At some point or another, almost everyone has experienced anger on the road. Some circumstances on the road might trigger unexpected frustration. Some people express their anger by just yelling inside their cars, honking their horns angrily, or making rude gestures. Unfortunately, road rage frequently escalates quickly. An angry response from one raging driver can set off another. Then, instead of simply expressing anger, road rage behaviors seek retaliation. On the highway, this could mean:
- Cutting off the other driver in traffic
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Refusing to share the lane or pushing another driver out of the lane
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Ignoring pedestrians or other vehicles in crosswalks or on the road
- Deliberately bumping or slamming into another vehicle
Anger decreases judgment. Not only does anger increase the odds that a driver will act in ways they would never do under normal circumstances, but it can also impair overall judgment and cause the driver to make poor decisions, such as running red lights instead of stopping for them.
Road rage can impair response time. The immediate response is critical to avoid accidents in a vehicle traveling at high speeds. Not only do many raging drivers choose to speed, which requires faster responses to avoid an accident, but those drivers may also have slowed response times due to their rage. Unfortunately, this significantly raises overall accident risk.
Road rage leads to dangerous behaviors. Tailgating, for example, may prevent a driver from stopping in time if the driver in front slams on the brakes or must make an abrupt stop. Running red lights or stop signs can put a driver in the middle of traffic at a dangerous intersection, putting not only the driver who caused the road rage in danger but also other drivers in the area.
Anger may cause unpredictable driving behavior. Other drivers have no way of knowing what a driver during a road rage attack will do next. As a result, those drivers may struggle to choose their own actions on the road, increasing the chances of colliding with a raging driver by accident.
Evidence of road rage can aid in the prosecution of the other driver in an accident. A lawyer can assist you in better understanding the compensation you are entitled to as a result of your accident and in pursuing that compensation, including gathering evidence of road rage in the other driver.
Contact Darfoor Law Firm at +1-833-327-3667 for a free consultation and case evaluation.
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