Road rage is defined as aggressive or angry behavior exhibited by a vehicle’s driver. If you see someone making rude gestures, giving verbal insults, making physical threats, or using dangerous driving methods to target another driver, he or she is guilty of road rage. This behavior has always been an issue with drivers around the country, and it can often cause a variety of vehicle accidents.
The American Automobile Association (AAA) conducted a survey to measure road rage in 1995; they found 90% of drivers claimed to have been a victim of road rage or had witnessed a road rage incident.
The only thing responsible drivers can do to avoid road-rage drivers is to back off. You can’t control another person’s behavior, particularly if they are inclined to rage and irrationality. By remaining calm, you can prevent injury to yourself and to passengers in your car. Likewise, avoid retaliation, as these individuals have aggressive tendencies, and it might escalate the situation.
If you have been harmed by a driver with road rage, you might wonder whether or not you could sue the other driver for your personal injury or property damage. Assuming you can identify the person who actually assaulted you, you might be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In addition, you might be able to pursue criminal charges.
Assault and battery are both intentional acts. Assault means another person threatened to hit you or did something indicating you would be struck by the other party. Battery is the harmful or offensive touching of another person without consent or privilege. If the other driver hit you with his or her car, this would constitute harmful or offensive touching to establish battery. Examples of battery on the road can include the following:
- The other driver hitting your vehicle with his or her own
- The other driver getting out of his or her vehicle and pounding on your own while you are in or near your vehicle
- After driving off the road, the other driver getting out of his or her vehicle and striking you
If you were injured in a road rage incident, don’t hesitate to talk to one of our skilled Sedalia car accident lawyers. Kempton & Russell has years of experience helping the victims of personal injury seek compensation. Let us see what we can do for you.
Contact us at (660) 722-4115 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation with us today.