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Reckless or Aggressive Driving

Our Vancouver Car Accident Lawyers are Here to Help

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to the actions of a reckless or aggressive driver, you may be entitled to compensation. When a person is charged with reckless or aggressive driving, it means that he or she was operating the vehicle in a manner that posed a danger to the lives or safety of other members of the public. According to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), high-risk driving is responsible for 44% of all vehicle crashes resulting in injuries or deaths that are reported to the police.

What is high-risk driving?

Some of the more common ways reckless drivers cause dangerous situations include:

  • Following too closely behind another car—tailgating is an open invitation to run into the back of another car because there is less time and space to react if the front car stops suddenly and unexpectedly. Motorcycles also stop quickly, and following too closely can cause an accident.
  • Failure to Yield—Drivers who are careless and not observant of surroundings cause accidents by ignoring the guidelines for making sure everyone on the road is safe, including pedestrians. For example, when two cars arrive at an uncontrolled intersection at the same time, the driver on the right has the right of way, but an aggressive driver may unsafely decide to go instead. High-risk drivers are more likely to hit pedestrians crossing the street due to their aggressive driving behaviours.
  • Failure to adhere to traffic signals—Not stopping completely at a stop sign, intentionally speeding through a yellow light when it would have been safe to stop before entering the intersection, blowing through a red light, or not stopping at a stop sign or red light before making a right turn to be sure it’s safe are examples of ignoring devices that exist to control traffic.
  • Speeding—Going over the speed limit is a common infraction of the rules of the road. The posted speed limits indicate what a safe speed is for that particular locale under optimum conditions, but rain, ice, snow, debris and other conditions may make it necessary to reduce speed. The faster a driver drives, the longer it will take to stop, and the time it takes to react to a road condition is reduced.
  • Passing improperly—Passing other vehicles is inherently a somewhat unsafe maneuver and requires skilled driving. Reckless drivers don’t take the time to assess whether it’s safe to pass, sometimes pulling into the oncoming traffic lane with oncoming traffic too close. Passing on the right is also dangerous. Drivers need to make sure the vehicle being passed can be seen in the rearview mirrors before pulling back into the lane in front of the passed vehicle.

High-risk drivers are also a menace to pedestrians and those on bicycles. As an aggressive driver is less likely to be watching for others, pedestrians and cyclists are generally in more danger than other drivers. They are harder to see, especially when it’s dark or bad weather is occurring. A driver may attempt a right-hand turn without looking over his or her shoulder and not notice someone riding a bike on his right.

Legal Assistance to Protect Your Rights

Obtaining quality representation for your injury or wrongful death claim is crucial in order to maximize your potential to receive fair compensation. We will conduct a thorough investigation of the facts of the motor vehicle accident and carefully review all evidence in order to present a strong case. You cannot rely on ICBC to compensate you for your pain and suffering, as they have an interest in paying as little as possible. Contact our experienced Vancouver car accident lawyers to learn how they can help you.

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