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Road Rage Accidents in Florida
Accidents caused by road rage are also known as aggressive driving accidents or angry driver accidents. But what constitutes road rage? Typically, aggressive driving is the combination of two or more moving traffic offenses intended to harm others, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. A person may be driving aggressively if they:
- Speed
- Fail to yield the right-of-way
- Commit improper or unsafe lane changes
- Pass in a no-passing zone, or commit other improper pass tactics
- Follow too closely
- Ignore traffic control devices (i.e. stop signs)
Florida is home to some of the most heavily traveled interstates in the U.S., such as I-75. Due to high rates of travel and the large population of Florida, road rage car accidents (like many other types of car accidents) may occur in high numbers.
Unfortunately, aggressive driving is common enough in Florida that the state’s 2021 Strategic Highway Safety Plan includes an emphasis on addressing road rage issues, among others. Ways the state of Florida is working on addressing aggressive driving accidents include:
- Higher regulation of high-risk road rage areas
- Higher enforcement of aggressive driving and speeding laws
- Implementing technology to help identify road rage incidents in high-risk areas
- Identifying road rage ‘hot spots’ and determining ways to slow speed and aggressive driving behaviors
Common Causes of Road Rage
Road rage is, of course, never acceptable behavior on the roadway. However, the high number of incidents caused by aggressive driving tactics have led psychological experts and those involved in traffic safety alike to determine possible factors that may contribute to angry drivers. Some common causes of road rage include the following, according to the American Psychological Association (APA):
- Environmental factors, like crowded roads or heavy traffic
- Displaced anger
- High stress levels in everyday life
- Alcohol or drug use
People who struggle with current or underlying/undiagnosed mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders, may also experience road rage in high-stress road conditions. Of all demographics, young males are the most likely people to express road rage, according to the APA.
Places Where Road Rage Car Accidents Occur
Because road rage can happen to anyone, an aggressive driving accident can occur anywhere — on any roadway, at any time. Aggressive drivers may be so angry that they speed past other drivers in order to make obscene gestures, or they may dart in and out of traffic because they are angry that they are late for something, and feel traffic is holding them up. But, are there places where such accidents take place more often?
Yes — that is, road rage accidents may more commonly occur in places where people experience high stress related to driving, whether that stress is driven by external or internal factors. Some of these situations include:
- Heavy traffic areas: A person may drive aggressively to get around traffic, particularly if they are late for work or an event, or if they have a mental health condition that contributes to impatience, such as anxiety disorders.
- Construction zones: While it is better to patiently wait in construction traffic, not everyone has this courtesy. Some drivers may try to dart around traffic or leave the designated driving area to shorten their wait. This leads to high rates of construction zone related fatalities each year.
- Heavy travel zones: Interstates and other freeways involve heavy trucks, commercial vehicles, high speed, and other high-stress factors that may result in road rage in some angry drivers.
- Places with known lack of regulation: Local residents know when certain areas are not as highly regulated by law enforcement and may try to take advantage while on the roadways.
Types of Auto Accidents Caused By Aggressive Driving
Road rage occurs in a number of ways, which means it can result in a range of motor vehicle accidents, with a corresponding range of injuries, vehicle damage, or even the wrongful death of victims.
Some of the most common types of car accidents caused by road rage may include:
- Broadside collisions: If a driver is speeding through an intersection to catch up with another driver because the other driver made rude hand gestures or cut them off, they could collide with another vehicle in the process.
- Tailgating accidents: Some accidents may occur because the at-fault driver was following the driver traveling in front of them too closely. The at-fault driver may also be trying to intimidate the front driver for one reason or another, and may even push the front driver’s vehicle with theirs.
- Hit-and-run accidents: A hit-and-run accident occurs when one vehicle strikes another, and the at-fault driver leaves the scene of the accident, rather than stopping. Hit-and-run accidents caused by road rage may be accidental or intentional.
- Head-on collisions: The type of accident that is most often fatal, head-on car accidents can result from aggressive driving if, for example, drivers are racing in unauthorized areas.
Injuries That May Result From A Road Rage Crash
Whether a person is changing lanes too quickly, repeatedly honking their horn, or making threatening eye contact and rude hand gestures at other motorists, road rage can lead to accidents that cause serious injuries. Some common injuries that may result from road rage car crashes include:
- Head, neck, and back injuries, such as from side-impact collisions
- Whiplash, such as from a rear-end collision
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Broken bones or fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injuries, which can cause paralysis
- Limb loss
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
Even if you do not sustain severe injuries after an aggressive driving accident, you may still be able to file a claim to compensate you for your medical bills, property damage, and other accident-related expenses. Florin|Roebig can help you learn how during a free case evaluation.
