Aggressive Drivers Injure Others

With auto collisions a leading cause of death in the United States, a remedy to aggressive driving may be a long-term health and safety improvement. Fifty-six percent of U.S. drivers who died in collisions during a five-year period had displayed aggressive actions, chiefly dangerous speeding, prior to the accident. This would not surprise the 88 percent of people who say they witnessed or were victims of aggressive driving incidents in the past 12 months. Contact a car accident attorney if you have been the victim of aggressive driving.

Unfortunately, crash reports don’t always take into account the offender’s emotional state, out of which aggressive behavior grows. The American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety recently reviewed the available data and published an update on the causes and consequences of the problem.

They found a significant link between aggression and collisions or other accidents, enough to pose a “serious traffic safety threat.” If you have been hurt in a car wreck and recognized signs of aggressive driving leading up to the collision, you may feel outraged at this preventable injury. If you have been injured it is important to speak with an car accident attorney. However, the AAA study found that a majority of drivers who display dangerous driving behavior deny it or discount the seriousness of the health risk.

When You’ve Been Injured
Accidents that involve aggressive driving are different from those caused by driver error. While a driver’s emotional state may alter his judgment, he is still aware of his actions. When speeding, weaving across lanes or running stop signs causes a wreck, it was intentional on the driver’s part to some degree. All licensed drivers are tested on their knowledge of the laws and skills required for safe vehicle operation. Intentionally circumventing those requirements can indicate liability for the consequences.

You don’t have to provoke another driver to experience an aggressive outburst. Tailgating, swerving or cutting off another car may be the result of the driver’s mental state when she started the engine. Noise, hot weather and traffic congestion may exacerbate her state of mind, and frustration may impede her judgment. The result might be a burst of uncontrolled acceleration that ends in a collision with your car.

Proving this circumstance in a personal injury lawsuit can be tricky. There are no formulas for determining aggressive driving behavior, which is considered a violation of traffic standards and not criminal statutes.