Road Rage Accident Lawyer in Seattle, WA
Being caught up in the wrath of a road rage accident is a terrifying experience which has the potential for very dangerous consequences. A car is a lethal weapon, and drivers who get excessively angry, violent, and aggressive while operating one are a real danger to themselves and other motorists on the road.
In many states, aggressive driving is actually a violation of traffic laws and could directly endanger the lives of other drivers.
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What Counts as Road Rage?
It is one thing to criticize another driver's poor decisions under your breath, and quite another to escalate your behavior up to the level of road rage. There is a range of behaviors which may count as ‘aggressive driving’ according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These include:
- Following behind another car too closely, or ‘tailgating.’
- Using foul or offensive language
- Driving above the speed limit
- Flashing high beams for no reason
- Making offensive or obscene gestures
- Cutting off other drivers
- Using weapons or objects as a threat
- Making lane changes and turns which are unsafe
- Honking for no reason
- Sudden acceleration or braking
- Intentionally hitting other vehicles
As well as being extremely unpleasant for other road users, road rage drivers run the very real risk of causing an accident as the direct result of their behavior. If this is the case, the driver will be held responsible for any injuries or damages which occur and forced to pay out to the victims.
Road Rage Accident Lawyer: What to Do
Road rage is an intentional sequence of dangerous habits and behaviors which are a considerable risk of danger to other road users. It is, unfortunately, more common than you may anticipate, with a recent study by the Automobile Association revealing that 9/10 drivers have admitted to experienced road rage, and 6/10 having lost their temper while driving.
The first thing to do if a road rage incident causes your accident is not to ignore it. Too many victims are reluctant to take the case further because they fear the actions of the other driver, who has already proven that they are violent and aggressive.
Ignoring their actions, however, not only enables their behavior, but it also means you could be missing out on much-deserved compensation for any injuries and damages you have suffered as a result of their actions.
The onus is on the victim to demonstrate evidence that the other driver has breached their duty of reasonable care to other road users, and that this breach resulted in an accident, injuries, and damages.
The best course of action is to get in touch with a respect road rage car accident lawyer. Our experienced team can advise the best course of action to take and help you gather any evidence which can help to boost your case and prove that you have been the victim of a road rage driver. In addition, we can deal with insurance companies to speed up the process and increase your chances of a successful claim.
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