Copyright OSHA Safety Manuals | All Rights Reserved, Care For Your Half-Mask Air-Purifying Respirator, Cold Weather Hazards Of Propane Fueled Vehicles, IIPP Injury and Illness Prevention Program. Did you get it right? While my injuries were not life threatening, they certainly were life altering for longer than I ever imagined. Oftentimes spotting these signs and acting accordingly would be the difference between getting involved in an accident and getting to your destination safely. In 2014alone,speeding wasa factorin 9,262 traffic deaths on U.S. roads, according to the NHTSA. Avoid offending other drivers. Aggressive driving occurs when a driver endangers another person with his or her actions on the road. In the best-case scenario, an aggressive driver will pass you by unharmed, and you can go on about your day as normal. Give an angry driver a lot of room by putting distance between you. It is important to note that even if you accidentally cut off another person in traffic or forgot to use your blinker, it does not justify another drivers aggressive or reckless behavior. In the case where you are a passenger traveling with an aggressive driver, you should do your best to calm things down. This will help keep them behind you and minimize the risk of an accident. Don't block the passing lane if you are driving slower than most of the traffic. The information on this website is for general information purposes only. For example, this might include things like working with accident reconstruction experts, who can analyze things like skid marks, vehicle damage, final resting place of the vehicles, or debris patterns to piece together how an accident really occurred. RELATED: Sophisticated Tactics Uncover a Truckers Negligence: J.T.s Story. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 56% of deadly automobile accidents in the U.S. involved at least one form of aggressive driving. One common problem with many drivers is that they dont realize how their anger and frustration is causing them to drive unsafely. The following are some driving behaviors that can qualify as aggressive: The following are examples of very severe aggressive driving behaviors: Certain people are more likely to engage in aggressive driving behaviors than others. You may use this opportunity to drive away while your aggressor is unable to pursue you but only if you can do so calmly, without endangering yourself or other road users. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)definesaggressive drivingasanymoving traffic offenses that endanger other persons or property. When Im in a hurry thats when everyone is driving slow. How Common Is Aggressive Driving? If you are the one exhibiting road rage, the American Counseling Association offers these tips to control your anger. And AAA wasnt the only organization that found evidence of a road rage epidemic. While some car dashboard symbols and meanings are easy to figure out, others leave you wondering if something is seriously wrong. But that eight million is just the tip of the iceberg, survey findings suggest. if you encounter an aggressive driver, you should take steps to keep Going up against the insurance company to get what you deserve is a challenge we are prepared to meet. Slow down or exit the roadway if necessary, but do not pull off to the side of the road or try to reason with an angry driver. Its important to learn the signs of aggressive driving, how to protect yourself if you encounter one and how to report the offense. Include a description of the car and the license plate number. Here's how: If you were injured by an aggressive driver, it's important that you speak to an experienced Toronto car accident lawyer who can investigate your crash and help you recover all accrued losses. Dont make it worse by driving aggressively. Never try to get an aggressive drivers attention or communicate with them in any way, unless your immediate safety depends on it. What Happens When Truck Drivers Violate Regulations? And you also may want to know what legal options might be available to you after a road rage incident. [Google Review], KBG Injury Law. Heres some advice the AAA foundation offers moderate- and high-risk drivers: Impatience When you begin to feel your blood boil give the other drivers the benefit of the doubt and treat them with the consideration with which you would like to be treated., Competitiveness For too many motorists, driving has become a contest. The research looked at almost 10 million one-to-five-year-old, If getting a brand new or preowned vehicle is part of your plans for 2023, there are some things to keep in mind. It is important not to take an aggressive drivers actions personally, even if you are the target. Though we rarely stop to consider its effects, gravity is an ever-present force which acts on you, everything you can see in the room around you and of course, your vehicle. Aggressive driving is a factor in over half of all traffic fatalities, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. What Should You Do When Theres an Aggressive Driver on the Road? If you are confronted, stay in your vehicle and lock your doors. The other driver violated that duty of care. For example, the quiz, Are you an aggressive driver, asks, do you ever get angry at other drivers? Please note that Santander Consumer USA does not endorse any services or products provided by such third parties, and is not responsible for the content, links, privacy, or security policies included within their websites. or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Aggressive driving can be caused by longer commutes, traffic congestion, and other drivers behaviors. Running red lights. Holding a drivers license is both a privilege and a responsibility. 