Scranton Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer

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What Should You Do After Scranton Road Rage Accident?

Drivers are people, and people, for better or worse, are subject to emotion. Every person who has been behind the wheel has most likely experienced some form of frustration or road rage and has maybe even laid on the horn once or twice. But understandable annoyance can turn into truly dangerous aggression, and it's more common than you may realize.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, our experienced Scranton car accident lawyers are here to support all victims of aggressive driving car accidents, and hope the following information can be of use in a traumatic time. If you have been injured in a road rage accident, a Scranton aggressive driving accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys can help.

What Are the Dangers of Aggressive Driving?

A study conducted by AAA in 2019 showed that close to 80 percent of drivers reported expressing significant levels of frustration while behind the wheel in the previous 30 days. These increased levels of anger can, of course, lead to devastating car crashes and motor vehicle accidents.

The study goes on the highlight the specific ways in which aggressive driving manifests, and how common these things are: 26 percent of drivers reported aggressively switching lanes, 38 percent said they drove at least 15 miles above the speed limit on the freeway, and 34 percent said they tailed a vehicle to prevent another vehicle from merging. All of this, together, creates a dangerous atmosphere and a high probability that car accidents will occur.

How Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

Driving that is aggressive to a degree of potentially causing harm is never acceptable, but unfortunately, it does happen. The good news is that if you have been the victim of an aggressive driving motor vehicle accident, you are not alone. We are so sorry for your pain and suffering, and we at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys stand with all car accident victims. We are here to offer help and support through a team of fantastic personal injury lawyers.

The dedicated car accident attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will work tirelessly to help you recover financial compensation and find the justice you are owed. If you have been in a car crash, contact us today to speak with a Scranton car accident lawyer and receive a free case evaluation.

What is Aggressive Driving? 

The NHTSA defines aggressive driving as occurring when “an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.”  Many different types of driving may fall within this category, including:

• Sticking too close to the driver in front of you
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Running red lights or pushing through yellow lights
• Passing other cars or changing lanes in a dangerous manner

Speeding in particular often plays a role in aggressive driving auto accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding killed nearly 10,000 people in 2019 alone. The NHTSA also points out that speeding endangers not only the person speeding, but also every other driver, pedestrian, and cyclist they encounter.

When speeding, there is a much greater chance of the driver losing control of the vehicle, resulting in a car crash. There's also a much smaller window for the driver to self-correct if the need arises; the faster you are going, the longer it takes you to slow down should you need to slam on the brakes. Severe injuries are also increasingly likely if an auto accident occurs as the result of speeding, and the ensuing medical bills can be astronomical.

Reach out to a Scranton car accident lawyer today if you have experienced serious injuries, or injuries of any kind, as the result of a speeding-related car accident. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, you will find an experienced car accident lawyer who has your best interest at heart. Reach out anytime for a free case evaluation.

Do I Need a Scranton Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer?

A car accident lawyer can be of great help in the aftermath of almost all motor vehicle accidents, regardless of whether you will be filing any personal injury lawsuits. For example, your car accident lawyer can offer general legal advice and help you file an insurance claim. They can also fight back on your behalf if you're not receiving fair compensation from the insurance company.

Hiring a car accident lawyer after your motor vehicle accident is also a wise decision whether or not the car accident was your fault.  Even if it was not, you may be required to prove that to an insurance company or a courtroom. Your experienced auto accident attorney can help you gather all the required evidence in order to prove that you are not liable.

If the accident was your fault, your Scranton auto accident attorney can help ensure you are not assigned a higher percentage of blame than you should be. With comparative fault, it's possible for an insurance company to decide that one driver bears 80 percent of the responsibility for causing the car accident, and another driver bears the remaining 20 percent. Your car accident lawyer will fight to make sure you are not assigned an inordinately high percentage of blame.

And of course, you will want a Pennsylvania auto accident attorney if you do decide to take legal action against the other driver or drivers via a personal injury or property damage lawsuit. Remember that you can reach out to Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys at any time for a free consultation.

What Should I Do Immediately After the Car Accident? 

The first and most important thing you need to do after a car accident is seek medical attention. Once that has been accomplished, you must call the police immediately. This is always heavily recommended, but in some cases, it's actually a legal requirement.

In Pennsylvania, you legally must call the police to the scene if there is an injury or death on the accident scene, or one or more vehicles are so damaged they cannot drive away from the scene. When law enforcement arrives at the scene, they will use all available information to put together a report. This will include talking to you, any other drivers involved, as well as witnesses.

