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Why Choose Matlin Injury Law
Matlin Injury Law has experience representing injured clients in aggressive driving accident cases throughout Castle Rock and Colorado. Our legal team understands how aggressive driving differs from ordinary negligence and knows how to build strong cases that hold reckless drivers accountable. We investigate thoroughly, gather evidence, and work with medical experts to document your injuries and damages.
We operate on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. This approach aligns our interests with yours—we only succeed when you succeed. At Matlin Injury Law, you have direct access to your attorney, not just a case manager. Whether you work with Brian Matlin, Shannon McLeod, Kia Miller, or Steven Bonjour, you receive the high-level legal attention and direct communication your case deserves. Matlin Injury Law has a proven history of success, having recovered over $25 million for more than 1,000 clients. We are proud to maintain a perfect 5.0-star rating with over 454 Google reviews, reflecting our commitment to personalized, client-first service.
Matlin Injury Law knows Colorado law inside and out. We understand comparative negligence rules, insurance coverage requirements, and the tactics insurance companies use to minimize payouts. We are prepared to negotiate firmly with insurers or take your case to trial if necessary to secure the compensation you deserve.
How Aggressive Driving Cases Are Handled
Handling an aggressive driving accident case requires a systematic approach that begins immediately after the accident. Our first step is to investigate the accident thoroughly. We obtain the police report, interview witnesses while their memories are fresh, photograph the accident scene and vehicle damage, and preserve any available video evidence. We work with accident reconstruction experts, if necessary, to establish how the accident occurred and confirm that the other driver’s aggressive conduct caused it.
Next, we establish liability by documenting the aggressive driver’s conduct and showing how it violated the standard of reasonable driving. We gather evidence of the driver’s behavior before the collision—such as witness accounts of tailgating, weaving, or excessive speed. We review traffic laws and regulations to show how the driver’s conduct violated specific statutes. We build a clear narrative that demonstrates the driver’s aggressive actions directly caused your accident.
We then document your damages comprehensively. This includes obtaining all medical records and bills related to your injuries, calculating lost wages from time away from work, documenting ongoing medical treatment and rehabilitation needs, and gathering evidence of pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life. We work with medical experts to establish the full scope of your injuries and project future medical needs if applicable.
Insurance companies often try to minimize payouts in aggressive driving cases by arguing comparative fault or disputing the severity of injuries. We handle all communication with insurance adjusters and defense attorneys. We negotiate from a position of strength, armed with evidence of the aggressive driver’s conduct and documentation of your damages. If the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to trial.
Throughout the process, we keep you informed about developments in your case and explain your options at each stage. We answer your questions, address your concerns, and ensure you understand the decisions being made on your behalf.
Evaluating Your Aggressive Driving Accident Claim
Not all aggressive driving accidents result in equally strong claims, and understanding the factors that strengthen or weaken your case helps you make informed decisions about pursuing compensation. Strong claims typically involve clear liability—meaning the aggressive driver’s conduct obviously caused the accident—combined with documented injuries and credible witnesses. If multiple people witnessed the aggressive driving, if the driver received a traffic citation, or if video evidence captures the aggressive conduct, your claim is stronger.
Factors that strengthen your case include serious injuries requiring hospitalization or ongoing treatment, clear economic damages such as substantial medical bills and lost wages, and the aggressive driver’s admission of fault or traffic citations for aggressive driving. Cases are also stronger when the aggressive driver was uninsured or underinsured, because it may be possible to pursue coverage under your own uninsured motorist policy.
Factors that may complicate your case include comparative fault (if you bear some responsibility for the accident), pre-existing medical conditions that the insurance company may argue contributed to your injuries, or gaps in medical treatment that insurers may use to argue your injuries were not serious. None of these factors necessarily prevents you from recovering compensation, but they require skillful handling and strong evidence to overcome.
Matlin Injury Law supports you throughout the evaluation and litigation process. We explain the strengths and weaknesses of your case honestly. We develop strategies to overcome weaknesses and emphasize strengths. We handle all communication with insurance companies and opposing counsel so you are not pressured or manipulated. We stand with you from the initial consultation through settlement or trial.
Get Help From a Castle Rock Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer
If you were injured by an aggressive driver in Castle Rock, do not delay in seeking legal representation. Colorado law provides a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, which means you have three years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit. However, evidence becomes stale, and witnesses’ memories fade as time passes, so contacting an attorney soon after your accident strengthens your case significantly.
Matlin Injury Law is ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. We offer free initial consultations where we listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. There is no obligation, and everything you tell us is confidential. We handle aggressive driving accident cases throughout Castle Rock and Douglas County, and we bring our full resources and experience to every client we represent.
Contact Matlin Injury Law today to schedule your free consultation. Call (303) 487-8911 or visit our website to request a consultation. Let us help you recover from your injuries and move forward with your life.
FAQs
What Is an Aggressive Driving Accident Claim?
Aggressive driving is a pattern of unsafe driving behaviors that endangers other motorists and pedestrians. Unlike a simple traffic violation or momentary lapse in attention, aggressive driving reflects a deliberate choice to operate a vehicle in a manner that creates substantial risk of harm. In Colorado, aggressive driving can form the basis of a personal injury claim when it causes an accident that injures another person.
Common aggressive driving behaviors include tailgating (following another vehicle too closely), weaving rapidly through traffic lanes, excessive speeding, running red lights or stop signs, flashing headlights to intimidate other drivers, blocking other vehicles from changing lanes, and honking or gesturing aggressively. When a driver engages in these behaviors and causes an accident, they may be held liable for the injuries and damages that result.
