When Road Rage Turns Criminal — and Civil

By Eugene Bruno on July 27, 2025

A California motorcyclist was dragged down the street after a heated encounter with an angry driver—simply for filtering to the front of the line at a red light. The incident was caught on the motorcyclist’s helmet cam, and shows just how quickly road rage can turn violent.

According to news reports, the driver of a black Nissan Altima had a verbal exchange with the motorcyclist and accused him of cutting him off when the motorcyclist was actually lane filtering (which is legal in California). At the next light, the driver allegedly rammed the motorcycle and then kept driving, dragging the rider under his vehicle. The motorcyclist survived with mostly minor injuries, but the driver now faces attempted murder charges.

The Insurance Company May Try to Deny Your Claim

We often talk about the dangers of distracted driving, but aggressive driving and road rage are just as dangerous—and often even more unpredictable. These kinds of incidents don’t just happen on freeways. They happen at stoplights, in parking lots, even in your own neighborhood.

While this particular case is moving through the criminal courts, it also opens the door to civil liability. Victims of road rage can—and should—file civil lawsuits for injuries, emotional trauma, lost income, and property damage. When a driver acts on purpose, as appears to be the case here, the victim may also pursue punitive damages, which are designed to punish extreme misconduct and deter others.

Here’s the twist: auto insurance doesn’t always cover intentional acts. If your claim involves an assault with a vehicle, the insurance company may try to deny your claim. That’s where hiring an experienced and aggressive lawyer helps. It is crucial to know how to argue the facts to avoid getting your claim denied, and if that’s not successful, to know how to use uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) — which may be the only way to recover damages if the driver flees, has no coverage, or their insurer refuses to pay.

Speak With a Trusted Car Accident Lawyer in San Diego

At Eugene Bruno & Associates, we see cases like this more often than people think. Most don’t make the news, but they can be just as devastating to the person who was hit, injured, or traumatized. Whether the driver was texting, tailgating, or enraged, the legal consequences are real—and so is your right to recover.

If you or someone you care about has been injured in a road rage incident, contact our San Diego car accident attorneys by calling 1-888-BRUNO-88 (1-888-278-6688) and schedule your free consultation today.

We’ll walk you through your options and protect your rights every step of the way.