Law enforcement officials will also look for evidence of negligence. They may examine a driver's blood alcohol content to see if this may be a drunk driving accident. They might pull security camera footage from the surrounding area to determine if a driver was exhibiting negligence or aggression, or they may look at phone records (to determine whether someone was exhibiting distracted driving, i.e. texting or making phone calls).

All of this goes into the police report, which becomes the fairly official record of what happened though it can be contested. The information in the report may be used by your insurance company or a court, should you choose to sue after the accident. It will also be helpful to your Scranton car accident lawyer as they guide you through your car accident case.

Who is At Fault in An Aggressive Driving Car Accident?

Police have the option of offering their professional judgment on who was at fault when they submit their report, but they do not have to and may choose not to include it. It's then left to the insurance companies, but in a no-fault state like Pennsylvania, who is at fault may not be much of an issue.

Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, meaning that each driver's insurance company covers that driver's medical bills and expenses in the event of an accident, regardless of who is at fault.

But of course, who is at fault can be an important question if a driver decides to pursue legal action. It's also important if your claims exceed the extent of your insurance coverage, in which case you'd need to file a claim with the other driver's insurance company and prove their negligence.

As in all auto accidents, determining liability and fault can be complicated. In general, the question of who is at fault becomes a question of who was negligent. Negligence means that a driver was not following traffic laws and/or not following reasonable standards of safety and responsibility. This may mean they did something unsafe, but it would also mean they failed to take a precaution that would have increased everyone's safety.

It can be clear — if it's a drunk driving accident, the drunk driver is clearly at fault. If you get rear-ended because the person behind you is exhibiting aggressive driving and tailing you without a reasonable space cushion in between, they are most likely at fault.

It can also be more complicated. Some cases are less clear-cut, and it can be the case that both or all parties bear some level of responsibility for the accident. This is where comparative fault comes into play.

What Kind of Financial Compensation Can I Expect to Recover Through My Car Accident Claim?

In the state of Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations for filing a claim (whether with an insurance company or via a personal injury suit) is two years after the auto accident. However, it's always best to do it as soon as possible, both for the viability of your claim and for your own benefit.

If you've experienced a serious injury as a result of an auto accident, you'll want to file as soon as possible so you can worry about your health and recovery rather than medical bills.

Your Scranton car accident lawyer can assist you in compiling all the evidence needed to recover financial compensation. In general, this includes documentation of all the ways in which the auto accident has put a financial burden on you, whether via medical bills, property damage costs, and more.

Overall, your insurance claims or accident claims can help you cover the following areas:

• The cost of medical bills
• Lost wages
• The cost of therapy or other psychological services
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs
• The cost of alternative transportation if your vehicle has been damaged beyond use

Questions to Ask Your Scranton Car Accident Lawyer

It's important to get to know your Scranton car accident lawyer and confirm it's a good fit before moving forward. At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, we have a stellar track record when it comes to settling auto accident cases, and can guarantee we have your best interests at heart.  But it's crucial that you trust your attorney and feel that they are the right person for the job at hand. We recommend asking at least the following questions during your free consultation:

• What kind of evidence should I provide?
• This often involves evidence of the financial burden the accident has had on you, such as medical bills
• What kind of compensation can I expect based on the details of my auto accident case?
• Do you have experience with aggressive driving accident cases?
• What is your record with settling versus going to trial in auto accident cases?
• Do you have trial experience, in the case that I do need to file a suit and it goes to trial?
• Do you think I have a case?

Why Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Car Accident Lawyers?

Auto accident claims can be overwhelming, and being a victim of any type of car accident is undoubtedly a terrible experience. You deserve the best when it comes to fighting for your rightful maximum compensation, and you can rest assured that the car accident attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys will be by your side every step of the way.

Our law firm is dedicated to bringing you top-of-the-line legal services and ensuring that you receive the justice you are owed. Having an experienced car accident attorney on your side will help ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation and are not lowballed by an insurance company.

Our team of ten excellent, highly experienced car accident attorneys and dozens of excellent legal support staff will work tirelessly for you, and we do not get paid unless you win. At Munley, the attorney-client relationship is treated with the utmost care and respect, and you are welcome to a free initial consultation before moving forward. We stand with all victims of car crashes and motor vehicle accidents and believe that all accident victims deserve the highest possible standard of legal care.

At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, the Scranton personal injury lawyers working on your car accident case have over a decade of experience, as well as hands-on trial and courtroom experience. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss your car accident case and how we can be of service. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help protect your interests.