Road rage is a serious problem on U.S. highways causing car crashes by aggressive and reckless drivers. In many unfortunate situations, the instigator of the road rage may pull out a gun and may possibly wound or kill another driver or passengers.
At Springer & Lyle, we want you to know what to do if you are the victim of road rage. It may be possible to file a personal injury claim against a driver who caused you to be injured in a car crash due to the driver’s road rage.
Common Types of Road Rage
In 2020, there were 1,383 road rage crashes in Texas. The numbers are increasing. From January 1 to June 30, 2021, there were already 836 road rage crashes in Texas.
Road rage comes in many forms. Some examples are:
- Someone passes you, moves in your lane in front of you and slams on their brakes. This may cause you to run into the back of the car that slammed on its brakes and that driver will claim you are the one at fault for the accident.
- A car pulls up behind you and follows very closely. The driver may even try to get close enough to tap your bumper.
- A car pulls alongside of you and shouts at you and makes obscene gestures.
How to Respond to Road Rage
As difficult as it may be, do not respond to the road rage. Some advice includes:
- In Texas, call 911 to report another driver who is engaging in road rage.
- Ignore the driver and remove yourself if possible, from the situation. If you can, take the next exit.
- If you are near a police station, pull into the parking lot.
- If you are not near a police station, drive into the parking lot of a well-lit and busy area so there will be witnesses which may inspire the other driver to leave you alone.
- If you are the one who feels angry at another driver and wants to retaliate, pull off the road and calm down. It is not worth messing up your life by causing an accident that may seriously injure the other driver and innocent passengers just for a few minutes of road rage.
You May Need a Personal Injury Attorney
If you were injured in any way in a car crash, and believe your injury was caused by another driver’s road rage or negligent act, you need the assistance of an attorney.
The personal injury attorneys at Springer & Lyle can help you obtain the reasonable compensation you are entitled for your injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other physical damage. Contact us at 940.387.0404 for a free consultation.
