Road Rage and Aggressive Driving Accidents

Road rage and aggressive driving are factors in many accidents every year in Rhode Island, some of which have led to serious injuries and wrongful death. The American Safety Council estimates that aggressive driving plays a role in 66 percent of all traffic fatalities, and 37 percent of aggressive driving incidents involve a firearm.

If you have been a victim of a car accident caused by road rage or aggressive driving, the Rhode Island car accident lawyers at Marasco & Nesselbush understand the trauma you are going through and we want to help. Our experience and understanding of Rhode Island law have allowed us to obtain exceptional results for victims of road rage.

Our lawyers are committed to securing just compensation for clients to allow them to move beyond devastating injuries and losses. To request a free, confidential case consultation, call us now or fill out our online contact form.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines aggressive driving as “when individuals commit a combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” It also can be defined as “the operation of a motor vehicle involving three or more moving violations as part of a single continuous sequence of driving acts, which is likely to endanger any person or property.”

Aggressive driving can easily escalate into an incident of road rage that can endanger the lives of everyone involved. Road rage is defined by NHTSA as “an assault with a motor vehicle or other dangerous weapon by the operator or passenger(s) of another motor vehicle or an assault precipitated by an incident that occurred on the roadway.” It also states that road rage involves “the willful and wanton disregard for the safety of others.”

Examples of aggressive driving and road rage include:

  • Repeatedly darting from one lane to another
  • “Cutting off” other vehicles
  • Excessive speeding
  • Swerving or braking to block other vehicles
  • Passing illegally (such as on the shoulder or crossing a double line)
  • Braking to make a tailgater mad (sometimes called “brake checking”)
  • Road racing
  • Failure to signal turns or lane changes
  • Flashing headlights and using the horn to excess
  • Making obscene gestures and verbal insults
  • Confrontational body language

What Road Rage Crash Victims Should Do At The Scene

If you find yourself a victim of road rage or aggressive driving, it is important that you protect your safety. Never engage in yelling, rude gestures or any other form of antagonistic behavior that could further anger the other driver, no matter the provocation.

If another driver begins acting aggressively, it is important to take a deep breath and remain calm.

If you are involved in a road rage accident, there are several steps you can take to protect your immediate safety and your long-term right to compensation. After you are sure that you are in a safe position, note the license plate number of the other vehicle, its make and model and anything else you can recall. Being able to identify the individual who caused the accident or assaulted you is a key issue in your case.

Assault Is Defined As A Threat That Places You In Fear Of Being Harmed. Battery Is Defined As Harmful Or Offensive Contact Without Consent. Some Examples Of Battery Include:

  • Another driver gets out of his or her car and hits your car.
  • Another driver intentionally rams his or her vehicle into yours.
  • Another driver gets out of his or her car and strikes you.

If you are involved in an accident caused by an aggressive driver or injured in an incident of road rage, you should remain in your vehicle with the doors locked. Call 911 and wait for help to arrive. Seek medical treatment for your injuries and provide law enforcement with information to assist with their investigation of the incident.

If an aggressive driver has caused an accident or if another driver has assaulted you, you should speak with our firm about pursuing compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, medical bills and more.

Proving Road Rage Caused Your Crash​

Our personal injury attorneys can further investigate the accident for evidence that another driver’s road rage or aggressive driving was responsible for your injuries. We frequently work with independent investigators, accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to determine the true cause of a car accident.

Witness statements, security video, skid marks, vehicle damage and other types of evidence may help establish that another driver’s road rage or aggressive driving caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. A thorough analysis of your case should be undertaken as early as possible before evidence and witnesses fade away.

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