Road Rage and Aggressive Driving Statistics
Speeding, the leading aggressive driving behavior, remains a top contributing factor in motor vehicle accidents across the U.S. In fact, speeding was present in 56% of road rage-related accidents between 2003 and 2007, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). And, it was the top leading factor in motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2019. Other road rage and aggressive driving statistics include:
- Speeding was involved in 9,378 fatalities in crashes in 2018.
- In the same year, 8,596 drivers who were speeding were involved in fatal auto accidents.
- The III reports that increases in speeding limits over the last few decades may have cost an estimated 370,000 lives.
- More than 1,900 people lost their lives to car accidents involving speeding in 2017 alone.
- While 42 states have roadways with a speed limit of 70 mph, eight states have roadways with speed limits of 80 mph, and Texas has roadways with 85 mph in some areas.
- Speeding by drivers was involved in 17.1% of fatal vehicle crashes.
- Other aggressive driving behaviors that were present in fatal crashes included: failure to yield the right-of-way (7.3%); failure to stay in the right lane (6.6%); erratic or reckless driving (3.7%).
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Steps to Take After a Road Rage Accident
You may be feeling confused and unsure what to do next if you have been in an accident caused by an aggressive driver. But there are a few helpful steps you can take when you are ready.
Be sure to get emergency medical attention for anyone who needs it. First and foremost, this safeguards against invisible injuries, like internal bleeding. It also helps ensure you have covered your bases. If you choose to start a personal injury case later on because you sustained severe injuries, you will need the medical records to prove the injuries were caused by the accident.
Then, you will need to report the accident to the police. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department (FLHSMV), all car accidents that lead to injury or death must be reported.
While you can contact your insurance company to have them delineate your coverage through your insurance policy, it may be in your best interest to contact a road rage car accident lawyer instead. Your lawyer can help you determine who was at fault, ensure you don’t hurt your chances at getting compensation, and better explain your legal options. They can even communicate with insurance companies on your behalf.
Legal Options for Victims of Road Rage Accidents
If you were hurt in a road rage accident, you may be able to get help from personal injury lawyers, such as those at Florin|Roebig law firm.
An experienced lawyer can execute the most difficult tasks related to your claim, such as contacting eyewitnesses, communicating with the insurance companies, and ensuring you file within the deadline.
You can find a lawyer with experience in practice areas related to your accident, like car accidents or truck accidents. This way, the attorney will have the skill set to build a strong claim and the background to defend your case in court, if needed.
Should you need to take the negligent driver to court, your road rage accident lawyer can help you begin a personal injury lawsuit for damages.
They can explain the possible verdicts that may come out of your case, and help you understand your legal rights along the way.
Overall, a car accident attorney can put your mind at ease, so you know you have the quality legal representation that goes hand in hand with getting fair compensation.
You can rest assured that Florin|Roebig personal injury lawyers will handle your case with the utmost care and work aggressively to seek compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.
Consideration of Fault In Aggressive Driving Accidents
If you’ve been a victim of road rage, you may be wondering if there’s any scenario in which you could be considered at fault. Fault in aggressive driving accidents tends to be pretty straightforward, since aggressive drivers often act in a way that is intended to threaten, intimidate, or even harm others.
However, there are some instances in which you could be considered partially at fault. For example, if a driver was tailgating you and crashed into you when you hit your brakes, the accident was likely their fault. But, if you were found to be texting on your phone at the time of the accident, a court may consider you partly at fault for the accident due to distraction.
Fault can be complex to determine, and there are a multitude of ways the defendant’s lawyers may try to shift blame onto you to lower their client’s payout.
Because of this, you may greatly benefit from working with a road rage injury attorney, who will do everything within their power to make sure you aren’t assigned fault if you had none, or a higher percentage of fault than you deserve.
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Contact Florin|Roebig if You’ve Been Injured in a Road Rage Car Accident
After a road rage accident, you may have a lot of questions, including how to seek compensation for the injuries you’ve endured. Let the law offices of Florin|Roebig help you today.
Our personal injury attorneys have years of experience in car accident cases, and we are ready and available to help with your case. What’s more, we won’t collect any fees unless we help you win.
Trust the ample trial experience, multitude of testimonials, and telling track record of Florin|Roebig. Contact us now for your free consultation.
