Dealing with Drivers Who Have Road Rage

Understanding how to approach road rage within other drivers and we can go a long way in terms of avoiding car accidents.

Dealing with Drivers Who Have Road Rage

There’s little doubt that road rage happens all too often and can be extremely dangerous. Occasionally, anxiety behind the wheel in traffic situations can bring out the very worst in people. Although it may be common for people to get frustrated with certain situations while driving, people who give in to road rage may get more than just frustrated. In some cases, drivers with road rage will even intentionally try to cause harm to another vehicle and/or driver.

The chances of car accidents causing serious injuries dramatically increase when drivers are angry or even aggressive and the overall root causes of road rage go much further than roadway circumstances. On this page we are going to discuss the signs of road rage and tips for dealing with road rage drivers, so if you believe you or a loved one was involved in an accident caused by someone else’s road rage then you should reach out to us for a free consultation so we can review the facts of what happened and help you determine your best course for legal action.

Signs of Road Rage

An aggressive driver can lose control of their emotions when they’re experiencing road rage, which can be dangerous for everyone around them. The following are some road rage warning signs to look out for while driving:

  • Excessive speeding
  • Tailgating
  • Dangerously weaving through lanes
  • Intentionally using headlights to blind other drivers
  • Any exhibition of extreme frustration towards pedestrians, cyclists or other slow road users
  • Excessive horn blaring
  • Not using turn signals
  • Cutting in front of cars and then slamming on brakes
  • Yelling, cursing or using inappropriate hand gestures
  • Revealing a weapon to other drivers
  • Purposefully not letting drivers pass by, or causing a crash

It’s important for everyone to understand that Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is a real mental health crisis in the United States. The National Institute of Health has conducted a study finding that about 5-7% of American drivers have IED. When someone suffers from IED they are much more likely to lose their temper and react harshly to minor irritations, both on and off the road. This is not an excuse for road rage and dangerous driving, but you should consider the fact that many people who exhibit road rage are the type of people who could benefit from professional counseling. Care should be taken when dealing with such individuals.

Tips for Properly Handling Road Rage Drivers

At some point, a driver may come across a motorist suffering from road rage. When such situations happen, it’s important to keep you and your passengers as safe as possible. While no advice can guarantee the safety and every situation is different, here are some common safety tips that may be helpful:

  • It is generally safer to get out of a road raging driver’s way, and if necessary call 911 immediately and report the driver by providing as much information as possible about the driver’s vehicle, behavior and location.
  • Stay in your car if an agitated driver tries to lure you outside of your vehicle, and lock your doors and call 911 immediately.
  • Call the police after a crash to have it officially reported ASAP.
  • If you’re involved in a wreck, stay in your vehicle until the road raging driver has calmed down or until the police arrive.
  • In the case that you’ve already exited your vehicle, return to your vehicle and lock the doors as quickly as you can if an aggressive driver makes you feel uncomfortable or threatened. This is especially important if your accident is in a more remote location.
  • You should let go of your own anger and never yell back at the angry driver and avoid fueling their anger at all costs, no matter how mad they get.
  • It is generally not a safe idea to stop a road raging driver from fleeing the scene of a crash. It is also safer not to chase after a fleeing driver. Try to get as much information as you can about the driver and their vehicle and give this information to the police. The police can make the effort to identify and locate the driver, not you.

Contact Our Team of Expert Personal Injury Lawyers Today

We are a team of Philadelphia & New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers who have helped countless car accident victims of all types, and we know how dangerous and traumatizing road rage accidents can be. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident involving a driver with road rage, then you deserve your rightful compensation for all your damages.

Contact us today for a free consultation so we can evaluate what happened and determine what initial steps you must take to receive your maximum compensation.

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