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Why Choose Matlin Injury Law for Your Aggressive Driving Accident Claim
When an aggressive driver injures you, you need an attorney who understands how reckless conduct creates liability under Colorado law. Matlin Injury Law brings years of experience handling car accident cases involving aggressive driving, speeding, road rage, and other dangerous driving behaviors.
Our team investigates thoroughly to establish fault. We work with medical professionals to document your injuries. Additionally, we negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
We handle every case on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront. You only pay us if we recover compensation for you. Our team communicates regularly with clients, keeping you informed throughout the process. We’re prepared to take cases to trial when insurance companies refuse to offer fair settlements. If an aggressive driver injured you in Centennial, we’re ready to fight for your rights.
What Is an Aggressive Driving Accident Claim?
Aggressive driving is an informal term used by Colorado law enforcement to describe a pattern of dangerous driving behaviors. Legally, these behaviors often constitute Reckless Driving (C.R.S. § 42-4-1401)—a conscious disregard for safety—or Careless Driving (C.R.S. § 42-4-1402), which covers driving without ‘due regard’ for others. While Reckless Driving is a serious criminal charge, even a Careless Driving citation serves as powerful evidence that the other driver breached their duty of care.
Unlike ordinary negligence—where a driver simply fails to exercise reasonable care—reckless driving involves conduct demonstrating a higher degree of fault.
Common aggressive driving behaviors include:
- Tailgating
- Unsafe lane changes without signaling
- Excessive speeding
- Weaving through traffic
- Brake checking
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Honking or flashing lights in anger
Road rage—where a driver’s anger escalates to aggressive or even violent behavior—may result in charges under Colorado’s menacing statute (C.R.S. § 18-3-206), reckless driving statute, or vehicular assault charges, depending on the conduct involved. When an aggressive driver causes an accident, they’ve violated Colorado’s reckless driving statute and created clear liability for injuries and property damage.
Aggressive driving accidents often result in serious injuries because the speed and force involved are typically greater than in ordinary accidents. Victims may suffer broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, or permanent disability. Beyond physical injuries, aggressive driving accidents cause emotional trauma. Many victims experience anxiety or fear when driving after being hit by an aggressive driver.
If an aggressive driver injured you in Centennial, you have the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver and their insurance company. This compensation covers medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and other losses resulting from the accident.
How Aggressive Driving Cases Are Handled
When you hire Matlin Injury Law to represent you in an aggressive driving accident claim, we begin with a thorough investigation. We obtain the police report, interview witnesses who saw the accident, review traffic camera footage if available, and analyze vehicle damage to reconstruct what happened. We also gather medical records and work with medical professionals to document the extent of your injuries.
Establishing liability in an aggressive driving case involves proving that the other driver’s conduct was reckless or intentional, not merely negligent. We use evidence from the police report, witness testimony, and the accident scene to demonstrate the aggressive driver’s behavior. If the at-fault driver received a traffic citation for reckless driving, speeding, or other violations, that citation strengthens your claim significantly.
Damages in aggressive driving cases include:
- Medical expenses (emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation)
- Lost wages from time missed at work
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage to your vehicle
- Future medical care
- Permanent impairment or disability (in some cases)
We work with medical professionals and economic experts to calculate the full value of your claim.
Insurance companies often try to minimize aggressive driving claims by arguing that the accident was partially your fault or that your injuries are less severe than you claim. We handle all communication with insurance adjusters and their attorneys, protecting your rights and ensuring your claim is valued fairly. If the insurance company refuses to offer adequate compensation, we prepare your case for trial.
Colorado’s modified comparative negligence statute (C.R.S. § 13-21-111) allows you to recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident, as long as you were less than 50% responsible. However, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 10% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you would recover $90,000. We work to minimize any comparative fault findings and maximize your recovery.
What Makes an Aggressive Driving Claim Stronger
Several factors strengthen aggressive driving claims and increase the likelihood of a favorable settlement or verdict. A police report documenting the accident and citing the at-fault driver for reckless driving, speeding, or other violations is powerful evidence. Witness statements from people who saw the aggressive driving behavior before the crash corroborate your account of what happened.
