ROAD RAGE

Road Rage Incident in Colorado

A road rage incident in Thornton ^[1] resulted in a shooting and serious injuries for one Colorado woman. During the road rage incident, one driver pulled a gun on another, causing severe injuries and requiring transportation to the hospital for emergency treatment. The shooter fled in a stolen vehicle. The police closed down roads for several hours to investigate. The incident is just one of the many road rage incidents that happen in Colorado each day.

Can You Sue for Road Rage in Colorado?

Yes, you can sue for road rage. While most lawsuits are based on simple negligence or carelessness, road rage is actually a more serious level of misbehavior. Road rage is recklessness or even intentional misconduct. You can sue for road rage to hold the driver accountable for their actions. As long as the road range causes you injuries or property damages, you can sue for road rage.

What Are the Legal Ramifications of Being Involved in a Road Rage Accident?

The legal ramifications of being involved in a road rage accident in Colorado are both criminal and civil. A person can face criminal charges such as reckless driving, assault, and battery or assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition, the person responsible for the road rage may owe the victim compensation if they cause physical injuries or property damage. While it’s up to the state attorney to initiate criminal charges, any victim may initiate a civil claim. The legal ramifications of being involved in a road rage accident include both criminal charges and civil liability.

What Crime Is Road Rage?

Road rage is reckless driving, which is defined as driving with a reckless disregard for the safety of persons and property. Road rage may also be assault or assault with a dangerous weapon. A person may face multiple charges for road rage. Although reckless driving and vehicular assault charges are likely appropriate crimes, the exact charges depend on the laws in the state where the road rage occurs.

Victim of Road Rage What to Do?

When you’re the victim of road rage, what to do begins with calling the police. You need to ensure your immediate safety from the attack as well as get medical care if you’ve been in an accident. The police can help you approach an angry or aggressive driver to get the necessary information to complete a report.

Once you get emergency medical attention, write down everything that you remember about the incident for your own records. Then, speak with a road rage car accident attorney as soon as possible to explore your options to hold the offender accountable and claim compensation.

Can You Report Road Rage to the Police in Colorado?

Yes, you can report road rage to Colorado State Patrol by dialing *CSP (*277). In fact, you should report road rage. When the other driver is angry or aggressive, a trained police officer can help you address the situation appropriately. With their help, you can protect your safety and hold the driver accountable before they have a chance to hurt anyone else.

Reporting to the police is the only way to request criminal charges against the driver. In addition to reporting to the police, you can also work with a Colorado attorney for road rage accidents to bring a civil claim for compensation.

Road Rage Legal Rights

A road rage legal claim is complex. The case has more legal issues than are often present in a typical negligence claim. For example, the other driver’s insurance company may hesitate to pay for a claim that’s based on intentional acts of aggression by the other driver.

In addition, you need to state in your legal documents that the claim is both an intentional tort and a negligence action. In all cases, you must prove that the other driver’s actions are the cause of your injuries and property damage.

How Can a Colorado Road Rage Attorney Help Me?

A Colorado road rage accident attorney can help you prepare and build your claim for compensation. It’s critical to accurately state the basis for your claim in your initial filing documents. In addition, you need to gather the evidence to prove that the accident is the result of road rage.

Our accident attorneys offer comprehensive legal representation, including:

• Case investigation
• Explanation of how the facts apply to the law
• Drafting of a claim for compensation
• Filing of the case and service on the other party
• Notification to the insurance company
• Witness subpoenas and questioning under oath
• Appropriate response to hostile or untruthful witnesses
• Settlement evaluation and negotiation
• Appearances in court
• Trial and appeals as necessary

For road rage cases, witnesses and the other party aren’t always interested in telling the truth or volunteering information. Your attorney can help you tactfully and aggressively handle the tough parts of building your case. They know how to handle your case effectively when the other party doesn’t want to resolve the case fairly. Ultimately, your attorney ensures that you handle every aspect of your case appropriately and to your benefit.

Colorado Attorneys for Road Rage Car Accidents

Our Colorado attorneys for car accidents represent victims of road rage. Let our team manage the entire claim for you so that you can get top dollar for your losses. Our legal team is experienced in handling a wide variety of legal matters. We dedicate our entire legal practice to advocating for those who need justice.

We are conveniently located near you in Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Englewood and throughout Colorado. Our attorneys are ready to serve you and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call the Bachus & Schanker, LLC, legal team today for your free and confidential consultation. We’re waiting to take your call.

Sources

[1] Nicholson, K. 11 October 2019. Woman shot in Thornton in road rage incident; shooter is at large. The Denver Post. Retrieved 11 November 2019 from https://www.denverpost.com/2019/10/11/person-shot-friday-in-thornton-near-104th-ave-and-colorado-blvd-police-say/