When someone’s reckless choices behind the wheel cause an accident, victims often suffer painful injuries, emotional strain, and unexpected financial pressure. A skilled aggressive driving accident attorney helps injured people hold negligent drivers accountable for the harm they’ve caused.
At Graves McLain Injury Lawyers, we stand beside individuals and families in Tulsa and across Oklahoma who want justice after someone else’s aggressive behavior caused a serious crash. Our team helps clients pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other losses. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn how we can help with your claim.
Aggressive driving is operating a motor vehicle in a manner that willfully disregards the safety of others. The behavior often involves more than one traffic violation happening at the same time, such as speeding while tailgating or weaving through traffic. Oklahoma law recognizes this conduct as a threat to public safety.
Aggressive driving involves unsafe actions, while road rage goes further by including deliberate acts of violence or intimidation. For instance, tailgating and cutting someone off fall under aggressive driving, but getting out of the car to threaten another driver may require the help of a car accident attorney because it constitutes road rage.
Oklahoma imposes fines, points on a driver’s record, and possible license suspension for aggressive driving violations. If the behavior results in injury or death, criminal charges may follow. These penalties aim to discourage reckless conduct and protect everyone on the road.
Aggressive driving doesn’t happen by accident. Certain environmental and personal factors often lead drivers to behave recklessly.
Heavy traffic can test anyone’s patience, but some drivers react by speeding, tailgating, or weaving through lanes to get ahead. These impulsive choices often end in collisions that could have been avoided.
When drivers feel rushed, they may take dangerous shortcuts, such as ignoring traffic signals or cutting off others. Prioritizing speed over safety often results in serious crashes.
Drivers sometimes act differently when they feel shielded by their vehicle’s anonymity. They may engage in aggressive conduct they’d never attempt in face-to-face interactions.
Some individuals display competitive or short-tempered behavior even outside of driving. Behind the wheel, these traits can lead to road rage incidents and preventable injuries.
The state treats aggressive driving as a serious traffic offense. Victims may pursue both criminal penalties and civil compensation against the at-fault driver.
Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle with “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” This broad definition allows law enforcement to penalize drivers who engage in dangerous behavior.
Aggressive driving often includes multiple violations at once, such as:
A driver may face criminal charges for reckless conduct and civil liability for damages they cause. Criminal penalties involve fines or jail time, while civil cases focus on compensating victims for losses like medical costs or lost income.
When aggressive driving leads to injury or death, Oklahoma courts may impose harsher penalties. These enhanced consequences reflect the serious harm that reckless behavior inflicts on others.
Aggressive behavior behind the wheel contributes to many types of serious collisions.
Tailgating leaves no time to stop if the vehicle ahead slows suddenly. Even at moderate speeds, the impact can cause neck and back injuries.
Driving far above the speed limit reduces reaction time and increases the force of impact. High-speed collisions often result in catastrophic injuries or fatalities.
Drivers who weave between lanes without signaling risk striking vehicles beside them. These collisions can force cars into barriers or other lanes, leading to multi-vehicle accidents.
Running a red light or stop sign often causes T-bone crashes that seriously injure occupants on the struck side of the vehicle.
Aggressive driving accidents frequently cause severe and lasting harm.
A blow to the head during a crash may cause a concussion or traumatic brain injury, leading to memory problems, headaches, or long-term cognitive issues.
Damage to the spine may result in partial or complete paralysis, requiring ongoing medical care and adaptive equipment.
High-impact collisions often cause broken ribs, arms, or legs, which may require surgery and months of rehabilitation.
Blunt force trauma can damage organs like the liver or spleen. Internal bleeding is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention.
Many victims experience anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress after a violent crash. These emotional effects often interfere with daily life and relationships.
Determining liability helps ensure that all responsible parties are held accountable.
Negligence occurs when a driver fails to use reasonable care. Speeding, tailgating, or ignoring traffic signals demonstrate that a driver acted recklessly and caused harm to others.
When an employee drives aggressively while performing work duties, the employer may share responsibility for resulting damages.
If the vehicle owner allowed a reckless driver to use their car, they might be held accountable under Oklahoma’s negligent entrustment laws.
Sometimes, other parties such as auto manufacturers or maintenance providers contribute to an accident. Fault may extend to them if a defective part or poor repair played a role.
Victims of aggressive driving accidents may pursue financial recovery through a civil claim.
These losses include measurable financial harm such as:
These address the personal impact of the accident, such as:
Courts may award punitive damages to punish particularly reckless conduct. These awards aim to deter similar behavior in the future.
Families who lose a loved one may recover damages for funeral expenses, lost financial support, and the loss of companionship.
Proving aggressive driving requires strong, credible evidence that links the driver’s behavior to the crash.
Police reports document the officer’s observations and may include citations that support your case.
Bystanders or passengers who saw the event can describe the driver’s actions leading up to the collision.
Surveillance or dash cam video often provides direct proof of aggressive driving behaviors.
Accident reconstruction specialists analyze skid marks, vehicle damage, and other physical evidence to show how the crash occurred.
Modern cars store data about speed, braking, and steering inputs. This information helps verify whether the driver acted recklessly.
In most aggressive driving accident cases, Oklahoma gives victims two years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury lawsuit. The same two-year rule typically applies to property damage claims as well as wrongful death claims.
A few exceptions can affect the standard two-year deadline:
Because these exceptions vary by circumstance, consulting an attorney early helps ensure that you don’t lose your right to file.
Time works against accident victims. Evidence such as surveillance footage, skid marks, and witness recollections fades or disappears as weeks pass. Acting quickly allows your attorney to preserve crucial proof, contact witnesses, and build a stronger case.
Our legal team takes a thorough and strategic approach to every case. We focus on holding negligent drivers accountable while helping injured clients move forward.
We gather police reports, witness statements, and physical evidence to build a strong foundation for your case.
We work quickly to secure video footage, vehicle data, and other materials before they are lost or destroyed.
Insurance companies sometimes try to minimize payouts or deny valid claims. Our attorneys advocate for fair compensation and hold insurers accountable for their obligations.
We carefully calculate all damages, including medical expenses, lost income, and long-term care needs, to support a comprehensive claim.
If insurers refuse to resolve the case fairly, our trial attorneys are prepared to present your case in court.
You won’t pay any attorney fees unless we recover money through a settlement or verdict on your behalf.
Yes. Oklahoma follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover damages as long as you were less than 50 percent at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Call the police, seek medical attention, and document the scene by taking photos and collecting contact information from witnesses. Avoid discussing fault at the scene and contact an attorney as soon as possible.
The timeline varies depending on factors like the severity of injuries, the complexity of evidence, and the insurance company’s response. Some cases resolve in a few months, while others take longer if litigation becomes necessary.
Most cases settle outside of court. However, if the at-fault party or insurer refuses to take responsibility, we’ll be ready to present your case to a jury.
At Graves McLain Injury Lawyers, you don’t pay any upfront fees. We only receive payment if we secure a financial recovery for you.
Aggressive driving accidents cause serious harm and long-term hardship for victims and their families. Oklahoma law provides the right to hold negligent drivers responsible for their actions. Graves McLain Injury Lawyers has helped many people rebuild after devastating crashes by pursuing accountability and fair compensation. Because personal injury claims must be filed within strict deadlines, don’t wait to get legal advice.
Call 918-359-6600 today to schedule a free consultation and learn how our team can help you move forward after an aggressive driving accident.
