Recovering After An Accident Caused By Road Rage

 Posted on June 29, 2023 in Car Accident

Most people have experienced some level of anger behind the wheel. Things like getting cut off by a driver, driving behind someone who drives far below the speed limit ,or nearly getting run off the road because another driver refuses to allow you to merge onto the highway can be very frustrating. The majority of drivers, however, are able to manage these situations without causing an accident. Endangering others by causing a crash is not  a justified response to these circumstances. If you were injured by an act of road rage you may be able to pursue damages.

This type of injury claim may look a bit different from a standard car accident claim arising from simple carelessness. You will need to file a police report, and then find an aggressive attorney who can help you pursue every bit of compensation you deserve.

What Are Some Common Types of Road Rage Accidents?

Road rage accidents can be particularly frightening. Because of the other driver's aggressive behavior, the victim often realizes they are in danger well before the accident.  There are a number of ways that enraged drivers cause crashes, including:

● Close tailgating - A driver who is angry about getting passed may purposely drive very closely behind the victim, often leaving mere feet between the vehicles. The tailgating driver is then unable to stop on time and has a rear-end collision at high speeds.

● Blocking - You need to merge or change lanes and an angry driver will not let you. Eventually, you are forced off the road and into an accident. In some cases, the road-raging driver will even act as if they are going to sideswipe you to force you off the road.

● Cut off - This is the opposite of close tailgating. Another driver abruptly cuts you off and slams on their brakes, forcing you to either swerve and crash, or rear-end them.

What Texas Laws Can Help Me Recover For a Road Rage Crash?

Two Texas state laws may help you recover damages after a road rage incident. They are:

● Negligence per se - Aggressive driving that endangers others may lead to criminal charges. If the other driver is charged with a crime based on the incident, it may be quite easy for your attorney to prove their negligence or gross negligence. Under the legal doctrine of negligence per se, a driver is likely to be found liable automatically when they break a law designed to keep people safe and injure someone in the process.

● Punitive damages - In cases where the at-fault driver’s behavior was egregious enough to amount to gross negligence, Texas courts may award you punitive damages. These special damages are designed simply to punish those who act completely without regard for the safety of others.

These cases can be tricky, so it is best to work closely with an experienced personal injury attorney.

Call a Collin County Car Crash Lawyer

If you were injured in a road rage incident, Burress Law, PLLC may be able to help you recover compensation. Our skilled Allen car crash attorneys will fight for you to receive all the compensation you deserve. Call 214-726-0016 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/driving-advice/aggressive-driving/