The Impact of Road Rage on Car Accidents

Unexpected obstacles are always a possibility when you hit the road. Most people accept these delays and obstacles with no more than a little annoyance and frustration. Some people, though, are unable to handle unexpected traffic or careless drivers. They fly into a rage, drive aggressively, and make their feelings everyone else’s problem.

If you’ve ever been targeted by a road-raging driver, you know how scary it can be. The team at Gardner Law Group is here to help you if you’ve been injured by an aggressive driver. Call us at 228-436-6555 to set up a consultation with our team right away.

What Causes Road Rage?

A number of issues can lead to road rage. At the core of it is poor emotional regulation—if you have an entire mile of highway of drivers affected by bumper-to-bumper traffic, the vast majority will be able to control their feelings enough to avoid flying off the handle. Only a few will escalate the situation and turn to road rage. Per Consumer Affairs, the most common triggers for road rage include fatigue, heavy traffic, pre-existing stress, running late, or already feeling angry about something else.

Certain demographics are more at risk of aggressive driving than others. Drivers below the age of 19 are four times more likely to be in this type of collision than older drivers.

Road rage can manifest in a number of different ways. The most common types of road rage are rude and obscene gestures, swearing and other forms of profanity, brake checking, bumping or ramming vehicles, running a vehicle off the road, and engaging in verbal confrontations with other drivers. In severe cases, road rage can escalate to physical assault or even murder.

Why Road Rage Causes Accidents

Anger can impact driving in a variety of ways—and none of them are good. When you’re angry, certain parts of your brain shut down or have a decrease in activity to prepare you to fight or flee. Anger interferes with your ability to pay attention, properly perceive risks and obstacles, process information, and operate safely. All of these are key aspects of safe driving. An enraged driver may struggle to pay attention to the cars around them, make sound decisions, respond appropriately to risks, and maintain control of their vehicle.

Road Rage Accidents Are More Likely to Be Severe

Road rage doesn’t just cause more accidents. It also makes those accidents more severe. Aggressive drivers almost always speed; it’s the most common form of aggressive driving. The higher the speed of both parties in a crash, the more severe the outcome is likely to be.

Angry drivers generally fail to take the same safety precautions as other drivers. While a regular negligent driver may take corrective action at the last moment to mitigate the damage, an aggressive driver is unlikely to do so. An aggressive driver intentionally makes the situation more unsafe by following too closely, swerving in and out of traffic, and attempting to intimidate other drivers.

It’s easy for a road rage accident to become more than a standard two-two-vehicle collision. When an angry driver loses control of their vehicle, they may not just hit one vehicle—they may run that car off the road, cause it to spin out and hit another vehicle, or cause a chain reaction collision.

Legal Consequences of Road Rage Collisions

Road rage isn’t just unsafe. It’s also illegal. Intentionally driving in a way that puts others at risk and increases the likelihood of an accident fits the bill for several different criminal charges. This is separate from civil proceedings—if an angry driver is hit with criminal charges, those charges alone will not get you compensation. However, the criminal charges against the aggressive driver can strengthen your personal injury claim against them.

Explore Your Legal Options with Gardner Law Group

Don’t wait any longer to find out if you are owed compensation after a reckless driving crash. The team at Gardner Law Group is ready to advocate for you every step of the way. Call us at 228-436-6555 to reach our Biloxi office, call us at 228-762-6555 to reach out Pascagoula office, or contact us online.