Aggressive drivers in Kansas City are a danger to themselves and everyone else on the road with them, dramatically increasing the risk of preventable collisions. People hurt in aggressive driving accidents often suffer painful injuries, deep emotional distress, and expensive medical bills. These innocent victims should not have to pay the price of someone else’s bad behavior.
If you were hit by an aggressive driver in Kansas City, The McCallister Law Firm can help you pursue compensation for your losses. We are committed to helping our clients get justice for the wrong they suffered, but our commitment to them goes beyond their financial needs. We also help them with the inevitable emotional consequences of an accident. Let us put this personal touch and commitment to excellent results to work on your case. Contact us today for a free consultation with an aggressive driving accident lawyer in Kansas City, MO.
WHAT IS AGGRESSIVE DRIVING IN KANSAS CITY, MO?
Missouri has no specific law defining aggressive driving. However, Section 304.012 of the Missouri Revised Statutes requires motorists to drive in a “careful and prudent manner” and at a speed that does not endanger other people or their property. Furthermore, drivers must “exercise the highest degree of care” to avoid causing a crash.
Aggressive driving can be inferred to mean a failure to exercise this care while operating a motor vehicle. According to the law, this failure is a Class B misdemeanor, and the potential penalties include up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Aggressive driving that causes an accident is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
EXAMPLES OF AGGRESSIVE DRIVING BEHAVIORS
Aggressive driving covers a wide range of driver behaviors, such as:
- Speeding – Drivers who ignore posted speed limits or drive too fast for road conditions may lose control and collide with another car. Speeding also increases a car’s stopping distance and can cause a rear-end accident.
- Ignoring yellow lights at intersections – Unless they are too close to stop safely, drivers should slow down when they see a yellow light and not enter the intersection. Aggressive drivers who speed up when they see a yellow light risk hitting cross-traffic once the signal changes.
- Not following traffic signs and signals – Road signs and signals help keep traffic moving smoothly and reduce the chances of an accident. Drivers who ignore these signs and signals can collide with other vehicles, cyclists, or pedestrians.
- Not watching for cyclists and pedestrians – Cyclists and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable road users due to their exposure to the full force of a collision.
- Changing lanes without signaling – Turn signals help drivers see what other vehicles around them are doing so they can react accordingly to avoid a collision. Drivers who do not use their signals make it difficult for other drivers to anticipate their maneuvers, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Following too closely – Drivers who follow other vehicles too closely risk causing a rear-end collision if the driver in front stops or slows down.
- Road rage – Drivers who let their anger get the better of them effectively weaponize their vehicles. Aggressive behavior can cause a crash by following too closely, weaving through traffic, flashing their lights at a car in front of them, or through other dangerous behaviors.
- Unsafe passing or lane changes – Drivers who pass when there is not enough room to do so safely or change lanes without checking their blind spots risk colliding with other vehicles. Head-on crashes in particular are often deadly.
- Pulling into traffic without sufficient space – Overly aggressive drivers sometimes merge onto highways when there is not enough space to do so safely. Not only can this cause a sideswipe accident with cars already on the highway, but it can force those drivers to swerve to avoid a collision, potentially causing one in adjacent lanes.
- Racing or chasing other drivers – Drivers who race other vehicles or chase them down can lose control and cause a collision.
- Purposefully slowing down or stopping in front of another car – When drivers intentionally slow down or stop short in front of a car directly behind them, the other driver may not have time to avoid a collision. This behavior is sometimes called “brake checking.”
COMMON INJURIES FROM AGGRESSIVE DRIVING ACCIDENTS
Aggressive driving accidents often involve vehicles moving at high speeds, making catastrophic injuries more likely for anyone involved. Common injuries from Kansas City aggressive driving accidents include:
- Injuries to the head and face
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Internal injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Severed, crushed, or amputated limbs
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Emotional distress
COMPENSATION FOR AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVING ACCIDENT
Depending on factors such as the extent of the injuries you suffered in an aggressive driving accident, you could be owed compensation for the following losses:
- Any medical expenses related to the crash
- Your lost wages while you heal from your injuries
- Your reduced future earnings due to a disability
- Your physical pain
- Your emotional distress
- Your diminished quality of life due to a disability
- Damaged personal property
HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO FILE AN AGGRESSIVE DRIVING ACCIDENT LAWSUIT?
The statute of limitations for Missouri personal injury cases gives you five years from the date of a crash to file a lawsuit. If you fail to meet this deadline, you have no way to compel the other driver or their insurer to compensate you for your injuries. You should speak with an attorney as soon as possible after a crash, as cases take time to build. Meeting with a lawyer soon after an accident can also help you recover the money you need more quickly.
CONTACT A KANSAS CITY, MO, AGGRESSIVE DRIVING ACCIDENT LAWYER NOW
The team at the McCallister Law Firm is ready to uphold your rights and demand compensation if an aggressive driver injured you in an accident in Kansas City, MO. Call us today or visit our contact page for a free consultation with a Kansas City, MO, car accident lawyer.