If you’ve been driving for an extended period, then you must have experienced road rage at some point. If you got lucky, nothing happened, and the aggressive driver proceeded on their way. However, this is not always the case. There are times when the aggressive driver won’t let up and keeps harassing you. Due to this, the raging driver sometimes causes a car accident.
There are times when road rage wrecks lead to severe injuries. The extent of the impact depends on the speed, the number of vehicles on the road, and the environment. Unfortunately, most drivers in Duluth have no idea how to handle road rage when it happens to them. In this article, the car accident lawyers at The Weinstein Firm will explain all you should learn about road rage and how to handle one in Duluth.
What Is Road Rage?
Road rage is a form of aggressive driving. Aggressive driving is when a vehicle driver is in a rush and drives recklessly. A type of aggressive driving is excessive speeding. Irrespective of the driver’s action, it shows a disregard for other drivers’ safety when you drive aggressively. Although there’s no law for road rage, there are several penalties against reckless driving, tailgating, excessive speed, and disregarding traffic signals.
Signs of Road Rage
You can usually tell that a driver indulges in road rage based on their behavior. For example, they could suddenly accelerate and decelerate dangerously close to other drivers. This type of action could be confusing and sometimes lead to a car accident.
Another sign of rage is the continuous flashing of lights, brake checking, yelling, tailgating, and even making lewd gestures. Sometimes, people who indulge in road rage constantly use their horns even when necessary. All these are signs of rage you should take note of.
How to Avoid Road Rage
Most times, rage results from an emotional issue on the driver’s side. But, unfortunately, it shows that they’re not dealing with this emotion very well and can quickly fly off the handle. That’s why the ideal course of action to avoid becoming a road rage victim is to prevent a car accident from happening.
Below are some ways to do precisely that.
- Get out of the way for anyone exhibiting rage. You can back off when they pull too close.
- If they’re driving next to you on a multi-lane highway, you should move to another lane.
- If they continue to follow you, you should get off at the next exit, wait a while before you get back on the highway.
- Use your signals and brake well before you make a turn or a stop.
- Check all blind spots before you change your lane or make a turn.
- Don’t react to shouting and other lewd gestures from the driver.
- Only use your horn when it’s for defensive driving.
What to Do if You’re Involved in a Road Rage Accident
If you’re a victim of an auto accident caused by a driver indulging in road rage, the first step is to check on other drivers. Unless the driver who caused the car accident is calm, try not to approach them. The best decision is to allow the police to deal with them. Also, make sure you call first responders if you or other drivers have an injury that requires medical attention.
Ensure you take pictures of the car accident scene. Then, if there are witnesses, obtain their contact information. You should also try getting the at-fault driver’s contact information, except they get aggressive with you. In such cases, you should wait till they’re calm before trying to get their information.
Notify your insurance carrier of the car accident but only provide them with your contact information, time, date, accident location, and your car accident attorney’s contact information. Also, ask the police officer for the police report copy when it’s ready. It’s essential to prove your claim and be beneficial if you can’t get the driver’s contact and insurance information.
Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Duluth Today!
Some road rage accidents result in severe injuries, while some could be minor. Unfortunately, there are times when you try to avoid a driver practicing road rage and still become involved in a car accident. In such cases, you can get compensation for all damages incurred in the car accident. To ensure you get your rightful compensation, you need an outstanding car accident lawyer on your case.
The Duluth car accident attorneys at The Weinstein Firm have years of experience with road rage accidents. We will help you understand your rights in such situations and all the damages you can recover. Contact us today to review your road rage accident case.
