Hollywood Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer

Angry driver pressing horn

We’ve all seen drivers behaving aggressively on the road by tailgating, flashing their lights, weaving through traffic, racing other drivers, and so on. Unsurprisingly, aggressive driving accidents are quite common in Hollywood, FL, and throughout the Sunshine State.

Because aggressive driving accidents frequently involve vehicles moving at high speeds, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic, and in some cases, permanent or fatal. With more significant injuries come more expensive medical bills, which can potentially bankrupt accident victims and their families.

The Hollywood, FL, aggressive driving accident lawyers at Rosen & Ohr, P.A., have the experience and resources to help you hold reckless drivers accountable for their actions and pursue fair compensation for your injuries. We’ve been helping accident victims for more than 50 years. Our clients have recovered millions in compensation with our help.

Contact our Hollywood, FL, office today for a free initial consultation.

What Is Aggressive Driving in Hollywood, FL?

The key laws that define aggressive driving in Florida are in Section 316.192 of the Florida Statutes, which defines “reckless driving” as driving in willful disregard for the safety of people or property. That covers a wide range of potential actions an aggressive or reckless driver can commit. A criminal conviction for reckless driving can help in a civil personal injury case, but it is not required to pursue a civil lawsuit.

Have You Been Injured in an Aggressive Driving Accident?

Aggressive driving accidents frequently cause serious injuries, including:

  • Broken bones
  • Soft-tissue injuries
  • Damage to internal organs
  • Internal bleeding
  • Neck and back injuries
  • Spinal cord damage, including paralysis
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Facial disfigurement
  • Crushed or amputated limbs

If an aggressive driver caused your injuries, there’s a good chance you can recover compensation for your losses. Talk to our knowledgeable Hollywood car accident attorneys to learn more.

What Is Considered Aggressive Driving?

Many different behaviors could be considered aggressive driving in Florida, including for example:

  • Speeding – Speeding makes it harder for drivers to safely control their vehicle, making it harder to avoid an accident.
  • Speeding up when approaching yellow lights – Drivers who don’t slow down for yellow lights risk crossing through an intersection when other traffic is coming from a different direction.
  • Ignoring cyclists or pedestrians – Drivers who aren’t watching for cyclists or pedestrians can easily end up colliding with them.
  • Ignoring traffic signals and signs – Drivers who ignore traffic signs and signals can collide with other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists coming from different directions.
  • Making dangerous lane changes – Drivers who don’t signal before changing lanes run the risk of cutting off other drivers, or they might try to move into a gap that’s too small for their vehicle.
  • Passing illegally – Failing to follow the rules for passing puts drivers at risk of being involved in a head-on collision or being struck by vehicles coming from another direction.
  • Pulling onto the road when other vehicles are quickly approaching – This can cause other traffic to slam on the brakes, or other vehicles may strike the car as it moves into traffic.
  • Nosing into another lane when there’s no room for your vehicle – Other vehicles can hit a car nosing into traffic, or the nosing vehicle may strike the side of a passing vehicle.
  • Weaving through traffic – Drivers weaving through traffic can fail to see other vehicles as they try to enter lanes quickly, or they may lose control of their car and cause a multi-vehicle crash.
  • Tailgating – Drivers who follow too closely can cause a rear-end crash if the vehicle in front of them stops suddenly.
  • Blocking drivers attempting to pass – Moving to block a driver who would like to pass can cause the rear driver to collide with the blocking vehicle or cause the rear driver to slam on their brakes and crash with another car.
  • Speeding up to yell, honk, or otherwise engage with another driver – These actions can distract either the offending driver or others nearby, causing a crash.
  • Aggressively speeding up and slowing down to frustrate another driver – These actions, sometimes called “brake checking,” can cause the following driver to rear-end the vehicle in front.
  • Chasing other drivers – A driver who’s focused on chasing another vehicle isn’t paying attention to the traffic around them, increasing their odds of being involved in a crash.
  • Racing other vehicles – Drivers racing in crowded conditions can easily end up striking other cars, as they might ignore traffic lights, other signs, and oncoming cars.

How to Show Aggressive Driving Caused a Crash

Some of the evidence that could be used to demonstrate a driver was behaving aggressively include:

  • Forensic accident reconstructions
  • Eyewitness accounts
  • Photos and videos from the crash scene
  • Surveillance photos or videos
  • Information from police accident reports

Aggressive Driving Penalties in Hollywood, FL

A first conviction for reckless driving in Florida will typically be charged as a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and $500 in fines. Repeat convictions are punishable by up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines.

If there are aggravating circumstances, such as severe injuries to another party, reckless drivers can be charged with a felony and may face additional penalties, such as a much longer jail term and steeper fines.

Aggressive Driving Accident and Injury Statistics

Here are some statistics on the number of crashes caused by aggressive driving behaviors during a single recent year, according to information from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles(FLHSMV):

  • Exceeding posted speed limits – 134 fatal accidents, 208 accidents with incapacitating injuries
  • Droving too fast for conditions – 58 fatal accidents, 322 accidents with incapacitating injuries
  • Failure to yield the right-of-way – 427 fatal accidents, 3,518 accidents with incapacitating injuries
  • Following too closely – 8 fatal accidents, 350 accidents with incapacitating injuries
  • Improper passing – 51 fatal accidents, 171 accidents with incapacitating injuries
  • Running a red light – 85 fatal accidents, 903 accidents with incapacitating injuries
  • Running a stop sign – 57 fatal accidents, 515 accidents with incapacitating injuries

Should I Hire a Lawyer for Help with My Aggressive Driving Accident Case?

You should hire a lawyer to help with an aggressive driving accident claim. If you’ve been badly injured, you’re in no condition to thoroughly investigate the accident and document your injuries. There’s also a limited window to file a claim, and these cases can take a long time to build. Hiring a lawyer means they can take care of this work for you, and their experience may help increase your chances of getting more compensation for your injuries.

Contact a Hollywood, FL, Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer

Have you or a loved one been seriously harmed in an aggressive driving accident in Hollywood, Florida? The dedicated and compassionate aggressive driving accident lawyers at Rosen & Ohr, P.A. want to hear from you. Please do not hesitate to contact our office today to schedule a free, no-obligation initial consultation to discuss your case in a fully confidential manner. Our attorneys are always ready to help injured victims and families pursue maximum compensation in these difficult times.

x