3. However, if you have suffered damages related to the car accident (medical costs, lost wages, etc. Blaring your horn in traffic or making rude gestures are not illegal, but they can escalate and lead to road rage. When encountering an aggressive driver, you should: - DMV Written Test This may prompt the aggressive driver to discontinue their pursuit. If you commit to driving in a courteous and attentive manner every time you get behind the wheel, you should be able to avoid becoming the focus of another motorists road rage. Real 2023 DMV Questions - DMV Written Test Keep your cool on the road and live to work and play another day. The desire to help other people can be a powerful thing in such circumstances, but remember, there are professionals whose job it is to deal with this kind of situation. Driving is a stressful activity, as it requires you to remain alert, alternate between multiple tasks and avoid dangerous situations. What to Do If You've Been in a Car Crash Involving an Aggressive Driver, An Experienced Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Protect Your Legal Rights, Crosley Law: Holding Reckless Drivers Accountable and Getting You the Compensation You Deserve, Driving on theshoulder orside of the road. It takes everyones effort and cooperation to keep traffic flowing safely and smoothly. Driver's Ed: True or False Flashcards | Quizlet For your convenience, we have included certain links to third party websites in our site. [], In 2022, the United States Postal Service (USPS) ranked Albuquerque among the worst cities for dog attacks on its annual list. Congratulations. At worst, it can lead to a fatal auto accident. Can You Sue for Road Rage? Any purposeful, dangerous action fueled by frustration, impatience, anger or stress qualifies as aggressive driving. Do not challenge them by speeding up or attempting to hold-your-own in your travel lane. The increasing number of vehicles our roads, day-to-day stresses, tiredness and the growing prevalence of disrespectful behavior have all created an environment in which aggressive driving is rife. We will listen to the details of your story and provide you with candid advice about what your best course of action is moving forward. Lets look at what makes aggressive drivers so dangerous, as well as some of the most common contributing factors they engage in that cause crashes. When cut off? These are often the result of an aggressive driver following much too close to a leading vehicle, and then not stopping in time to avoid a collision. Medical care is one of the most important aspects you should consider after a car accident. If you encounter a aggressive driver, what should you do? These drivers are among the worst that you could encounter on the road. Crashes caused by aggressive driving can result in complex legal claims. After learning how dangerous aggressive driving can be, its crucial to know how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe should you encounter one. These are the three principles AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says you should follow to help ensure you avoid being the victim of an aggressive driver or be viewed as one. This is why its important to try your best to avoid aggressive drivers when you see them on the road. Instead of being angry at another driver making the same mistakes, give them the benefit of the doubt. Frequent driving obligations like this tend to contribute to acts of aggressive driving. Try not to become worked up or angry yourself, as this will only add fuel to the fire. Since that time, it's been categorized as an official term by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration defined as when a driver commits aggressive moving traffic violations with the intent of endangering another driver, or assaults another driver with a motor vehicle or dangerous weapon. However, to improve your chances of receiving a great settlement or jury award, youll need to make sure you keep a cool head yourself. Changing lanes without signaling. This may prompt the aggressive driver to discontinue their pursuit. Your car is no exception, in fact, it relies on the laws of physics to operate. Or, well, maybe. If you think you have an anger management problem, ask for help. Report the aggressive driver: If you feel that the aggressive driver poses a threat to other road users, call the local authorities or highway patrol . Mark Macesich is an experienced writer and editor who has written extensively about customer auto finance, car research and shopping, car-purchasing decisions, consumer news and insights, and auto-dealer-related subjects. Some drivers may lose their cool on the road when they face inconveniences. Everything in the known universe is subject to natural forces like inertia, gravity, friction and energy. But these maneuvers have consequences: more than half of all traffic fatalities are a result of aggressive driving. Do your best to get out of the way safely. So, with the school year about to start for more than 50 million children, we thought it would be helpful to remind motorists of the many challenges of driving not typical during the. If you are confronted by an aggressive driver, you should: Answers Make eye contact with the driver. Privacy Policy | Sitemap, "Wes Addington and his team did a fantastic job for me. However, its important to understand that criminal charges are completely separate from a personal injury case. His personality, caring nature and professionalism was exemplary. They usually just want to get to their destinations as fast as possible. Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved. Toll Free: 866-621-1551 Got me the maximum allowed for my accident and made the process very easy. What you need to know about road rage and how to avoid it Many of us are guilty of driving aggressively on occasion. Here are some actions you can take to help you safely navigate this situation: You might be tempted to speed up, ignore traffic lights, or blow through stop signs in an attempt to get away from an aggressive driver. One primaryexample is speeding, butaggressive drivingcan includeviolationssuch as the following: Data collectedby theNHTSAbetween 2003 and 2007 shows that, according toits definition,aggressive driving played a rolein 56 percent of fatal accidents on U.S. roads. Her and her legal team were very diligent and hard working and were able to get me more than what I thought I was going to get. Adjust your driving behavior to keep your distance and if necessary, call the police at the next safe opportunity. You suffered damages (property damage, medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, etc.) Pass your DMV Written Test with flying colors They allow us to go places and do things that would be much more difficult without them. If you encounter an aggressive driver, PennDOT offers these tips for what to do: Get out of their way and don't challenge them. Before you come to a complete halt, slow down. Do not attempt to intervene personally, if you believe an aggressive driver is about to cause a collision. And there may be times, days and months when youre especially likely to encounter it, according to a survey of Instagram social media posts using the hashtag #roadrage. Hawaii is followed by California, New York, New Jersey and Nevada. How to Deal With Aggressive Drivers | Progressive You must pay attention and act defensively, to protect yourself against the threat such drivers pose. In other words, theyre