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North Dakota Aggressive Driving And Road Rage Accidents
While everybody gets mad behind the wheel at one time or another, some drivers take it to the extreme. Road rage can lead to not only horrific car accidents, but also potentially fatal confrontations. While all of us experience stress, especially while driving, there’s simply no excuse for this kind of behavior.
Far too many people are either severely injured or killed in accidents caused by road rage. If you’ve been hurt or suffered the loss of a family member in this kind of event, please contact Sand Law as soon as you can. We’ll do everything we can to make sure that driver pays dearly. Schedule a free review of your case by calling 701-394-4744 or using our online form.
Why does road rage happen? How does it lead to accidents? What can you do if you’re the victim? Here are the answers to these and other questions.
Behaviors Associated With Aggressive Driving And Road Rage
Some people are naturally inclined to acting aggressively after the slightest perceived provocation. When this happens behind the wheel, that typically results in a road rage incident. These are just a few examples of this type of senseless behavior.
- Cutting off other drivers
- Speeding
- Ignoring traffic laws
- Flashing their bright lights
- Aggressively honking their horn
- Changing lanes with no regard for other vehicles
- Tailgating
How Road Rage Can Cause Accidents
Any kind of aggressive or reckless driving can lead to a serious accident, of course. But when you mix in road rage with that recklessness, the risk of disaster is even higher. There are some drivers who are so out of control with rage that they’ll actually ram other vehicles with their car in an effort to try to incite a confrontation.
Like any kind of car wreck, an accident caused by road rage can have a devastating impact on a victim’s life. The result could be a debilitating injury such as a traumatic brain injury, internal organ damage, broken bones or something else.
There are nearly unlimited scenarios where road rage can cause an accident. An angry driver could tailgate another car so closely that they cause a rear-end collision when the driver in front has to slow down. Speeding could cause the road rage driver to lose control and slam into other cars. No matter what the scenario, if you’re the victim of a road rage incident, you deserve to obtain as much money as you possibly can.
Steps To Take If You’re A Victim Of Aggressive Driving Or Road Rage accidents
The first thing you need to do if you’re in a wreck with a road rage driver is to stay as calm as you can. Your first instinct will probably be to lash out, but that could quickly make an already bad situation even worse – and possibly even more dangerous. That person could be drunk or on an illegal drug. Or, the person could simply be imbalanced mentally and try to attack you.
As hard as it may be to keep your cool, that’s exactly what you’ll have to try to do. Don’t look at the other driver, and don’t respond to any yelling or gesturing. Stay in your car if you possibly can, and keep your windows up. Call the police immediately. If the car is still operational, move it to a safe place in a public setting, such as a grocery or convenience store.
Staying calm will also help with your case. Once you’re safe, write down every detail you can remember. Make a note of how the crash happened, how badly you were hurt, and anything the driver did or said. If you can, take pictures of the accident scene and talk to any witnesses who may have been present.
It will also be critically important that you get the license plate number of the driver who exhibited road rage. You won’t want to talk (or, like stated earlier, even look) at that person, but you’ll need that number if you can get it.
It should also go without saying that you’ll need to seek medical assistance as fast as you can – even if you don’t think you’ve been hurt that badly. Delaying medical help will not only be harmful to your health, but also to your case.
Finally, never, ever admit even the least amount of fault to anyone. Insurance companies go to great lengths to try to avoid paying out a claim. That means they’ll talk to your friends and co-workers, and they’ll even look at your social media posts. Don’t jeopardize your case by even making a slight mention of anything you may have done wrong.
Types Of Damages You Can Recover After aggressive driving Accidents
The term “damages” simply means losses incurred due to someone else’s negligence. You have a lot of medical bills, more than likely. You’ve probably had to miss time from work, and you’ve lost wages as a result. There’s also a pretty good chance that you’ve had to pay out-of-pocket for prescription medications. These are all examples of economic damages, once you may be able to recover.
But there are other kinds of damages as well that you may have experienced. These are non-economic, or intangible, damages that you can’t put a price tag on. The pain and suffering you’ve experienced, the loss of quality of life, and emotional issues stemming from the wreck are all non-economic damages.
There’s also a chance you could obtain punitive damages. This is a form of compensation that juries sometimes award to punish people like road rage drivers. The point is to punish them so severely financially that they’ll never act like that again. Compensation for punitive damages is much higher. However, it’s important to note that they’re rarely awarded.
Contact A North Dakota Car Accident Attorney
If you truly want justice for the suffering you’ve been forced to experience due to the blatant recklessness of a driver who exhibited road rage, you’re going to need the help of a skilled, experienced personal injury attorney.
Sand law attorneys will fight with all of their power to hold that road rage driver responsible, and to make sure they pay for their inexcusable behavior. Call 701-394-4744 or contact us online for a free consultation.