Atlanta police were recently searching for a suspect that they say shot another driver on the roadway. The incident occurred on southbound I-75/85, when a 39-year-old victims told authorities that a dark-colored sedan drove up next to his vehicle and the driver began shooting at him. The victim was shot twice in the shoulder and was transported to the hospital in stable condition. His vehicle also sustained damage in the incident. A passenger riding with the victim was uninjured.
Often, when an unknown driver assaults another driver on the roadway, it is a case of road rage. The term “road rage” was initially coined by news outlets in the LA area during a series of shootings on local freeways. Road rage is defined as a driver committing moving traffic offenses so as to endanger another person or property, or commits assault with a motor vehicle or other weapon against the operator or passenger of another vehicle. Over a seven-year time frame in the U.S., 218 people were killed and more than 12,600 were injured as a result of road rage.
While an intentional act such as shooting at someone in another car gives rise to criminal penalties, the shooter — if found — can face civil consequences for his or her actions as well. Similar to a hit-and-run accident, having an unidentified liable party is an ingredient for a complex personal injury case. Because insurance is the means by which nearly all personal injury settlements and awards are paid, the victim will be unable to file a personal injury lawsuit to obtain compensation for the expenses and impacts of his injury until the suspect is found, identified, and an insurance policy is available, or another source of liability is identified. There are often other potential sources of compensation in such cases, however, including filing a claim with your own uninsured/underinsured motorist policy or with your own personal health insurance policy.
Have you been injured as a result of someone else’s careless, reckless, or even intentional behavior. Let us help you make sense of the legal process for obtaining compensation. Contact Cambre & Associates for a free case evaluation.