A recent hit-and-run collision made news because of a car driver’s intentional targeting of a motorcyclist and his passenger. Officials have taken the driver into custody and charged him with several offenses, including an aggravated battery charge that was subsequently elevated to two counts of attempted murder.
According to the police report and a home video made by a witness, the car driver had been stopped in traffic one lane over from the motorcyclist. After the two exchanged words, the car driver veered over into the next lane and intentionally ran over the motorcycle, heedless of the two people on it. The car driver then sped off. Fortunately, only minor injuries resulted from the hit-and-run.
Road rage is a very extreme example of unsafe driving behaviors. Yet in less serious forms, many drivers may experience frustration behind the wheel due to traffic or road conditions.
In the name of safe driving, congestion or slippery road surfaces typically require slower speeds and attention to traffic flow. However, the daily grind of commuting or coming home after a tough day of work may encourage some drivers to take short cuts. Unfortunately, a motor vehicle accident is often the result of such choices.
Our personal injury law firm has handled many different types of car accident claims. From rear-end collisions to hit-and-runs, we understand the importance of investigating the crash scene and looking for clues to causation.
Yet proving an offending driver’s negligence is only half the battle in a civil claim; a victim must also seek adequate compensation for his or her injuries. In addition to medical costs, an individual’s request for damages may also include lost wages, pain and suffering, and other costs.
Source: Washington Post, “Driver runs over motorcycle in horrifying road-rage incident caught on camera,” Sarah Larimer, May 31, 2016
