Driving in bad traffic is something everybody finds irritating. Some people, however, take their irritation to the next level and become downright aggressive. From the quiet and safety of the inside of the car, drivers who have road rage experience the illusion that they are safe and well-justified in their anger, no matter how trivial the trigger may be. Busy roads, a stressful life, and drug and alcohol use can all fuel high-anger drivers, who then take out their rage on the people around them.
This behavior can have tragic consequences. Aggressive driving contributes to approximately half of fatal car crashes, many of which are directly attributable to road rage incidents. If you or a close family member has been seriously injured or killed in a Texas road rage car accident that was not your fault, it is important to know that you may be able to pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.
Hallmarks of Road Rage
While most of us are content to pound the steering wheel or make a rude hand gesture, people who experience true road rage have a tendency to engage in the same dangerous driving behaviors again and again. These include:
- Passing illegally
- Not signaling
- Driving too fast
- Rushing around someone to make an illegal turn
- Tailgating
- Swerving in and out of lanes
- Driving on the shoulder or between cars
- Ignoring red lights, stop signs, and other traffic laws
- Using headlights or brake lights to harass or intimidate other drivers
- Forcing another car off the road
Any one of these behaviors increases the chance of a serious accident happening, putting both drivers and passengers at risk of injury and death.
What Should I Do if I Was in a Road Rage Accident?
The first thing you need to do is seek medical treatment for yourself and everyone else in your vehicle, even if you do not think you were seriously hurt. Some types of injuries take time to appear, and if you hope to bring a lawsuit against the person responsible for causing the accident, you need proof of injury.
Keep careful records of damage to your car and property, including photos and detailed notes of your memories from the accident. Ask anyone in the car with you to write down their eyewitness account as well.
Then, contact a personal injury attorney with experience in litigating and negotiating car crash settlements. You will likely need to gather further evidence from the crash to prove the other driver was at fault, which can be a time-consuming endeavor. An attorney can help you with this and every other part of your lawsuit so you can focus on recovering.
Contact a Houston, TX Car Crash Injury Lawyer for a No-Pressure Consultation
Our priority is making sure that you get the compensation to which you are entitled. If you need help understanding your legal options after being seriously injured in a car accident, schedule a free consultation with Shane R. Kadlec, our Harris County personal injury attorney. Attorney Kadlec will offer friendly, customized advice that is focused on realistic solutions for your circumstances. Call us today at 281-643-2000.
Sources:
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-aggressive-driving
https://www.apa.org/topics/anger/road-rage
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