Aggressive driving is more than just reckless behaviorāit is one of the leading causes of serious and fatal crashes on Chicago roadways. From speeding and tailgating to dangerous lane changes and road rage, these actions put everyone at risk in an instant. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), aggressive driving contributes to thousands of deadly crashes each year across the United States. In a dense, high-traffic city like Chicago, even a moment of aggressive driving can lead to devastating consequences for drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike.
Our Chicago Aggressive Driving Accident Attorneys Fighting for Maximum Compensation
At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, our Chicago aggressive driving accident attorneys are dedicated advocates for victims of aggressive driving accidents. Our experienced personal injury lawyers in Chicago have decades of experience and a successful track record recovering high-value settlements and verdicts. If you have been hurt in an accident caused by an aggressive driver, get in touch with our firm. It is our Chicago car accident lawyers’ priority to seek to recover full and fair compensation for you.
What Is Considered Aggressive Driving?
As stated by III, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as when an individual commits a combination of moving traffic offenses, endangering other persons or property. A study conducted by the American Automobile Association identified driving behaviors associated with aggressive driving, including:
- Speeding ā driving too fast for conditions or in excess of the posted speed limit
- Erratic or improper lane changes
- Failure to signal
- Making improper turns
- Following improperly (too closely)
- Driving illegally on the shoulder, sidewalk, median, or in a ditch
- Failure to obey traffic signals, traffic signs, or traffic officers
- Racing
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Passing where it is prohibited
- Suddenly changing speeds
- Failure to observe warnings or instructions displayed on vehicles
- Failure to observe safety zone traffic laws
- Operating a vehicle in a careless, reckless, negligent, or erratic manner
Speeding and Driving Behaviors Contributing to Fatal Accidents
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), speeding has consistently remained a major factor in traffic fatalities, accounting for roughly one-third of all motor vehicle deaths in recent years. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that speeding was responsible for 12,429 deaths in 2023, representing approximately 29% of all traffic fatalities. Other dangerous driving behaviors that contributed to fatal crashes in recent years include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medications
- Distracted driving
- Failure to remain in the proper lane
- Overcorrecting/oversteering
- Drowsy driving (fatigued, asleep, or blacked out)
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way street
- Swerving or avoiding due to wind and road conditions
Taking Legal Action to Hold Aggressive Drivers Accountable
To assert the right to compensation after an aggressive driving accident, the victim must show that the aggressive driver who caused the accident was negligent. This involves showing that the aggressive driver owed the victim a duty of care, breached that duty, and directly caused the traffic accident and quantifiable damages.
All motorists on the road have a legal duty to use reasonable care and not operate a vehicle in a manner that can cause foreseeable harm to others sharing the road. Aggressive drivers may breach their duty of care in many ways, including speeding, tailgating, failing to yield the right-of-way, and making erratic and improper lane changes.
Hurt By An Aggressive Driver? Call Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates Today
At Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates in Chicago, we believe that aggressive drivers who engage in willful conduct that disregards the safety of others should be held accountable for the harm they cause. If you have been injured in an aggressive driving accident, contact our Chicago aggressive driving lawyers today. We can tell you if you have a claim and what damages you may be entitled to receive.
