What Are Road Rage Accidents?

If you’ve spent any time behind the wheel in Dallas, chances are you’ve encountered road rage before. Sometimes, when a driver feels that another motorist has inconvenienced them, they react in an unhealthy way. As they let their anger get the best of them, they may honk, tailgate, cut off other vehicles, or even intentionally cause a car crash in Dallas.

Were you injured in a road rage accident? If so, you could be entitled to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and other losses you suffered. Contact the experienced personal injury lawyers in Dallas of Tate Law Offices, P.C. today for a free consultation to discuss your case.

What Is Road Rage?

Road rage is a specific type of aggressive driving that involves a driver getting revenge on another driver they feel has wronged them. While some acts of road rage are merely verbal – such as shouting profanities or making lewd hand signals at another motorist – other instances of road rage can lead to collisions and injuries.

Texas Road Rage Statistics

According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA), aggressive driving plays a role in 56 percent of all fatal traffic-related accidents. Aggressive driving can quickly escalate to road rage.

Another study, which examined 10,000 road rage accidents over seven years, found that 218 murders and 12,610 injury cases resulted from those accidents. At least six of these fatalities occurred in Texas, according to The Zebra. AAA also found in a survey that nine out of ten participants believed that aggressive drivers were either “somewhat” of a threat or a “very serious” threat. Nonetheless, 82 percent of The Zebra survey respondents admitted to committing at least one act of road rage within the past year.

Per the American Psychological Association (APA), young male drivers are the most likely group to engage in road rage.

Examples of Road Rage

When a driver lets their emotions get the best of them and loses their self-control, it can be difficult to predict exactly how they will behave. However, some common examples of road rage include:

• Blocking traffic
• Cutting off other vehicles on purpose
• Driving on the sidewalk
• Following the person they think has wronged them
• Honking
• Initiating confrontation outside the vehicles
• Intentionally ramming
• Rude gestures
• Speeding
• Tailgating
• Weaving
• Yelling

To combat road rage, it’s essential to understand what tends to trigger it among drivers with short fuses.

Causes of Road Rage

Although there is no single cause of road rage, many instances of road rage stem from:

• Impatience – Impatient drivers are more likely to drive aggressively. If a driver is late for a morning meeting or in a hurry to reach their destination, they may have fewer reservations about driving carelessly. They may also be more likely to snap if another motorist gets in their way or inconveniences them.
• Heavy traffic – Sitting in stalled traffic can cause a driver to become impatient. If an easily angered driver feels inconvenienced by heavy traffic conditions, they may react aggressively.
• Distracted driving – Distracted driving occurs when a driver engages in any activity that pulls their focus away from the task of driving. Texting is one of the most common distracted driving behaviors. If an aggressive driver is inconvenienced by a distracted driver who isn’t paying attention, they may react by lashing out.
• Anonymity – Because aggressive drivers have anonymity, they may feel emboldened to behave in ways they probably wouldn’t if they knew the other driver.

What To Do After a Road Rage Accident

If you were involved in a road rage incident you should call law enforcement to the scene immediately.  You should also remain calm and don’t do anything to provoke the motorist who hit you.  After the police arrive try to collect any evidence at the scene and especially photographs of the scene and the vehicles because police officers frequently don’t take pictures. Describe what actions the aggressive driver took to the police and what, if anything, they said to you. If you were injured in the accident you should take photos of your injuries and seek medical help.

To find out how to pursue the compensation you deserve, you should speak with an attorney. The Dallas car accident lawyers at Tate Law Offices, P.C. have the necessary knowledge and experience to help you with your claim. We have a 99 percent success rate. Contact us today for a free, no-risk consultation.