The Tragic Implications of Road Rage

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Sadly, road rage incidents occur often here in Florida. We have all been cut off by another driver or found ourselves on the road where we could not merge over easily simply because other drivers refused to let us. Therefore, everyone has probably experienced a case of road rage at one time or another. However, for most people, road rage is a passing annoyance that will be gone almost as quickly as passing the vehicle driven by the person that caused it. But unfortunately that is not the case for everyone. And at its worst, road rage can lead to tragic consequences.

What is the Recent Example of the Potential Consequences of Road Rage in the News?

News 4 Jax recently reported that the Florida Highway Patrol has determined that road rage is responsible for a recent accident that left a 60-year-old man dead. The man was reportedly killed at the end of a road-rage pursuit in which he and the driver of another car collided several times before a final crash involving six vehicles. Multiple other people involved in the accident were also injured.

How Common Are Accidents Caused By Road Rage?

Unfortunately, there is no definitive way to track the number of road rage accidents. However, a 2016 report published by the American Automobile Association suggests that almost eighty percent of drivers admitted to experiencing significant anger, aggression or road rage while driving. In addition, and disturbingly, around eight million drivers reported that they had even engaged in extreme examples of road rage that involved confrontational behavior such as getting out of the car to confront another driver.

What Should I Do if I am Confronted in a Road Rage Situation?

In a world where other people seem to act increasingly erratic, there is a risk that at some point you may be directly confronted by an aggressive driver in an escalating road rage situation. However, if you know how to react, you may be able to prevent the situation from escalating further or even begin to deescalate it. If you find yourself confronted by an aggressive road rage driver you should:

  • Keep to yourself. Ensure that you do not respond to taunting or otherwise try to over-talk the aggressive driver.

  • Don’t get out. Even if the other driver gets out and tries to engage you, your best chance of remaining safe is from inside your vehicle

  • If you are involved in an accident, call 9-1-1. Despite your best efforts to remain calm, the other driver may cause the situation to escalate into an accident. If this happens, summon authorities to the scene as quickly as possible.

Are Victims of Road Rage Entitled to Compensation?

Absolutely. Road rage incidents can lead to property damage, but also physical injuries. If you or your loved one has been involved in a road rage incident and sustained property damage or injuries, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine if you have a claim.

Have You or a Loved One Been Injured or Killed as the Result of Someone Else’s Road Rage?

Then there is a good chance that you are entitled to recover from the responsible parties. The West Palm Beach auto accident attorneys of Leifer & Ramirez have helped many people pursue the compensation that they deserve during our 25 years of combined experience and we can help you hold the responsible parties responsible. Contact us today for help.

Resource:

news4jax.com/traffic/jfrd-at-least-1-dead-in-crash-blocking-lanes-of-roosevelt-blvd?__vfz=rtw_top_pages%3D3061700005532

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