Medical records and expert testimony documenting your injuries demonstrate the severity of the impact and the harm you’ve suffered. Photographs of vehicle damage, the accident scene, and your injuries provide visual evidence. Traffic camera footage, if available, may capture the aggressive driving behavior directly. Economic evidence—medical bills, wage loss documentation, expert calculations of future medical care—quantifies your damages.
We evaluate each case by examining the strength of liability evidence, the severity of your injuries, the clarity of damages, and the insurance policy limits available. Cases with clear liability, serious injuries, and adequate insurance coverage typically settle for higher amounts. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your case honestly and help you understand what to expect.
Get Help From a Centennial Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer
If an aggressive driver injured you in Centennial, don’t wait to seek legal help. Colorado law gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit under C.R.S. § 13-80-101. However, evidence becomes harder to obtain as time passes. Witness memories fade, traffic camera footage may be deleted, and the at-fault driver’s insurance company may deny your claim if you delay.
Matlin Injury Law offers a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your aggressive driving accident claim. We’ll review what happened, explain your legal rights, and discuss how we can help you recover compensation. You pay nothing upfront. We handle your case on a contingency fee basis. You only pay us if we recover money for you.
Contact Matlin Injury Law today to schedule your free consultation. Call (303) 487-8911 or fill out our online contact form. We’re ready to fight for your rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
FAQs
What counts as aggressive driving in Colorado?
Colorado law defines reckless driving as driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property under C.R.S. § 42-4-1401. This includes behaviors like excessive speeding (more than 25 mph over the speed limit), which is a separate Class 2 misdemeanor offense under C.R.S. § 42-4-1101(12)(b), tailgating, unsafe passing, weaving through traffic, and ignoring traffic signals.
Reckless driving itself requires a higher threshold—willful or wanton disregard for safety—and is a distinct offense from excessive speeding. Road rage—where a driver intentionally causes an accident or engages in threatening behavior—may also result in criminal charges depending on the conduct involved.
Who is liable in an aggressive driving accident?
The driver who engaged in aggressive driving is liable for the accident and resulting injuries. Under Colorado law, a person is negligent if they fail to exercise reasonable care. They are reckless if they act with willful or wanton disregard for safety. An aggressive driver’s conduct typically demonstrates recklessness, which can support claims for both compensatory damages and, in some cases, punitive damages.
Is aggressive driving different from regular negligence?
Yes. Regular negligence involves a failure to exercise reasonable care. For example, a driver who is distracted or momentarily inattentive commits negligence. Aggressive driving involves intentional or reckless conduct. A driver who deliberately tailgates, speeds excessively, or ignores traffic laws commits aggressive driving. This distinction matters because aggressive driving demonstrates a higher degree of fault and may support higher damage awards.
Can I prove the other driver was driving aggressively?
Yes. Evidence of aggressive driving includes:
- Police reports documenting the accident
- Witness statements describing the driver’s behavior before the crash
- Traffic citations issued to the at-fault driver
- Vehicle damage patterns
- Traffic camera footage (when available)
- Medical records documenting your injuries
Our investigation team gathers this evidence to establish the aggressive driver’s liability.
What damages can I recover in an aggressive driving accident?
You can recover 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). In cases involving truly dangerous conduct (like road rage or drag racing), we may eventually petition the court to add Exemplary (Punitive) Damages. While Colorado law does not allow us to demand these in the initial filing, we work to uncover the evidence needed to amend your complaint and seek these extra penalties to punish the wrongdoer.
How long does an aggressive driving case take?
Most cases settle within 6 to 12 months, though complex cases may take longer. Cases that go to trial typically take 1 to 2 years from the accident to final resolution. We keep you informed of progress throughout the process and discuss settlement offers as they come in.
Will my case go to trial or settle?
Many aggressive driving cases settle before trial when we present strong evidence of liability and damages. However, if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation, we’re prepared to take your case to trial. Our attorneys have trial experience and are not afraid to litigate aggressively on your behalf.
What should I do immediately after an aggressive driving accident?
Call 911 to report the accident and request police response. Seek medical attention even if you don’t feel seriously injured. Some injuries develop over hours or days. Get contact information from witnesses. Take photos of vehicle damage, the accident scene, and your injuries. Do not admit fault or discuss the accident with the other driver or their insurance company. Contact Matlin Injury Law as soon as possible so we can begin investigating your claim.
