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Any type of car accident is dangerous but often more so when road rage is involved. Drivers experiencing road rage may intentionally intimidate or harm you because they perceive that you wronged them on the road. If you have been injured in a road rage accident, you may be able to obtain compensation for your injuries. Contact the experienced Rock Hill car accident attorneys at Schiller & Hamilton to learn more about a potential legal case.
Statistics About Road Rage in the United States
Research has found that 82% of U.S. drivers admit to either aggressive driving or road rage. Some drivers take it further by physically intimidating other motorists or intentionally causing an accident. The incidence of road rage is increasing and more drivers are in danger as a result.
While there are many reasons for drivers to get emotional behind the wheel and lose their temper, there is no excuse for road rage. Unfortunately, roughly half of drivers have been on the receiving end of another motorist with road rage.
For many drivers, road rage is not a one-time event. One psychologist explains that the average road rager has been involved in 27 incidents throughout their lifetime. The people who have these types of tempers will typically lose them over and over again.
What Is Road Rage?
Road rage is generally defined as a situation in which reckless driving escalates to behavior that is deliberately threatening to other motorists on the road. Road rage can be a very broad category of conduct that is intended to menace others and includes:
- Excessive tailgating behind another vehicle
- Cutting off another driver
- Blocking the path of another driver
- Leaning on the horn far longer than is necessary
- Profanity and obscene gestures
- Running another driver off the road
- Deliberately ramming another driver’s vehicle
- Throwing objects at another driver
The Effects of Road Rage
The driver on the receiving end of road rage can be in serious jeopardy. The other driver may deliberately injure them by provoking a major accident. Even if the raging driver does not make direct contact with another vehicle, their intimidating behavior may cause another driver to lose control of their car, and a car itself can be a dangerous weapon when someone is using it in the wrong way.
The Dangers of Road Rage Accidents
When drivers lose control of their emotions, it is much more difficult for them to exercise the due care required of them under the circumstances. They are also far more likely to make a mistake and act negligently.
Car accidents that involve road rage can be far more dangerous than other car accidents.
These crashes often occur at higher speeds on a highway, meaning there can be more force involved. Additionally, the driver who is on the receiving end of road rage is often startled by the conduct exhibited towards them, and they may not have the ability to take evasive measures.
Proving Road Rage in a Car Accident Case
Liability for a road rage car accident is not always immediately apparent. For example, you may have lost control of your car, resulting in a single-vehicle accident. You would need to show that someone else’s actions caused you to lose control and were, therefore, responsible for your injuries. There are other cases where responsibility for the crash may be more readily identified, and your battle would become fighting for compensation for your injuries.
There are cases where you may need to prove road rage to win your car accident case. An experienced car accident lawyer would gather evidence about what happened and present it to either the insurance company or a jury. Methods of proving road rage can include:
- Witness testimony from people who saw what happened before the accident
- Dash cam or traffic camera footage
- Recordings from before or after the accident where you have the driver amid a fit of rage
- Testimony from an accident reconstruction expert who can give their opinion about what role road rage played in the accident
It can be helpful to your case if a police officer arrived at the scene of the accident and issued a citation to the driver who was exhibiting road rage. Insurance companies may review the police report and use it to determine liability for the accident.
Damages in a Road Rage Car Accident Case
If you can prove liability in a road rage car accident claim, you may be entitled to a substantial amount of financial compensation. The responsible driver’s insurance company would still need to cover the damages, even when the driver has acted intentionally.
Your settlement check may include payment for the following types of damages:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
Because the driver acted recklessly (and intentionally), there may even be a chance that you can qualify for punitive damages if you take your case to a jury and win. The insurance company is aware of that prospect and may be more reasonable in settlement negotiations.
Reach Out to Our Experienced Rock Hill Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a car accident involving road rage, you need an experienced attorney to fight for you and help get top dollar for your claim, even if the driver’s liability is readily apparent. Contact the attorneys at Schiller & Hamilton today to schedule a free initial consultation. You can discuss your case and learn more by calling us today at 803-902-4583 or by messaging us through our website.