Car Accidents Caused by Road Rage

October 2, 2024

When drivers let their tempers get the best of them, they can engage in behavior that endangers themselves and those around them, such as tailgating, brake checking, reckless speeding, and even racing. However, this emotional outburst can lead to catastrophic accidents and severe injuries, affecting not only their own lives but also the lives of victims who had nothing to do with the situation.

If another driver’s road rage caused you to get into a car accident, let our Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton guide you through the process.

What Is Road Rage?

Road rage is when stressed, frustrated, or impatient, drivers exhibit aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating, excessive lane changing, and hostile gestures. When this happens, remain calm and avoid escalating the situation when you encounter a driver with road rage, as engaging with an aggressive driver can provoke further aggression and increase your chances of getting into an accident.

How Does Road Rage Lead to Car Accidents?

Drivers who engage in road rage generally have a diminished ability to make rational decisions, resulting in reckless vehicle maneuvers.

When consumed by anger or frustration, a driver may lose awareness of their surroundings and miss a turn signal, a lone pedestrian, a stop sign or stop light, or even a stranded vehicle. Even if they do notice road signs or signals, they may choose to disregard them entirely.

All these behaviors dramatically increase the likelihood of accidents; road rage, therefore, endangers the aggressive driver and puts other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk.

What Compensation Can You Expect After a Road Rage Incident?

If you sustain a serious injury in a collision with a road-raging driver, you may need to pay for medical bills, vehicle repair costs, and therapy for emotional trauma. The good news is that you have legal options; you can raise an insurance claim to recover any costs associated with your accident or file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver.

You can generally recover two types of damages in a personal injury lawsuit. The first is economic damages, which seeks to compensate for the specific monetary costs of your accident, such as medical bills and physical therapy fees. Non-economic damages, on the other hand, seek to make up for injuries that do not carry monetary value, such as pain and suffering and loss of companionship.

The amount you stand to gain from an insurance claim or a lawsuit will depend on the severity of your injuries; in cases where the offending party acted egregiously or recklessly, the court may award additional punitive damages to you to punish the at-fault driver.

An experienced Baltimore car accident lawyer will play a crucial role in this process; we recommend consulting with one as soon as possible. Your attorney will help you gather all relevant evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent you in court with your strongest possible case.

Recover From a Road Rage Accident With the Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton

The services of a knowledgeable attorney will significantly increase your chances of receiving fair compensation for your injuries and allow you to focus entirely on healing from your accident. Contact the Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton for help today. Call us at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or fill out our online form for a free consultation.

We have offices in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Lanham, and Owings Mills, allowing us to represent clients in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.