Legal Help for Motorcycle Road Rage Incidents

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Salt Lake City, UT

Road rage usually occurs when one driver’s perceived negligence causes, or almost causes, an accident with another driver. The result is that the other driver becomes so angry that they try to seek retribution by doing something such as they cut off the first driver or force them off the road. Unfortunately, this counter-action can cause serious injuries or even fatalities. If you acted against another driver and were sighted for a motor vehicle violation or criminal charge as a result, consider getting immediate legal assistance. A motorcycle accident lawyer in Salt Lake City UT from Rasmussen and Miner, P.C. has a successful record of protecting the rights of defendants. Conversely, if you were injured in a road rage accident (whether the aggressor was a motorist or a biker), we can help to protect your rights.

Common Instances of Motorcycle Road Rage

There is never a justifiable reason to engage in road rage. Even if a motorcyclist is almost harmed, countering could be costly for both parties. Some benign things can encourage motorcycle road rage, including:

• The driver of a car did not use their turn signal when merging into another lane.
• The driver of a car feels they were passed too closely or cut off by a motorcycle.
• The motorcyclist hit the car.

How is Liability Determined in an Incident of Motorcycle Road Rage?

According to reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about half of all drivers who have been victimized by road rage state that they responded to the aggressive behavior with similar aggression or even escalated behavior. In determining fault for road rage, it is important to note that the initial action that caused the rage may not even be a crime. Rude gestures, close calls, and following too closely can be infuriating and maybe even dangerous, but they don’t necessarily constitute a crime. If a motorcyclist responds to one of these annoyances with violence, then they may be held liable for the entire incident. However, every case is different and after hearing the details of the incident from you, a motorcycle accident lawyer in Salt Lake City UT from Rasmussen and Miner, P.C. can present your case to the court.

Here are a few examples of how road rage can manifest into assault and battery:

• One driver exits their vehicle to attack the other party.
• One driver intentionally collides with the other vehicle in response to the original incident.
• One driver runs the other off the road which can lead to serious injuries or death.

The driver who committed any of these types of assault may be considered liable for the incident as well as charges for battery and assault.

Consequences for Motorcycle Road Rage Defendants

If you are considered at fault for a motorcycle road rage incident, you may be charged for battery and assault against the other driver. In this case, you should consider seeking legal guidance from our experienced team. A motorcycle accident lawyer Salt Lake City UT trusts from Rasmussen and Miner, P.C. may be able to get your charge reduced or even dropped– call us today to learn more.

What Are My Legal Options if I Have Been Hurt in a Road Rage Scenario?

While those at-fault in alleged road rage scenarios should certainly seek counsel to protect their rights, those injured in road rage scenarios should also seek counsel to protect their rights. The experienced Utah legal team at Rasmussen & Miner practices both criminal defense law and personal injury law. This allows us to effectively perceive all sides of a case being argued so that we can make the cases we build for our clients as strong as they can possibly be.

If you suffered injury as the victim of a road rage incident involving a motorcycle (whether you were on a motorcycle yourself, on foot, or operating an alternative vehicle), please know that you have legal options available to you and our team can help you make an informed decision about how to proceed. Scheduling a consultation with a Salt Lake City, UT motorcycle accident lawyer is a risk-free, confidential process, so you have nothing to lose by asking questions and clarifying your legal options in this way.

Should you choose to file legal action against the party that harmed you, our firm will work to prove the three foundational elements of your personal injury case. First, we’ll need to establish that the defendant who harmed you owed you a so-called legal “duty of care.” As the individual who was enraged was operating a vehicle at the time, that will likely not be a difficult standard to prove. Every motor vehicle operator assumes a duty of care to operate their vehicle safely. We will then work to gather evidence to prove that the motorist who harmed you breached that duty of care by driving in a reckless and/or intentionally dangerous manner. Finally, we will work to prove that your injuries were sustained as a direct result of the enraged vehicle operator’s reckless or intentionally dangerous behavior. If your case is successful, you’ll be able to hold the party that harmed you financially responsible for many of the costs associated with your accident.

What if I Was Partially At-Fault?

It’s important to speak with at Salt Lake City, UT motorcycle accident lawyer at our firm, even if you believe that you may be partially at-fault for the accident that caused you harm. If the other party was reckless or behaved in an intentionally dangerous and aggressive manner towards you, chances are high that even if you were partially at-fault for the collision, they were much more at-fault for its occurrence. If it is determined that you were partially at-fault, you may not be entitled to quite as much compensation as you would be if the crash was the fault of the enraged driver alone. However, you will still likely be entitled to compensation. Therefore, try to avoid making any assumptions about how “strong” or “weak” your case may be until you’ve spoken with our team.

Legal Assistance Is Available for Accident Victims

If you haven’t yet scheduled a consultation with our experienced Utah legal team, please do so today. If you sustained injuries as a result of someone else’s rage, you shouldn’t have to bear the costs associated with your accident. Allow us to help you hold the enraged party accountable.