The Dangers of Road Rage

One of the primary dangers of road rage is that it leads to aggressive and careless driving behaviors which put other drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians in harm’s way.

Summary

• Road rage heightens the risk of car accidents because drivers are more likely to speed, merge carelessly, and disobey traffic laws.
• Hundreds of people are injured or killed as a result of road rage in the United States every year.
• Aggressive driving behaviors can include things like speeding, using rude hand gestures, yelling, refusing to let another car merge, and brake-checking.
• Car accident victims may secure higher settlements in cases involving road rage due to their emotional distress and the possibility of punitive damages.

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It’s not an exaggeration at all to say the dangers of road rage are frightening. Not only does it not make any sense whatsoever, it can also lead to injuries that can have lifetime consequences.

Road rage can also have a tragic end – and all because someone chose to get behind the wheel when they were having a really bad day and decided to take out their aggression on innocent people.

Even if you weren’t the intended target of a road rage incident, you may still have sustained injuries caused by an out-of-control driver. At the Jones Law Group, we don’t have any patience for drivers who give in to road rage.

When they cause an accident that results in severe injuries – or worse – they have to be held accountable and forced to pay dearly. Our attorneys will be ready to help you get every penny of compensation if you’ve suffered an injury in a senseless road rage accident.

Schedule a free review of your case by giving us a call at (727) 571-1333 or contacting us online.

Road Rage Statistics Highlight the Dangers of This Behavior

Even though everyone knows about the dangers of road rage, many of us don’t realize just how bad this problem is. Here are just a few statistics that will paint a clear picture:

• One of the most common forms of negligence committed by drivers is speeding. But whether someone is enraged when behind the wheel or they’re simply not paying enough attention to how fast they’re going, speeding is incredibly dangerous. In fact, it was responsible for nearly 30% of all traffic-related fatalities in 2020.
• More than 50% of all fatal crashes involved road rage.
• It has been estimated that stress led to a 12% spike in vehicle deaths in 2021 compared to 2020.
• Pew Research data on road rage shows that since 2020, the average number of road rage incidents involving guns has increased. Furthermore, the annual average of road rage fatalities and injuries increased during this timeframe.

Car accidents caused by road rage can inflict catastrophic injuries that impact lives of accident victims and their families for years to come, and statistics like these emphasize the gravity of the issue.

What Causes Road Rage?

Just about every driver has been on the road when they were frustrated for some reason or another. But what makes someone so angry that they become so consumed by road rage they cause an accident?

• One possibility is that people are just more stressed than ever before. It’s hard not to be if you pay attention to what’s going on in this country. Far too many people take that stress with them when they get in their vehicles, and the potential consequences can be deadly.
• When a motorist is already mad, trying to navigate a parking lot can make things even worse. Cars are coming from every conceivable direction, making frustration build to the point where it boils over.
• There are some people that, for whatever reason, just can’t deal with being in traffic. While no one likes it, of course, there are some that hate it so much they fly into a rage – especially when they come upon an unexpected traffic jam.
• For some drivers, they feel like they’re anonymous when they’re on a freeway. This can sometimes make them more prone to engaging in risky behavior, such as speeding or cutting off others.
• A driver might look over at another and see them talking on their phone, eating, or doing something else that could take their focus off of the road. That behavior could enrage them so much that they drive in an erratic fashion.

Types of Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving can take a lot of forms. As road rage increases in Florida, here are just a few examples of impulsive behavior to be mindful of, as they can be incredibly hazardous.

• Keeping another car from making a lane change
• Hitting or bumping another vehicle on purpose
• Braking suddenly and for no reason
• Tailgating
• Honking and yelling at others on the road
• Cutting off other cars
• Throwing an object towards another vehicle
• Speeding up to prevent another vehicle from merging
• Brandishing or using a weapon to intimidate another driver

Even if the aggressive driver’s vehicle never actually hits your car, their actions can still be a dangerous distraction. A driver exhibiting road rage may bear some liability if their reckless behavior contributed to your car accident and subsequent injuries.

