Let’s admit it we have all been there on the road, where someone cuts us off or takes that parking spot that was undoubtedly ours. The response we tend to give these people are all too common ranging from cursing like a sailor to the infamous finger flip. The road has become a concrete jungle in a sense as studies are beginning to show that more often than not people are becoming aggressive drivers, and aren’t ashamed, that or they simply just don’t realize it. Right alongside drunk driving, aggressive driving has become one of the leading threats when sitting behind the wheel.
A study done by Response Insurance showed that 50 percent of people when either being flipped off, cut off or tailgated responded with horn honking, yelling, cutting-off, and obscene gestures of their own. The survey also showed that a startling 2 percent of drivers admitted to trying to run an aggressor off the road!
Some may refer to this type of behavior as “road rage”, which is a by-product of aggressive driving. They are somewhat similar in the way that they both express a sense of being frustrated while on the road, however, the consequences are what differentiates the two. Road rage is seen as when a driver commits moving traffic violations so as to endanger other persons or property which would result in a criminal charge, in other words leading to a crime. Aggressive driving, on the other hand, is different in that it only results in traffic offenses such as speeding, or failing to use a turn signal. That’s not to say that one is less invasive than the other. In fact, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, aggressive driving is a serious offense and accounts for more than half of all traffic fatalities. Look at it as aggressive driving as the cause, and road rage is the effect.
Common behaviors that qualify as aggressive driving:
- Speeding
- Tailgating
- Driving slowly in passing lane
- Racing
- Failing to observe signs and regulations
- Seeking confrontation with other drivers
So the other driver cut you off, now what? Your first instinct is to maybe honk. DON’T! People are people, in other words, many drivers are thinking/doing the same. Instead, brush it off, maybe they have an emergency, or are late to a very important meeting, either way, everyone is traveling to get to point B. “Road rage is a two-way street,” noted Ray Palermo, of Response Insurance, “It takes two people to fight. So, if you are subjected to aggressive driving, often the best way to ensure it does not get any worse is to just ignore it.” Retaliating or instigating these situations can become violent and at times deadly. Never get out the car if someone is following you or flashing their lights, whatever the case may be. Your life and the lives of those with you are at stake when you decide to take matters into your own hands. Instead, call the police and inform them of what is going on.
What if you’re the aggressor?
So it seems that everyone is out to get you. People are mouthing absurdities towards you, honking, staring, etc. What may come as a shock is the notion that perhaps the aggressor is you. If the one causing the ruckus is yourself, perhaps changing your driving habits will help make your commute a better experience and help build some self-control along the way. Take a defensive driving class or a safety driver’s education course to make that step towards the right direction. You can find the courses listed here. Changing isn’t easy for a lot of people according to psychologist Dan Goldman, who says that anger is a rather seductive emotion making it hard to resist and easy to give in. His theory is that aggressive driving is a lot more serious than others would suspect, and in fact can be defined as an illness. The National Institute of Health actually sponsored a study that labeled the phenomenon of road rage as ‘Intermittent Explosive Disorder’ (IED) creating a growing consciousness of this developing epidemic as a medical based illness.
If ever you are the victim of road rage or aggressive driving, be sure to take the necessary steps to avoid any further skirmish. Contact the lawyers at Herrman and Herrman, P.L.L.C., if you or someone you know is injured due to aggressive driving or road rage.
Take this quiz posted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety to see if you are considered an aggressive driver.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
