People who in engage with road rage type behavior often start because they perceive that someone personally has insulted them and they want to make it known to the other person that what they have done was wrong. Often this neolithic type behavior is coupled with the person that was wronged doing the same thing to the other person creating the proverbial two wrongs don’t make a right scenario. Often one person is cut off by another person and then the other person does the same back to the original offender by speeding up and cutting them off. Slowing down by the person in front will ensue to make sure the other person gets the point. This process will repeat itself until one person decides to stop and it’s not worth it. Conversely, this could continue until someone gets into a car accident with the other person or worse, another innocent person. 

If there is an innocent party injured by the reckless behavior of these two, the innocent party may have a personal injury claim against both of these parties. Even if only one of the cars comes into contact with the innocent party, they both could be held responsible for the injuries because they both engaged in the reckless act that created the high probability that someone else would be injured by their negligent acts. 

This scenario could come into help the innocent victim especially where one party has little or not insurance to cover the personal injury damages suffered by the innocent party. In Washington State, there is a statute that allows for the innocent victim to recover in full from anyone of the offending parties 100% no matter the percentage of fault attributed to one party. For example, if one party is found to have caused 90% of the damages for fault because they rear ended the plaintiff in a car accident injury case but they have no insurance and the other party was found to be 10% at fault because they were engaged in road rage type behavior with the other party but they have insurance covderage to cover the damages of the plaintiff, the 10% at fault party will have to pay 100% of the damages suffered and then try to collect the 90% off set from the 90% at fault party. This is created for fairness purposes so that the plaintiff can be made whole and the two offending parties can battle out for the collection of their damages.

If you have been injured in a car accident injury case, you need a Seattle personal injury lawyer now to help you navigate the treacherous insurance waters and find coverage to pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Call today for a free consultation.