Auto Accidents Involving Road Rage
Most people have seen stories of road rage on the news, but few expect to deal with it in their own life. Unfortunately, road rage is far more common than most people would imagine, and is one of the leading causes of auto accidents. Auto accidents often result in personal injuries that require costly medical expenses and amount to significant losses for the accident victim. Any victim of an auto accident has a right to seek compensation from the driver responsible for the accident.
Those who have been involved in an auto accident involving road range should contact the Daytona Beach, FL law offices of Chanfrau & Chanfrau as soon as possible. Our attorneys have a great deal of experience fighting to protect the rights of road rage victims.
Road Rage
Aggressive driving has long been a problem on roads all across America. As the number of violent and angry interactions increased, people began to describe these situations as road rage. Road rage is officially defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as situations in which a driver “commits moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property,” or an “assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger of one motor vehicle.” Road rage is different than aggressive driving in that it is considered a criminal offense, and the blame lies entirely on the driver committing the offensive act.
Dangers of Road Rage
Road rage is a violent reaction that poses a real threat to those on the road. Statistics compiled by the NHTSA show that road rage and aggressive driving are prevalent problems, and ones that often lead to auto accidents and personal injuries.
- Over the span of seven years, 218 murders and 12,610 injuries were the result of road rage incidents
- 66 percent of traffic fatalities involve aggressive driving
- 37 percent of aggressive driving incidents involve the use of a firearm
- 2 percent of drivers admit that they have tried to run an aggressive driver off the road
Preventing Road Rage Accidents
Unfortunately, only the aggressor can truly prevent road rage accidents. However, even if you can’t control someone’s violent and angry actions, there are ways that drivers can respond to avoid the danger of a road rage accident. Those who find themselves in a situation involving road rage should consider the following options:
- Try separating yourself from the driver by slowing down or exiting the road or freeway.
- If you are being pursued, drive to a police station, if possible. If not, consider a crowded, public parking lot. In the meantime, call the police and make them aware of the situation.
- Avoid responding to obscene gestures or shouting and do not let yourself be pulled into an argument.
- If you are feeling anger or rage yourself, pull over or find a place to calm down and take a few deep breaths.
Protect Your Rights
Those who have fallen victim to road rage incidents have a right to fight for financial compensation for all damages suffered. It is important to contact an experienced attorney, such as those at Chanfrau & Chanfrau, as soon as possible after the incident so that all necessary evidence can be collect and a case can be built. Our attorneys will fight to ensure you are justly compensated for your losses, and will explore all possible areas of compensation, including punitive damages.
Contact Us
If you’ve been involved in a road rage incident and have questions about your legal rights, contact us at your earliest convenience. The experienced legal team at Chanfrau & Chanfrau will answer any questions you may have and will lay out your best legal options for seeking compensation. We look forward to hearing from you.