We all have experienced it, that moment when you realize that you have
done something to anger another driver, who now is willing to miss his
exit, be late for the game, or risk injury in order to communicate his
ire. Those moments are frightening, especially when you read about the
severe injuries and fatalities that result from aggressive driving and
road rage. The best way to deal with this situation is to remain calm,
do not to engage the other driver in any way, call 911 to report the incident,
and find out where the nearest police station or other emergency provider
location can be found.
Although it is hard to escape a collision if the other driver is committed to impacting your vehicle, there are things to watch for in order, if it is possible, to get away from the aggressive driver before further escalation. Aggressive drivers seem intent on intimidating or inflicting fear in other drivers, so it is important to stay alert for the following warning signs:
- Weaving back and forth through lanes of traffic. Aggressive driving often involves reckless lane changes, pulling in front of drivers with little room to spare, causing them to brake or swerve and threatening the safety of all the drivers in the vicinity.
- Tailgating. Aggressive drivers will drive up to the back bumper of a car in front of him and leave very little space between the two vehicles. Sometimes, the aggressive driver will ride directly behind a vehicle before dropping back and then accelerating back into place in close proximity to the targeted victim.
- Improperly passing another vehicle. This can include passing in a no-passing zone or going around a vehicle on the right. Frequently, an aggressive driver or one in the throes of road rage wants the target of his anger to know that he is mad, so he will recklessly pull to the right, gun it around the target vehicle, and then wildly pull back in front of the other car, cutting it as close as possible (known as "shaving"), oftentimes applying the brakes once he is in front. This type of behavior quickly can become life threatening, especially if these hostile actions occur at high rates of speed.
- Flashing lights, honking, gunning the engine while stopped, and displaying obscene gestures. These are all very overt signs that somebody is reacting in a threatening manner. All of these warning signs should be taken very seriously.
While driving, a passenger should try to take photos or video of the dangerous driving if it is possible to do so in a safe manner without further aggravating the situation. If you were unable to avoid an accident caused by an aggressive driver, it is important to call the police immediately. If it is safe to remain in your vehicle while waiting for the police, you should do so. A person who is willing to use his vehicle as a weapon is not going to be less violent now that there has been an accident and his property is damaged, even though his behavior was the direct cause of the collision. It is important to notify your insurance carrier about the accident and circumstances that led up to it as soon as possible.
Accidents are always traumatic, but when the accident was caused by extreme aggressive driving or road rage, it can particularly difficult to deal with the consequences. The experienced and compassionate attorneys at Goeing Goeing and McQuinn PLLC are ready to offer you assistance to get you through the devastating consequences of such a senseless act. Please call us to schedule a free consultation as soon as possible so that we can get started on your case. You also can complete our online contact form and we will call you. On of our car accident attorneys can meet with you at either ourWinchester or Lexington Kentucky law offices.