supposed to compensate you for what youve lost and make the situation right. Schedule a free case evaluation online or call us at: Attorney F. Craig Wilkerson, Jr. is a former Marine Corps officer with approximately 20 years of experience in personal injury and civil litigation. Car Accidents, Catastrophic Personal Injury, Personal Injury, Vehicle Wrecks. Unfortunately, it may not be just your imagination. In a car accident case, broadly speaking, there are three potential categories of damages that an injured person can be awarded: Economic damages refer to expenses that have a defined price tag, like medical bills, lost wages, property damage, cost of necessary household services, skilled nursing care, etc. ", "The KBG Injury Law Firm, Wesley Addington provided sound and strategic plans to achieve the full settlement available for the injuries suffered. Call 9-1-1 and give the operator the aggressive driver's license plate number (if possible). Dont force them to change directions or slam on their brakes in response to your actions. No one likes being stuck in traffic. Sometimes, their behavior can lead to road rage. It takes everyone's effort and cooperation to keep traffic flowing safely and smoothly. A sense of anonymity encourages some people to engage in rude, dangerous, and reckless behaviors. The most alarming findings suggest that approximately eight million U.S. drivers engaged in extreme examples of road rage, including purposefully ramming another vehicle or getting out of the car to confront another driver, wrote Michael Green of AAA. When you see another driver displaying road rage or driving in an aggressive manner, treat them the same way as you would any other hazard on the road. Fax:416-621-1558, 330 West Street, Unit 6 However, you must know how to deal with aggression on the road just in case you ever find yourself in hot water. Hawaii, by far, although Honolulu ranked only 22nd among cities. False But heres one way to get a measure of your RRQ (road rage quotient): a four-section, 40-question quiz from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety that takes only a few minutes but is sure to make you think. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice. What to Do When Encountering an Aggressive, Angry Driver The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) compiled several reasons why drivers act aggressively behind the wheel. The auto finance calculators in the Learning Center at Santander Consumer USAs website can help you learn just how much car you can afford. Enraged drivers have been known to follow and harass other motorists even if it means going several miles out of their way. Youve just witnessed road rage from an aggressive driver. However, some drivers treat things like highway maintenance, rush hour, or other issues that slow down traffic as personal affronts to themselves. The contentprovided here isfor informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject. It is very easy to misinterpret someones intentions when you are angry even a friendly smile or wave can be taken the wrong way. They are very cordial and polite. Traffic delays. But it can be difficult to determine who is at fault in an intersection accidentwith many turning into a he said, she said situation. Being accused of causing a car crash that wasnt your fault can make you feel helpless and angry, especially when no one else is around to support your story. 2023 Santander Consumer USA Inc. All rights reserved. Stopping in the middle of the road, cutting me off The list goes on., Saw some road rage today These two were blocking each other and got into it., Has anyone else ever honked your horn so hard you feared your airbag was going to go off?, Ugggh. If you think you have a problem with anger on the road or aggressive driving, get help. Nowadays, [], If youve suffered a personal injury that wasnt your fault and you need to file a civil lawsuit to get the compensation you deserve, sooner or later you will likely have to provide your personal testimony in a deposition. How to Handle Aggressive Drivers (and What to Do After a Crash). All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. No matter how highly you rate your people-skills, trust us when we say that engaging with an aggressive driver is extremely unlikely to calm them down. Tune in to some soothing music. highway hypnosis. Trying to outrun an aggressive driver may result in an accident as well as put more innocent bystanders in harm's way. Tips for Cooling an Encounter with an Aggressive Driver: Note the list of . But if you suffered life-changing injuries, you deserve to know exactly what happened, which driver (or drivers) were responsible, and which liability insurance will pay for your medical bills and other damages. Cutting in front of another driver and then slowing down. After a car wreck, you may feel like your every move is being scrutinized. Have a passenger call, or pull over to a safe location and call yourself. Too much to do. At Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm, we know you need help to put your life back together after an accident. When to expect your title after paying off an auto loan, Heres how long a car should be financed new or used, Use auto finance calculators before you buy your next car. Stay relaxed, avoid eye contact and ignore rude gestures. Other signs of aggressive driving are weaving in and out of traffic, illegal passing, running stop signs and failing to yield to oncoming traffic. This information is not intended to create, and receipt In the case where you are a passenger traveling with an aggressive driver, you should do your best to calm things down. We want you to feel empowered to []. Whether on Wall Street, in a casino, or on the highway, there will always be bad actors that want to break the rules. In fact, [], If your neighborhood is anything like ours, chances are you see a steady stream of delivery trucks, vans, and other vehicles pass by your house or apartment on a daily basis. Examples andEffects of Aggressive Driving. If you are having trouble staying calm while youre trying to get away, turn off your music and ask any passengers to remain silent so that you can focus on driving safely for the time being. Privacy Policy and However, accidents caused by road rage can be especially emotionally stressful. If you allow aggressive behavior to wash over you and focus on the task of driving instead, you will quickly forget the encounter and be able to get on with enjoying your day.
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when encountering an aggressive driver, you should: