The Law Offices of Joseph J. LoRusso, PA

Road Rage - More Common than You Think

Statistics regarding road rage demonstrate the enormity of the risk that exists due to such unacceptable behavior by drivers. Consider the following data:

• Two-thirds of traffic fatalities involved aggressive driving or road rage
• In seven years, 12,610 people sustained injuries and 218 people died because of road rage
• 37 percent of road rage incidents involve a firearm or another weapon
• 50 percent of drivers who experience road rage admit to responding aggressively
• Two percent of drivers admitted to trying to run someone else off the road

If one in 50 drivers have tried to run someone off the road, chances are you will be driving in close proximity to potential road ragers on a regular basis!

While road rage exists on roads across the United States, South Florida is a particular hotbed for road raging drivers. In 2017 survey, Miami ranked third for most road rage incidents - behind only Los Angeles and New York City. Drivers in and around the Miami area are at a particularly high risk of being involved in a road rage accident or engaging in road rage themselves.

Know How to Protect Yourself from Road Rage

We can never control the actions of other drivers. However, there are steps we can all take to help protect ourselves from road rage whenever possible. First, if another driver is making threatening gestures, yelling, excessively honking, or flashing their lights, resist the urge to respond aggressively. Instead, ignore the driver and let them pass you. If a driver is tailgating you, do not slam on your brakes as so many people may do. Instead move out of the way as soon as you can. Controlling your own emotions can help to prevent road rage from turning into a serious crash.
In addition, while road rage is never justified, you can avoid driving in a manner that may frustrate other drivers and induce road rage. Changing lanes or turning without a signal, driving well under the speed limit when not necessary, texting or other distracted driving, cutting off other drivers, using your high beams, and similar behaviors can be frustrating to other drivers. Frustration can quickly escalate so you want to avoid driving in a frustrating manner whenever you can to protect yourself.

Holding Road Raging Drivers Responsible

Road rage is completely preventable and any driver who fails to control their emotions and causes injuries should be held fully accountable for the harm they cause. If you have been in a road rage crash, you should discuss your rights and options with an experienced Florida car accident attorney as soon as possible.

In some cases, police officers will arrest drivers for road rage or will cite them for aggressive driving. If a driver is convicted of the offense, that conviction can be used to prove liability for your injuries and losses. If there is no citation or criminal charge, a skilled lawyer will know how to gather other evidence of the road rage, including witness accounts and video.

Road rage crashes can be serious and victims often incur extensive losses. Our law firm can help you seek recovery through an insurance claim or by filing a personal injury lawsuit for the following and more:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent injuries

Discuss Your Situation with a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Law Firm

The Law Office of Joseph J. LoRusso has witnessed the damage that a road rage collision can cause firsthand. We protect the rights of car accident victims and will handle the legal process while you focus on recovering from your injuries. Please call for free today at 954-715-3260 or contact us online.

CONTACT:
The Law Office of Joseph J. LoRusso, PA
2219 Belvedere Rd
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Phone: (561) 295-4400
Email: info@injuryflorida.lawyer
Website: https://injuryflorida.lawyer/
Blog URL: https://injuryflorida.lawyer/road-rage-dangerous-completely-preventable/