Being involved in a road rage accident can be a frightening experience. If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident caused by a driver with road rage, you may be entitled to financial compensation due to the at-fault driver’s negligence.
A White Plains road rage accident lawyer from Morelli Law Firm may be able to help you build a case against the at-fault driver and prove the severity of your accident-related damages. We handle both insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits on behalf of our clients.
To discuss your case and learn more about our services in a free consultation with a member of our team, call Morelli Law Firm today at (212) 751-9800.
Understanding Road Rage
In their driver education handbook, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) defines road rage as “an angry, hostile state” that can lead a driver to use or attempt to use their vehicle to commit violent criminal acts. It can also include actions meant to threaten or intimidate other drivers.
Examples of road rage include:
- Shouting
- Making obscene gestures
- Honking the horn excessively
- Cutting off other cars
- Tailgating
- Chasing other vehicles
- Deliberately hitting another car
- Running other drivers off of the road
If another driver’s road rage caused a car accident and you were injured, they may owe you compensation for your damages.
Liability for a Road Rage Accident
The good news is that you may not need proof that the driver responsible for your accident was enraged, threatening, or angry to recover compensation from them.
In a personal injury claim, you may be entitled to financial compensation if you can prove the other involved driver was negligent. This may require evidence that:
- The at-fault driver was negligent and caused your accident
- The negligence-based accident led to your physical injuries
- The negligence-based accident led to your financial damage
In a car accident case, any violation of traffic law that caused your accident may qualify as a negligent act. This may include things like speeding, an illegal lane change, failure to yield, etc. Proof that this type of violation occurred may allow you to win your case even without evidence that the responsible driver was acting intentionally or with road rage.
If you believe another driver’s negligence caused your accident, you can contact a member of Morelli Law Firm’s case assessment team for a free consultation by calling (212) 751-9800.
White Plains Road Rage Accident Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
Steps to Take After a Road Rage Accident
If necessary, seek emergency medical treatment immediately after your accident. Even if you can walk away from your accident safely, you may want to go to a doctor for an evaluation as soon as possible.
Do not attempt to confront an enraged driver. Instead, call the police to the accident scene, and file a crash report immediately.
A crash report may help establish certain facts about your accident to use in your case. It may also provide contact information for:
- The at-fault driver
- Their insurance provider
- Any accident witnesses
- The investigating officer
Obtain a copy of your crash report as soon as it becomes available. Along with your crash report, the following checklist of items may help your legal team build a complete case file:
- Medical records
- Medical bills and medication receipts
- Insurance forms
- Injury photos
- Vehicle photos
- Salary history
- Mechanic bills
- Vehicle value estimates
Morelli Law Firm may be able to help you obtain evidence such as this when we represent you.
Damages that May Be Available in a Road Rage Accident Case
The following types of damages may be recoverable in a car accident case:
- Past and anticipated medical expenses
- Past and anticipated lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Physical disfigurement and disability
- Mental and emotional trauma
- Property repair or replacement
An alternate set of damages may be available in a wrongful death lawsuit to surviving family members whose loved one passed away in a road rage accident. Morelli Law Firm also handles wrongful death cases.
A White Plains road rage accident lawyer from Morelli Law Firm may be able to hire medical and economic experts to testify about the potential value of your future expenses and non-economic damages when we represent you. Our team’s objective is to make sure no eligible expenses are overlooked when valuing your potential compensation claim.
Do Not Delay When Filing Your Claim or Lawsuit
Compliance with the legal deadline outlined in the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules (CVP) §214 is an important part of your potential compensation claim. This law gives victims a general three-year statute of limitations to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party.
If a member of your family was fatally injured in a road rage accident, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit. This type of case has its own time limit, with New York Estates, Powers & Trusts (EPT) §5-4.1 imposing a general two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death lawsuits.
If you do not file your lawsuit on time, you risk not being able to file it at all and not being able to legally compel payment from a negligent driver.
Contact a Morelli Law Firm Team Member Today
If a road rage accident in White Plains injured you or a member of your family, a White Plains road rage accident lawyer from Morelli Law Firm may be able to help you pursue compensation for your damages.
For a free consultation on your case, contact our personal injury team at (212) 751-9800 today. Morelli Law Firm may be able to offer you representation on a contingency-fee-basis with no up-front payment required. You only pay us attorney fees in this arrangement if and when you receive a settlement offer or court award.