Road ragecan be extremely dangerous and happens much too often. Driving can increase anxiety, especially in high traffic situations, and being in traffic delays can bring out the worst in people. Certain situations make just about anyone mad, such as being cut off by another vehicle or encountering a slowpoke in the left lane. A person with road rage gets more than a little annoyed. They get furious and try to intentionally cause harm to another driver.
When drivers become angry and aggressive, the risk of being involved in an accident and causing injury to someone else increases. Injuries caused by road rage can be extremely serious when angry drivers increase their speed, become violent or exhibit any other signs of aggression.
Signs of Road Rage
When road rage occurs, an aggressive driver loses control of his or her emotions. Signs of road rage include:
- Driving dangerously close to the vehicle in front of them
- Speeding
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Intentionally blinding other drivers with their headlights
- Cutting in front of another car and immediately slamming on brakes
- Using rude hand gestures
- Excessive use of the horn
- Yelling or cursing
- Displaying a weapon
- Intentionally causing a crash or blocking other drivers from going by
An angry driver may intentionally try to provoke fear in other drivers. He may walk up to the vehicle that is stuck in traffic or follows you into a parking lot or even into your driveway if he believes you’ve done something to annoy him. Avoid making eye contact with him or doing anything that may be interpreted as confrontational or aggressive.
What to do When a Driver is Showing Road Rage
It’s not possible to control another driver’s behavior but you should avoid engaging with them. When another driver is showing signs of road rage, it’s important to keep in mind that his behavior is no longer rational and may even be dangerous. Pull your vehicle out of his way if you can and don’t get drawn into an argument or confront him in any way. The last thing you want to do is intensify his already out of control emotions.
If he walks up to your car, keep your doors locked. Be polite and courteous if you do get into a conversation, but don’t underestimate his potential for being irrational. If an angry or aggressive driver tries to follow you home or to your place of employment, drive to the nearest police station or call 911.
Potential Consequences
Road rage can cause a simple disagreement to escalate quickly leading to devastating consequences. Drivers who are very angry sometimes run other cars off the road, deliberately slam into the vehicle or may confront another driver with a firearm or with another form of violence.
Deliberately slamming into another vehicle can lead to extremely serious or even fatal injuries that can alter a victim’s life permanently. If you try to argue with a furious driver who is armed with a firearm or a baseball bat, the consequences can be deadly.
After a Road Rage Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident or attack caused by an out of control driver who had road rage, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. An expert personal injury lawyer can answer any questions you have regarding being injured in this type of accident. Contact Taos Injury Lawyers by filling out the form on this page. We will be in touch soon to evaluate your situation and determine if you have a case.