An aggressive driving accident claim is a civil lawsuit seeking compensation from the driver whose aggressive conduct caused your injuries. This is different from criminal charges that might be filed against the aggressive driver. Even if the aggressive driver is not criminally prosecuted, you can still pursue a civil claim to recover damages. The standard of proof in a civil case is lower than in criminal court, which means you have a better chance of recovering compensation even if criminal charges are not filed or result in acquittal.
People who need aggressive driving accident claims include those injured by drivers who tailgated and caused rear-end collisions, drivers who weaved through traffic and caused side-impact crashes, drivers who ran red lights and caused intersection accidents, and drivers who engaged in road rage behavior that escalated into dangerous driving. If you were injured by a driver whose aggressive conduct caused the accident, you likely have a claim worth pursuing.
What counts as aggressive driving in Colorado?
Colorado law recognizes aggressive driving as a pattern of unsafe driving behaviors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defines aggressive driving as operating a vehicle in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property. Specific behaviors include excessive speeding, tailgating, improper lane changes, failure to obey traffic signals, and using the vehicle to intimidate or harass other drivers. If the aggressive driver’s conduct directly caused your accident and injuries, you have grounds for a personal injury claim.
How is the aggressive driver held liable for my injuries?
To hold an aggressive driver liable, you must establish that they owed you a duty of care (which all drivers owe to others on the road), that they breached that duty through aggressive driving, that their breach caused your accident, and that you suffered damages as a result. Aggressive driving makes this easier to prove than ordinary negligence because the aggressive conduct is more egregious and clearly violates the standard of reasonable driving. Evidence of aggressive driving—such as witness statements, police reports, traffic camera footage, or your own account of the driver’s behavior—helps establish liability.
Is aggressive driving the same as reckless driving?
Aggressive driving and reckless driving are related but distinct. Reckless driving is a criminal charge in Colorado that involves operating a vehicle with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. Aggressive driving is a broader category of unsafe driving behaviors that may or may not rise to the level of criminal recklessness. For your personal injury claim, you do not need to prove criminal recklessness—you only need to show that the driver’s aggressive conduct was negligent and caused your injuries.
Can I prove the other driver was driving aggressively?
Yes, you can prove aggressive driving through multiple types of evidence. Police reports often document aggressive driving behavior if officers responded to the accident scene. Witness statements from other drivers or pedestrians who observed the aggressive conduct are powerful evidence. Traffic camera footage, dashcam video, or surveillance video from nearby businesses can capture the aggressive driving. Your own testimony about what you observed before the collision is also admissible evidence. Medical records documenting your injuries support the claim that a serious accident occurred. Our attorneys know how to gather and present this evidence effectively.
How long does an aggressive driving accident case take?
The timeline for an aggressive driving case depends on several factors, including the complexity of liability, the severity of your injuries, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Many cases resolve within 6 months to 2 years through settlement negotiations, depending on the complexity of liability, severity of injuries, and insurance company responsiveness. More complex cases or cases that proceed to trial may take 2 to 3 years or longer. We work efficiently to resolve your case as quickly as possible while ensuring we recover full compensation for your injuries.
What compensation can I recover?
You can recover compensation for economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, future medical care) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent scarring or disfigurement). In cases involving particularly egregious aggressive driving conduct, punitive damages may be available to punish the driver and deter similar conduct in the future. The amount of compensation depends on the severity of your injuries, the clarity of liability, and the insurance coverage available.
Will my case go to trial or settle?
Most personal injury cases settle before trial, but we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This preparation strengthens our negotiating position and ensures we are ready if settlement negotiations fail. We discuss settlement offers with you and explain the advantages and disadvantages of accepting a settlement versus proceeding to trial. The decision is always yours, but we provide honest counsel about the likely outcome and risks of each option.
What should I do immediately after an aggressive driving accident?
If you are injured in an aggressive driving accident, prioritize your safety and health. Call 911 if anyone is injured. Seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine—some injuries develop over hours or days. Report the accident to police and obtain a copy of the police report. Document the scene with photos if you are able. Get contact information from witnesses. Avoid discussing fault or signing documents from the other driver’s insurance company. Contact Matlin Injury Law as soon as possible so we can begin investigating your case while evidence is fresh.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Colorado follows a comparative negligence rule, which means you can recover compensation even if you bear some responsibility for the accident, as long as you are less than 50% at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you can recover $80,000. Insurance companies often try to inflate your percentage of fault to reduce their payout. We investigate thoroughly and present evidence that minimizes your comparative fault and maximizes the aggressive driver’s responsibility.
Do I have a case if the aggressive driver wasn't ticketed?
Yes. A traffic citation is helpful evidence, but not required to pursue a personal injury claim. You can recover compensation based on the aggressive driver’s conduct even if they were not cited by police. Witness testimony, video evidence, your own account of the driver’s behavior, and the accident circumstances can all establish that the driver’s aggressive conduct was negligent and caused your injuries. We build strong cases without relying solely on police citations.
How much will it cost to hire a lawyer?
Matlin Injury Law represents clients on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront fees and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. When we do recover compensation, our fee is a percentage of the recovery, typically 33% to 40%, depending on whether the case settles or requires trial. You are responsible for certain costs, such as court filing fees, expert witness fees, and investigation expenses, but we advance these costs and recover them from your settlement or judgment. You never pay out of pocket.
What if the aggressive driver doesn't have insurance?
If the aggressive driver is uninsured, you may still recover compensation through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage if you have it. UM coverage is designed to protect you when the at-fault driver lacks insurance. We file a claim with your own insurance company and pursue compensation just as we would against the aggressive driver’s insurance. If you do not have UM coverage, we explore other options such as pursuing a judgment against the driver directly, though collecting from an uninsured driver can be challenging.
