
Road rage and aggressive driving are two of the leading causes of car accidents. In fact, statistics show that almost 70 percent of all traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive drivers. One of the more alarming statistics is that within a seven-year period, 218 murders and 12,610 injuries were attributed to accidents caused by drivers exhibiting road rage.
Incidents of aggressive driving or road rage can often be caused by one driver cutting another driver off. Another scenario may be an impatient driver tailgating the vehicle in front of them. How the other driver reacts to those behaviors can help determine how the incident will end – either peacefully or as another statistic.
Avoiding Road Rage Encounters
There are steps that drivers can take to help avoid becoming involved in road rage incidents. Some suggestions include:
- Always wait until the other driver gives you the right of way. Never assume that it is automatically yours.
- If you are using your high-beam setting on your headlights, remember to turn them down to the low-beam setting as soon as you see an oncoming vehicle approaching. Never have your lights on the high-beam setting when there is a vehicle driving in front of you.
- Keep your behavior in check on the road just as you would in any setting. Be polite to other drivers. A good way to avoid conflict is to not take another driver’s mistake personally. Reacting can quickly cause a situation to escalate.
Occasionally, however, even if you consistently make it a point to avoid aggressive driving habits, there may be times when you will come in contact with an aggressive driver whose anger escalates no matter how much you are trying to diffuse it. If this should happen, it is important to remember:
- Not to respond to the other driver’s behavior. Try to remember that the driver may just be having a bad day and is venting anger not really directed at you.
- Do not make eye contact with the driver or with any passengers that may be in the vehicle.
- Leave enough room around your vehicle should the situation escalate and the other driver approaches your vehicle.
- Never get out of your vehicle.
- If the situation is escalating and you cannot get away, call 911 or drive directly to the closest police station.
Contact Our Virginia Personal Injury Law Firm
If you are injured in an accident caused by an aggressive driver, contact a Norfolk car accident attorney to discuss what legal recourse you may have against the other driver. Depending on the circumstances, there may be criminal charges filed against the aggressive driver, however, you will still need to pursue a personal injury claim through the civil process.
Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to schedule a free case evaluation and find out what legal recourse you may have against the driver who caused your injuries. We’re dedicated to getting you the financial compensation you deserve based on the circumstances of your case.
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For over twenty years, Mr. Sharp's law practice has focused on serious personal injury claims, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury claims. He also handles nursing home neglect cases and medical malpractice claims. Mr. Sharp has counseled numerous clients about the complexities concerning litigation of both pediatric and adult brain injury. Mr. Sharp has been awarded the AV Preeminent ranking by Martindale, the highly respected and widely utilized directory of lawyers throughout the world. AV Preeminent status is awarded only to those lawyers who achieve the highest level of success within the legal field and is a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers and Judges rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. He has also been recognized as a "Best Lawyer" by U.S. News for personal injury, an accolade awarded to only a small fraction of lawyers. Mr. Sharp has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the top personal injury lawyers in Virginia. This recognition is awarded only to those lawyers who have achieved the highest level of success and have been recognized by their peers as demonstrating the highest level of professional excellence.
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