Aggressive Driving

Speeding means exceeding the posted speed limit, driving too fast for conditions or racing. It is a contributing factor in almost one-third of fatal car accidents in our country, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says speeding is part of a broader problem of “aggressive driving.” The NHTSA defines aggressive driving as “a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” In addition to speeding, these offenses include abrupt lane changes, dangerous passing, following too closely (or tailgating) and ignoring traffic signals.

North Carolina is among 11 U.S. states that have adopted statutes to address aggressive driving.

In 2010, 10,530 individuals lost their lives in speed-related crashes in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Center said in a recent report that their researchers’ statistical analysis found higher rates of speed involved in:

• Single-vehicle crashes
• Rural crashes
• Crashes on curves
• Nighttime crashes
• Motorcycle crashes
• Young driver crashes
• Male driver crashes
• Alcohol-related crashes
• Crashes involving drivers not using restraints.

“Speed is often a component of aggressive driving, and — when combined with other dangerous driving elements such as running red lights, quick lane changes and a failure to yield — can have disastrous outcomes,” the GHSA says.

North Carolina law defines aggressive driving as “driving carelessly and heedlessly in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others.” A driver may be found guilty of aggressive driving if he or she engages in speeding and at least two of the following:

• Running a red light
• Running a stop sign
• Illegal passing
• Failing to yield the right of way
• Following too closely.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) lists “contributing circumstances” in hundreds of fatal accidents and thousands of personal injury car accidents across the state. They provide a picture of aggressive driving in North Carolina.

Some form of speeding – such as failure to reduce speed, exceeding safe speed for conditions or exceeding the authorized speed limit – was cited in 75,147 car accidents in North Carolina in 2010. These included 438 fatal crashes and 27,216 personal injury crashes.

Additional aggressive driving cited as contributing circumstances in car wrecks in North Carolina in 2010 include:

• “Failed to yield right of way” or “disregarded yield sign” in 33,479 accidents that resulted in 136 fatal crashes and 13,290 personal injury crashes
• “Followed too closely” in 4,989 accidents that resulted in five fatal crashes and 1,607 personal injury crashes
• “Disregarded stop sign” in 3,253 accidents that resulted in 41 fatal crashes and 1,576 personal injury crashes
• “Passed on curve” in 71 accidents that resulted in 30 personal injury crashes
• “Passed on hill” in 32 accidents that resulted in two fatal crashes and 13 personal injury crashes
• “Other improper passing” in 1,733 accidents that resulted in 12 fatal crashes and 511 personal injury crashes.

Aggressive driving, including speeding, is obviously a continuing threat on North Carolina roads.

Engaging in speeding and other aggressive driving behavior are choices that a person consciously makes. When any driving behavior amounts to negligence (failure to exercise due care) and recklessness (disregard for a substantial and unjustifiable risk created by the conduct), such a driver must be held accountable for any harm they cause.

Anyone who is injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver is entitled to seek compensation through a personal injury lawsuit for their losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If someone is killed because of an aggressive driver’s negligence, a wrongful death lawsuit may seek compensation to assist the accident victim’s family with funeral expenses, loss of financial support and the loss of the care, comfort and companionship of the deceased.

If an aggressive driver’s conduct rises to the level of recklessness, additional punitive damages may be available to the victim and his or her family. These damages are ordered as a means to punish the wrongdoer for their especially egregious misconduct and to deter them from inflicting similar injury upon others.

If you have been injured, or a family member of yours has died in a car accident caused by a speeding and/or aggressive driver in Northeastern North Carolina or elsewhere in the state, the speeding / aggressive driving accident lawyers of Glover Law Firm can help you.

Danny Glover Jr. is a seasoned negotiator, an accomplished trial lawyer and a passionate advocate for their clients’ rights and interests. They have over 22 years of legal experience and have helped thousands of personal injury victims and their families obtain favorable settlements and verdicts. They have been recognized for their work by North Carolina Super Lawyers, The Million Dollar Advocates Forum and N.C. Advocates for Justice, among others.

For a free consultation about your speeding and/or aggressive driving accident case, call Glover Law Firm, today at our toll-free number or use our convenient online form. We don’t collect attorney’s fees unless we are successful in our efforts on your behalf.

We assist speeding / aggressive driving accident victims throughout the state, especially in Northeastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks, including those in Elizabeth City, Edenton, Hertford, Camden, Currituck, Manteo, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Duck, Corolla and surrounding areas in Pasquotank, Camden, Dare, Currituck, Perquimans, Chowan and Gates counties.