Atlanta Road Rage Accidents Cause Injuries and Death
As an Atlanta automobile accident lawyer I have had numerous clients injured in wrecks resulting from road rage. The latest involved in an accident on an Atlanta highway caused when an irate driver quickly changed lanes into the lane of travel of my client and slammed on his brakes. Trying to avoid running into the rear of the other vehicle, my client lost control of his SUV and careened into the median wall and the SUV flipped on its side.
The interesting thing about this incident was that my client was not in any way involved in the road rage behavior between the two other drivers. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and was the innocent victim of intentional bad behavior. He was injured, but fortunately he has completely recovered. He is very fortunate that his injuries were not more serious. We have represented others injured in accidents that are the results of road rage who have been seriously injured and the family of one person killed.
Like all Georgia automobile accident cases, those injured and the families of those killed in an accident resulting from road rage may seek monetary damages for the negligent and intentional acts of those responsible for causing the accidents. The damages include compensation for medical bills, lost wages, the diminished capacity to earn, and emotional and physical pain and suffering. If someone is killed, the survivors of the deceased can also recover wrongful death damages for the full value of the life of the deceased.
What is different in cases involving road rage is that in addition to the damages available talked about above, punitive damages are also often recoverable. Punitive damages are awarded in Georgia not to compensate the injured, but solely to punish, penalize and deter the wrongdoer. They are only available in cases where the wrongdoer's actions show a willful misconduct or a conscious indifference to the consequences. In Georgia, typical road rage behavior rises to this level, and a jury may award punitive damages at the trial of the case. This is important, because punitive damages can be considerable, increasing the value of the case significantly.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an automobile or trucking accident resulting from road rage, please feel free to call me to discuss you situation. If you don't call me, please speak to another competent lawyer who knows how to pursue these cases. Having the right lawyer in these types of cases can have a dramatic impact on the value of your claims.
