vehicles)
- Unsafe passing
- Passing in emergency lanes
- Horn-honking
- Making rude gestures or shouting at other drivers
- Improperly merging
- Running red lights and stop signs
When a driver engages in multiple driving violations and driving behaviors that put other motorists at risk, it’s aggressive driving. In some cases, aggressive driving escalated into road rage, which occurs when an irate driver aggressively targets another driver.
What Types of Car Accidents Happen Due to Aggressive Driving In Kansas City?
When a motorist drives aggressively, it increases stopping times, reduces control, and increases the chances of an accident such as the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- Sideswipes
- Head-on collisions
- Rollover accidents
- Chain reaction accidents
- Angle collisions (T-bone accidents)
- Roadway departures
Aggressive drivers also cause pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and motorcycle accidents, placing unprotected people at great risk of serious injuries or fatalities.
What Types of Injuries Occur in Aggressive Driving Accidents in Kansas City?
Aggressive drivers cause serious accidents, often with increased crash force due to speeding. Aggressive driving accidents result in injuries including traumatic brain injuries, multiple fractures, internal injuries, and spinal cord damage. Even fully recoverable minor injuries can quickly cause financial hardship to injury victims and their family members due to medical bills and a week or more of lost income. More serious injuries can be life-altering or catastrophic, causing permanent disability. When an aggressive driver is at fault for an accident, they are liable for the injury victim’s damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.
Call an Aggressive Driving Accident Attorney in Kansas City
Proving an aggressive driver’s negligence often involves seeking video evidence, interviewing eyewitnesses, examining the police report, and consulting with accident reconstruction experts. An experienced car accident lawyer has the knowledge and resources to prove an aggressive driver’s negligent and reckless behavior so an injury victim can obtain the maximum compensation available.
Call the Kansas City car accident lawyers from Miller & Hine at (314) 413-2053, and we will take prompt, decisive action for the best possible outcome in your case.