What Types of Accidents Does Road Rage Cause?

Road rage can contribute to a lot of different kinds of car wrecks. Here are a few of the more common ones.

T-Bone Accidents

When someone is so angry that they are completely oblivious to the safety of the people surrounding them, they could easily speed through a red light or a stop sign. This will very likely result in the road rage driver slamming into the side of another motorist entering the intersection.

Head-On Collisions

In extreme instances, one of the dangers of people with road rage is they can get so irate that they actually become disoriented and don’t realize where they’re going.

They can wind up going the wrong way on a highway by trying to enter by using an exit ramp. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture just how devastating this kind of high-speed, head-on collision can be.

Rear-End Accidents

Again, a traffic jam can be infuriating – but there are plenty of drivers who take their anger to extremes. They might be so enraged they will try to plow through any vehicle in their path and slam into the rear of an unsuspecting driver as a result.

Rollover Accidents 

Generally, a vehicle has to be traveling at a high rate of speed in order to actually overturn. Sometimes, aggressive drivers become so impatient that they seize an opportunity to slam on their accelerator without regard for anyone else’s safety.

If they collide with another vehicle, say on the highway, both cars may be at risk of a rollover. Even if the aggressive driver’s vehicle overturns because they struck a stationary object, their damaged car and the debris it produces can become hazards to nearby motorists. 

Chain-Reaction Accidents 

A driver exhibiting road rage can cause considerable destruction in their wake. Subsequent collisions may result as other drivers swerve to avoid them, encounter debris from the crash, or become distracted by the spectacle. 

How Does Road Rage Affect Car Accident Claims?

You might know beyond a shadow of a doubt that another driver’s road rage led directly to your accident. In order to file a successful car accident claim, however, you’ll have to show solid proof that was the case.

If your attorney can uncover that evidence, there’s a chance you could obtain what are known as “punitive” damages. It’s important to know that punitive damages are hardly ever awarded.

But the point is to punish someone for egregious negligence and to do so severely that others won’t make the same mistake. Who would deserve this kind of punishment more than someone causing an accident due to their road rage?

How Does Road Rage Affect Compensation?

One of the dangers of road rage is that they can be incredibly traumatizing emotionally to an injury victim. A typical accident may involve negligence, but road rage is an even worse form of negligence.

Victims may suffer severe emotional harm because they were directly targeted. If that’s the case, they could obtain even more compensation in a car accident settlement in addition to what they’ll already have coming for their medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

Contact Jones Law Group if You’ve Been Involved in a Car Accident

While the dangers of road rage are obvious to most drivers, the potential costs of a road rage-related car accident injury may not be. Our team of Florida personal injury lawyers can help you identify your damages and pursue compensation for those losses.

The expert, passionate car accident attorneys with the Jones Law Group are standing by to help if you’ve suffered an injury in a road rage accident.

Contact us online or call (727) 571-1333 for a free review of your case. We take road rage-related car accident cases from Madeira Beach, Largo, Gulfport, and other communities in the St. Petersburg area.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if another driver is exhibiting road rage towards me?

Even if you are tempted to respond, do not engage an aggressive driver. This only puts you at a greater risk of getting injured.

Avoid making eye contact, continue to operate your vehicle in a responsible manner, and do not retaliate. Try to put space between you and the aggressive driver as quickly and as safely as you can.

Should I go see a doctor after a road rage car accident?

Absolutely. Seeking medical attention for personal injuries is standard after a typical car accident, let alone one involving road rage. Chances are good that your adrenaline is pumping, which may be temporarily clouding your ability to perceive pain.

Therefore, it’s important to let a medical provider assess you for any injuries.  Another one of the dangers of road rage is that it can cause acute stress, which can lead you to make mistakes like forgoing medical attention, consequently compromising any case you may consider bringing.

What is the deadline to file a claim in civil court following a road rage incident?

Criminal and civil statute of limitations often differ. If you’re looking to file a personal injury claim to recover financial compensation because an aggressive driver injured you, that would be considered a civil case, and you would have 2 years to bring a claim under Florida law.